Kennedy LSC Debates New Principal Post
The search for a new principal had tempers flaring at a Local School Council meeting Tuesday at Kennedy High School.
Current principal James Gorecki, who has been in the post for three years, announced in February that he is going to retire at the end of the school year, so the LSC is now searching for a new principal.
But some of the teachers and parents are upset about the course of action being taken.
Five or six teachers at the meeting said the replacement was chosen even before Gorecki announced his retirement.
Some of the teachers also said that going to an LSC meeting and talking to certain members of the school can cost you not only to be pulled out of certain programs but also could lead to being fired.
“Teachers are nervous about their jobs. They don’t like to be bullied,” said Tim Kelly, the union delegate for the school.
Kelly said many teachers feel that selection for the new principal has already been made without the LSC looking at all of the candidates.
But the Rev. Michael Brand, a senior compliance facilitator for LSC relations, said there should be a lot of give and take when it comes to change.
“My concern is that we move the process forward so there is a principal when school starts (in the fall),” said Brand.
Brand also noted that seven votes by an LSC are needed to elect a new principal.
If the LSC cannot get seven votes for a single candidate, three names could be sent to CEO Arne Duncan’s office, from where a new principal would be selected. Or the LSC could go through the process again and re-list the opening, or look at the other candidates they previously rejected.
Some of those in attendance were upset when the LSC members said they were not going to select a subcommittee to help with the process.
But Brand said that the LSC is not required to select a subcommittee.
One parent told LSC members that the fact there is no subcommittee is proof that the decision has already been made. The same parent said she does not trust most of the LSC members.
The LSC will hand out a survey to all staff members asking for their input in what qualifications or skills they would like for the new principal.
The Chicago Public Schools has seven standards and five competencies that they want LSC members to judge candidates on. Kennedy LSC members said they are judging candidates on those items.
On Tuesdays, May 13 and 20, the LSC will conduct its first round of interviews, and will conduct its follow-ups on Wednesday, May 28.
On Tuesday, June 3, the LSC will hold an open forum in which all parents, teachers, staff and community members are welcome to talk to the candidates. The place and time of that forum has yet to be determined.
LSC members said they are going to talk to each of the candidates.
LSC chairperson Robin Dunkle said that there are a lot of rumors going around, none of which have been proven.