I know a little bit about Chicago politics. I've read about the pork and patronage. Followed the Blagoyevich Senate-seat selling scandal. The wards, the "mini-mayor" aldermen, the machine, the voter-turnout traded for jobs.
When it comes to the school system, I've been slowly absorbing the lingo associated with the web of roles, rulers, and responsibilities in and around CPS. At the local level, perhaps the most unique manifestation of politics and schools are the "LSCs," or Local School Councils. Created during 1980s decentralization, with one for each of the 600-plus schools, they have survived recentralization--and maintain the power to hire and fire principals.
In addition to the LSCs, the system's alphabet-soup includes CACs (Community Action Councils) and PACs (Parent Advisory Councils). Powerful? Evidently, yes. Why? I'm not sure yet.
In the case of the south-side turnaround elementary school I'm working with on community-engagement, leaders from the LSC and CAC supported the turnaround.
Oh, and did I mention there's a PTA? The PTA did not support the turnaround.
It's one thing to conceptually know the politics. It's another to see it with all its brass-knuckles gleaming--as I did Thursday night during a community meet-and-greet for the school.
The meeting featured an invigorating opening speech by Principal Brennan, who recounted the teachers that first sparked her love of science, laid out her turnaround vision, and was generally a beacon of energy and optimism.
It was an important speech. But the real drama seemed to lie elsewhere.
Two community members were invited to speak. One the head of the LSC, the other the head of the CAC.
Community speaker #1 addresses the assembled parents: "You don't have to like me, and I don't have to like you. Because it's about the kids."
Okay, glad we got that out of the way.
Now she addresses the principal: "Principal Brennan, people have been asking me, What do I think of you?"
An opportunity for a show of unity in the face of enormous challenges?
"And to be honest, Principal Brennan, I don't have an opinion about you. Come back in December and ask me, and I will then."
How do you like them apples?
Community speaker #2 was a little longer on the forward-looking and esprit-de-corps ...
... until I was introduced to her after the meeting. As a non-Chicagoan white male in a suit, it often takes a little explaining to convey why I care about community-engagement and may have something to offer.
Fair enough. As it should be.
Well, let's just say: speaker #2 was and remains skeptical of my capacities in that regard, which she did not hesitate to directly tell me. My status as an outsider, my choice of coffeeshop location, my taking of the bus ...
I needed a glass of wine and a good 30 minutes of yoga after the meeting. The school politics, the parent politics, the turnaround politics, the politics of race, of accountability, of community engagement. This city breathes politics. I've got a lot to learn.
No comments:
Post a Comment