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90_HR0067
LRB9005400CBcbA
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, It is the duty of the Illinois General Assembly
3 and the Illinois Board of Education to develop a system of
4 public education for the citizens of the State, to provide
5 proper funding for education programs and the operation of
6 public schools, and to ensure that such funds are used for
7 their intended purpose as provided in federal and State law;
8 and
9 WHEREAS, It has recently come to the attention of the
10 General Assembly that Chapter 1 federal funds may have been
11 misused by officials and the local school board at Clemente
12 High School in Chicago, as reported in a series of articles
13 in the Chicago Sun-Times in 1996 and 1997 following an
14 investigation by the newspaper into the alleged incidents;
15 and
16 WHEREAS, It has been reported that the Chapter 1 federal
17 funds that were intended to educate poor children in the
18 State of Illinois have been misused by officials at Clemente
19 High School in various ways inconsistent with the education
20 of students and in particular to promote the goals of the
21 National Liberation Movement (MLN), a group whose stated
22 purpose is to free convicted terrorists who support Puerto
23 Rican independence; and
24 WHEREAS, As representatives of the people of the State of
25 Illinois, the House of Representatives of the 90th General
26 Assembly must carefully investigate and scrutinize this
27 alleged misuse of public funds, with the goal of
28 understanding its causes and preventing a recurrence of the
29 misuse of public funds at Clemente High School and other
30 public education institutions in the State; therefore, be it
31 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
32 NINETIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the
-2- LRB9005400CBcbA
1 Special Committee specifically appointed by the Speaker of
2 the House of Representatives to investigate the alleged abuse
3 of funds at Clemente High School ("Special Committee") is
4 hereby directed to investigate the use of federal and State
5 funds at Clemente High School and other public education
6 institutions in this State provided for the education of
7 Illinois students; and be it further
8 RESOLVED, That a Special Committee shall conduct hearings
9 and investigate Clemente High School officials, members of
10 the local school board, and other individuals or groups or
11 organizations who may have been involved in or have knowledge
12 of the misuse of public education funds at Clemente High
13 School; and be it further
14 RESOLVED, That the Special Committee shall have all the
15 powers granted under the Constitution of the State of
16 Illinois, under the laws of Illinois, and under the Rules of
17 the House of Representatives of the 90th General Assembly of
18 the State of Illinois to conduct the hearings and
19 investigation, including without limitation, the power to
20 issue warrants, subpoenas, and writs; compel the appearance
21 and testimony of witnesses and the production of books,
22 records, papers, documents, video tapes, and any other items;
23 examine witnesses under oath; and appoint special
24 investigators and attorneys, court reporters, and any other
25 personnel necessary to conduct hearings and an investigation;
26 and be it further
27 RESOLVED, That the Joint Committee on Legislative Support
28 Services shall make available to the Special Committee
29 appointed to investigate this matter such staff assistance
30 and other resources as may be needed to comply with the terms
31 of this resolution; and be it further
32 RESOLVED, That the Joint Committee on Legislative Support
-3- LRB9005400CBcbA
1 Services shall authorize the payment of such expenses of the
2 Special Committee as may be necessary for expert counsel or
3 other professional expertise from funds appropriated for such
4 purposes; and be it further
5 RESOLVED, That the Special Committee shall develop
6 recommendations to deal with and solve the problems uncovered
7 by hearings and investigation; and be it further
8 RESOLVED, That the results of these hearings,
9 investigation, and recommendations shall be reported to the
10 House of Representatives of the 90th General Assembly of the
11 State of Illinois and the Governor of Illinois.