Catalyst Notebook :: As new CEO Brizard comes in, layoffs already underway in Chicago Public Schools

Catalyst Notebook :: As new CEO Brizard comes in, layoffs already underway in Chicago Public Schools

As new CEO Brizard comes in, layoffs already underway in Chicago Public SchoolsPosted By Sarah Karp On Friday, May 6, 2011
In CPS Administration Jean-Claude Brizard is not yet sitting at the helm of central office, but already the administration is getting ready to deal with the budget crisis he will encounter. On Friday, an undisclosed number of central office employees were told their positions will be closed at the end of this fiscal year.

Next in line will be area offices. Brizard, who was in town Friday, had an extended meeting with current CPS officials to figure out what the role of area offices should be. These offices were beefed up under former Schools CEO Ron Huberman, as citywide positions (such as speech pathologists and other ancillary staff who work in multiple schools) and central office suffered cuts.

Area offices may be especially vulnerable because Brizard said he wants to reduce the layers of bureaucracy between him and principals.

“I can’t influence 25,000 teachers, but I can influence 400-some principals,” he said during