Michael Scott: Chicago Public Schools President Found Dead

by Jordan Yerman | November 16, 2009 at 07:43 am

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Chicago School Board President Michael Scott was found dead in the Chicago River at around 3:20 this morning. Michael Scott was reported missing yesterday. The body, which police are saying is Michael Scott's, was discovered near the Apparel Center (350 N. Orleans St), which is the home of the Chicago Sun-Times, quoted below. Michael Scott's body had a gunshot wound to the head, and his car was found near where his body was discovered.

Michael Scott was serving a second term as School Board President, after his successor, Rufus Williams, resigned. Scott was in the news earlier this year regarding a controversy over school principals' practice of hand-picking students for their elite prep classes outside the normal selection process.

His car was found parked near the river where the body was found, police said. NBC5 reported that Scott’s blue Cadillac was found and towed from the scene.

Scott had a gunshot wound to the left temple when authorities found his body in the Chicago River near the Merchandise Mart early this morning, sources said.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson was on the scene early, saying that people have been calling him in tears all morning.

"I'm stunned," he said. "Michael was so effervescent. [He] always had a capacity to solve problems, that's why people leaned on him. Everyone felt Michael was their guy."