Schools Complain CPS Dragging its Feet on Removing Problematic Principals
February, 2023 Chicago Board of Ed meeting
Parents at Jones College Prep and Harriet Tubman Schools continue to complain that Chicago Public Schools Chief Pedro Martinez has yet to remove principals that have caused their schools great harm.
Many parents from Harriet Tubman School spoke out at the February Chicago Board of Education meeting that CPS honor their school’s Local School Council Resolution to remove their principal because of her poor handling of student safety complaints that has resulted in turmoil, falling school enrollment and huge staff turnover.
They said at the Board meeting that they first asked CEO Martinez to remove their principal Kimberly Gibson in July 2022, but as of this month CPS has halted its investigation because Gibson took a leave of absence.
“There has been a negative impact on our school climate because there has been no update from the law dept. investigation and you need to understand we’re anxious, we feel abondoned and ignored,” one parent said. “We demand action from CPS. Our school deserves better!”
Almost a dozen speakers demanded the same thing - to remove their principal who has caused confusion and frustration at the school that has lost almost 100 students, a 20 percent drop.
“We have no leader now,” another parent said. “I truely feel cps has abondoned us. Morale is lagging. I’m asking CPS CEO Martinez to fight for us.”
But CEO Martinez stayed silent after the comments and when CPS Board President Miguel Del Valle asked after the public comments if any trustee want to speak, they all stayed silent.
The Harriet Tubman community fought hard to change the name of their school from a racist European scientist to the Civil War hero who helped many slaves escape. The parents pleas to remove their divisive principal were echoed by Jones College Prep students and parents who also demanded that Martinez remove their principal who they claim has promoted a racist environment after he dragged his feet on discipling a student who goosestepped his way across the stage of a Halloween event at the school dressed in a Nazi uniform.
CPS choose not to comment as frustrations continue to boil in both schools.
The power of the Chicago Teachers Union at the meeting was in full display as many charter school teachers dressed in red spoke out about the problems at their charter schools, which include servicing migrant children and diverse learners.
“We need care, not cameras,” one teacher from Passages Elementary School stated.
This was in stark contrast to CPS Board Meetings being dominated by charter parents and students about the wonders of their charter schools. Many in the past had also complained about the public schools, which prompted the fight back from CORE and the CTU.
Derrick Curtis, a former educator at Bright Elementary, said he was an example of a black male educator who left after 40 yrs left corporate america, to get a teachers license, returned to his birthplace and help kids be successful by becoming a teacher.
“But never did I think making a split second decision to prevent a child from running into a door would end my CPS employment,” he told Board members. “Countless teachers who acted in students safety yet are punished from temporary displacement to losing their teaching license. In today’s climate teachers are not innocent until proven guilty like they are in our criminal justice system Teachers are guilty and must prove their innocense. But because of the Chicago Tribune 2018 article (about sexual abuse against students in CPS) they took the door and swung it too far in the other direction.”
The Feb. Board meeting ended with a sharp thunder clap from teacher Tai Tai Sinkofiscus, a fiery black educator who has been critical of the establishment - both CPS and CTU. She has demanded that the union and others take a stand to demand slave reparations which has started in some other cities.
“Happy black history Wednesday,” she said. “I am an American descendent of slaves, a non immigrant who built this country in chains.”
She then rained on outgoing CPS Counsel Joe Moriarity’s parade after he was praised for his many years of service as a labor relations and head legal counsel board employee and just retired. Tai Tai called him an anti-black racist whose your anti-black school policies “systemically removed black educators from our system on trumped up charges and removed black educators and helped principals bully black teachers who tried to bring order and discipline to their schools. She said Moriarity also removed the ability of teachers to tutor their own students because they can’t become vendors.
She also took aim at the CTU by stating that teachers did not approve using their membership dues to fund Brandon Johnson’s campaign for mayor.
“Farewell Joe, I pray you are not in a position to harm black educators and black kids ever again!”
The Feb. CPS Board of Ed Meeting was a hybrid of in-person and remote speakers during public participation. The Board website stated that about 2,000 people viewed their livestreamed meeting.
No board members asked any questions or made any comments after the public participation.
We're in a situation like this too! Also in Illinois! We need these harmful, manipulative principals GONE!