Sposato Now Backs UNO School In Ward

Facing the embarrassing prospect of seeing a new charter school approved for his ward without his blessing, freshman Ald. Nicholas Sposato (36th Ward) said Wednesday that he had decided to back the project after all.

Sposato previously had expressed doubts and said he did not yet have a position on the plan from the United Neighborhood Organization, a charter operator with close ties to Mayor Rahm Emanuel. But the council’s Zoning Committee, which customarily yields to the wishes of the local alderman, have called a special meeting for Thursday morning solely to approve the zoning change for the new school in Sposato’s ward.

On Monday evening, Emanuel’s office issued a statement effusively praising Sposato’s decision in favor of the UNO proposal.

“Ald. Sposato acted thoughtfully on behalf of the residents of the 36th ward,” the mayor said. ”His decision will ensure that our children have access to a world-class education that matches their dreams and ambitions. I commend him for his leadership.”

As late as Monday, Sposato had said he wanted to receive more public input on the topic, noting vehement opposition to the plan from many constituents and low test scores at some UNO schools.

Asked Wednesday why he suddenly made up his mind on the matter, Sposato replied, “I never said I was not for it.”

The alderman said he received assurances that all students at the school would be drawn from within the surrounding area on the far Northwest Side. And he said the construction of the school would represent much-needed economic development for a struggling corner of his ward.

But Sposato recently deferred a zoning vote, prompting committee chairman (and former UNO leader) Daniel Solis to deem him an “embarrassment” and call for the special meeting.

Solis had predicted that there were enough votes to push the UNO plan through his committee without Sposato’s assent.

Ahead of Thursday’s zoning vote – and before Sposato revealed his decision – sources said Emanuel aides pressed panel members to ignore the alderman’s neutral stance and back UNO’s plan. UNO CEO Juan Rangel was Emanuel’s mayoral campaign co-chairman.

“We’re grateful for the alderman’s willingness to work with us,” Rangel said when told of Sposato’s decision. “The children of that area will benefit.”

Meanwhile, the Chicago teachers union had sought to organize support for blocking the plan. Union officials say charters drain resources from traditional public schools and often do not perform well.

Sposato was elected in the April run-off election, and the first major controversy of his tenure also came amid another racially charged impasse.

Although the ward’s politics historically have been dominated by Italian-Americans, the area’s Latino population has grown tremendously. New ward maps based on 2010 census data would shift boundaries to place Sposato in a predominantly Latino ward, a move that the rookie alderman has protested strenuously.