Principal known as Emanuel critic reprimanded by mayor's school board
Blaine Elementary School Principal Troy LaRaviere, who this week excoriated Chicago Public Schools during a panel discussion on the district’s finances, was the target of a “warning resolution” that board members quietly approved Aug. 26, 2015. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
A Lakeview school principal who's a frequent critic of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's education policies has been formally reprimanded by the Chicago Board of Education — a move that could eventually lead to his dismissal.
Blaine Elementary School Principal Troy LaRaviere, who this week excoriated Chicago Public Schools during a panel discussion on the district's finances, was the target of a "warning resolution" that board members quietly approved Wednesday.
Reached Thursday, LaRaviere said the school board action was partly linked to his opposition to a controversial standardized test launched last spring. The board's public rebuke came months after LaRaviere served as an education adviser and outspoken supporter of Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, who challenged Emanuel for mayor.
LaRaviere said the sanction was the result of "someone putting pressure on somebody to make an example of the principal that was at the school that seemed to be most effective at getting kids to opt out."
The warning resolution posted on the board's website Thursday doesn't detail what spurred the action, instead offering boilerplate language the district uses in these types of cases.
The document stated that LaRaviere "has engaged in unsatisfactory conduct" and that "dismissal charges" could follow "if said conduct is not corrected immediately, and maintained thereafter in a satisfactory fashion following receipt of the warning resolution."
CPS spokesman Bill McCaffrey said the district does not comment on personnel issues. Such warning resolutions are regularly approved by the board for a variety of infractions. On Wednesday, two other employees received them.Principal known as Emanuel critic reprimanded by mayor's school board - Chicago Tribune:
