CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The head of a group representing Chicago Public School principals and administrators said the CPS central office is keeping principals from doing their actual jobs which is to support teachers and students and operate their schools.
Chicago Principals and Administrators Association president Troy LaRaviere saidthe latest burden “downtown” has put on principals is having them do the work of COVID-19 contact tracers.
“Bringing the list together. Calling teachers. Asking people about how much distance they’ve maintained between one another. These are things that the contact tracers can do and should do but are not doing,” he said.
LaRaviere saidprincipals are also finding themselves mired under the work that should be done by auditors, the Office of Student Protection and even custodians.
“I’ve had principals tell me they’ve had zero of their 10 custodians show up to school on particular days. Zero. So principals are in the lunchroom, in the cafeterias cleaning up messes, taking out garbage,” he said.
LaRaviere said all that extra work is causing stress, explaining that, “It is bringing principals to their breaking point. I’ve had many use that term with me. I’ve heard some say, ‘We are drowning.’”
LaRaviere said he’s hoping the state legislature approves over the next two weeks a bill giving principals collective bargaining rights. He said House Bill 3496 has been approved in the state House and by an Illinois Senate committee but that it hasn’t yet been put before the full state senate. The bill would not give principals the right to strike, he added.
The Chicago Public School system has issued a statement saying it understands principals in Chicago and around the country are being forced to take on additional tasks and appreciate their feedback on their current challenges. CPS promised to continue hiring staff to help support administrators.
The new CPS CEO Pedro Martinez began having virtual meetings with principals each week.
Full statement from CPS:
"CPS is committed to ensuring that all principals have the resources they need to be strong instructional leaders and we appreciate the feedback on current challenges. We would expect that principals communicate with their Network Chiefs so that we can best address any individual concerns. We remain in a challenging time as we navigate national labor shortages amid this ongoing pandemic. We understand that administrators and leaders across our District - and across the country - have had to take on additional tasks. CPS will continue its ongoing efforts in hiring staff to help support administrators towards facilitating the best operations of CPS schools.”