Introduction to the Restructuring Plan
The interim head of Chicago Public Schools announced a major restructuring plan internally that would align mid-level administrative offices with school board districts, sources tell WBEZ, potentially making these positions open to political influence.
The Plan and Its Implications
The idea, according to CPS sources familiar with the announcement, faced so much blowback by board members and others that it appears to be paused. Some of the concern is that this new structure could change the focus of these administrators, called network chiefs. Currently, they hold a set of schools in geographic areas accountable for following laws and policies and support their instructional direction. The new structure would shift those areas to overlap with the elected school board voting districts.
Potential for Political Influence
But this new structure may open administrators up to the demands of elected school board members. Heightening those concerns, a source said a top CPS official suggested that the leaders of these new offices would get “political advocacy training.” Chicago Public Schools will go from a partially elected, partially appointed 21-member board to a fully elected board in 2027. Twenty members represent geographic regions and the president is an at-large position.
Questions About the Temporary Leader
There are also questions about a temporary leader, CEO/Supt. Macquline King, rolling out this plan. Chalkbeat Chicago reported Wednesday that King is one of the candidates vying for the permanent position. When King laid out the restructuring plan last week, she presented a slide, obtained by WBEZ, that showed the application to run the new offices would be up by Tuesday, Sept. 19 and the offices would be up and running by Oct. 20. But the jobs are not yet posted and now the status of the plan is unclear.
Response from CPS Board President
In a statement, CPS Board President Sean Harden noted that the last network office reorganization occurred in 2011, when CPS had more than 400,000 students. “Given the District’s present fiscal conditions and a student population of approximately 313,000, it’s understandable that all options remain on the table,” Harden said. He added that the current reorganization “remains a proposal” and the board would work with the district to ensure that the “ the results will not have any adverse impact on students.”
Response from CPS Communications Office
In response to questions about the restructuring, CPS communications’ office acknowledged in a statement that the district “has planned for and considered Central Office and District wide strategies to improve our students’ educational experience.” The statement said “no final decision has been made regarding district offices as leadership continues to thoughtfully review options.”
Intent Behind the Plan
King did not respond to questions about the intent behind the plan, but one source said King told them it is, in part, to better serve elected school board members, who often want information about what’s happening with schools in their districts. King also said she was looking for cost savings, according to this source. However, two sources told WBEZ that this restructuring would only result in minimal savings of a few million dollars.
Financial Implications
The school district needs to find more significant savings in order to end the fiscal year in the black. School board members approved an extremely tight budget in August that included $50 million in unidentified reductions. District officials had said they hoped to find cuts in central office personnel, business operations and by transferring some central office functions to these mid-level administrative offices.
Impact on Network Chiefs
The people running these new offices, who would be called District School Officers, would replace network chiefs. Currently, there are 13 networks that oversee elementary schools and four that oversee high schools. In addition, there is a group of high-performing schools that operate outside of the network structure. The budget for network offices is about $40 million. King’s announcement last week sent a wave of confusion among network chiefs and their deputies, almost all of whom are former principals. Two who talked to WBEZ on background say they are unsure whether they are guaranteed a position in this new structure after being told they will have to reapply for their jobs.
Conclusion
The proposed restructuring plan by Chicago Public Schools to align administrative offices with elected school board districts has raised concerns about potential political influence and the impact on the focus of network chiefs. While the plan is currently paused, it is essential to consider the implications of such a change and ensure that any decisions made prioritize the educational experience of students.
FAQs
Q: What is the proposed restructuring plan by Chicago Public Schools?
A: The plan aims to align mid-level administrative offices with school board districts, potentially making these positions open to political influence.
Q: What are the concerns about the new structure?
A: The concerns include the potential change in focus of network chiefs, the possibility of political influence, and the impact on the educational experience of students.
Q: Who would be affected by the restructuring plan?
A: Network chiefs and their deputies, as well as the elected school board members, would be affected by the plan.
Q: What is the current status of the plan?
A: The plan is currently paused, and no final decision has been made regarding district offices.
Q: What are the potential cost savings of the restructuring plan?
A: According to sources, the plan would only result in minimal savings of a few million dollars.
