He’s back, sort of. It’s been a few years since former city schools superintendent Jean-Claude Brizard left Rochester rather abruptly to become Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel’s schools chief — though he didn't last long there, either. 

It’s no secret that some Rochester board members, teachers, and union leaders were happy to see Brizard go. Others, even some of his strongest supporters, were dismayed by how he essentially dismantled the district and then left before putting it back together.

And you almost felt sorry for the guy when reports of clashes between Brizard and Chicago’s teachers began to surface, not to mention the break up with Emanuel.

But absence does soften the heart; many of Brizard’s sharpest critics in Rochester speak kindly of him today. So maybe it’s not surprising that Brizard is listed as a member of the founding design team for Vertus Charter School in its application to the New York State Education Department.

Brizard was always pretty clear about his support for charters.

Vertus is expected to open in Rochester as a high school for boys sometime in 2014. The school’s founder is Perry White, who founded Citizens Academy Charter School in Cleveland, Ohio. Retired General John Batiste, president and CEO of Klein Steel, is a board member.

Welcome back, JC.