UPDATED by John Byrne at 3:42 p.m. at Posted by John Byrne at 12:47 p.m.
Mayor Richard Daley today said his office had "no role" in a back-door process to get students into select high schools, even though a list of such appeals shows multiple references to the Daley administration.
In a story today, the Tribune revealed the existence of a list maintained over several years by the office of former schools chief Arne Duncan that compiled requests from politicians, business people, and some non-connected parents looking to place children in highly competitive city schools.
There were multiple references on the list to a top Daley education aide.
Asked what role his office played in the unpublicized appeals process, Daley said "No role, in the sense that no role."
"As Arne Duncan pointed out, first of all, people are very frustrated with the system, how they get their children in all schools here in the public school system," Daley said.
Many of those who appear on the list had political patrons speaking to schools on their behalf, but Daley played down the notion that political clout was used.
"Arne said people called. All types of people called," Daley said. "Not just political people. Business people, parents and all that."
Schools CEO Ron Huberman is trying to develop a "system fair to everyone" to allow parents and others to appeal if students don’t get into the schools of their choice, Daley said.