The interim Chicago Public Schools CEO says he wants an outside firm to review the school district's contracting process.
The move comes after CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett announced a leave of absence last week while federal authorities investigate a roughly $20 million no-bid contract with a suburban company that helps train principals, called SUPES Academy. Byrd-Bennett worked for the company before joining CPS in 2012.
Jesse Ruiz was named interim CEO and circulated a memo to school officials over the weekend saying he also wants to halt "sole-source contracts" pending the review's findings. He's also asked the district's attorneys to prepare legal options to terminate the SUPES contract if wrongdoing is found.
Federal investigators have asked for wide-ranging records from Byrd-Bennett and three other district employees.
