Outspoken CPS principal known as Emanuel critic ousted from Lakeview school
An outspoken Chicago Public Schools principal was ousted from his Lakeview school on Wednesday, as school officials investigated unspecified "alleged acts of misconduct."
Troy LaRaviere, principal of Blaine Elementary School, has established a reputation as a frequent public critic of Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the school system. LaRaviere has also opposed the controversial Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers exam — known as PARCC.
Those actions led the Chicago Board of Education to discipline LaRaviere last summer, when the board approved a "warning resolution" that censured LaRaviere and laid ground for his dismissal if he didn't change his conduct.
"CPS has removed Troy LaRaviere because of alleged acts of misconduct, including violations of a previous Warning Resolution passed by the Board of Education," district spokeswoman Emily Bittner said in a statement. "A hearing will be held to determine his employment status."
The school board's action was partly linked to LaRaviere's opposition to the standardized test, and a confrontation the principal had with former interim CPS CEO and school board Vice President Jesse Ruiz. It also came months after LaRaviere served as an education adviser and supporter of Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, who launched an unsuccessful bid to unseat Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
The district said LaRaviere has been removed from the school, and that he will receive a "pre-suspension hearing" to determine if there is basis to suspend him without pay pending a hearing with the Illinois State Board of Education.
In messages to the Tribune, LaRaviere said CPS notified him of his job status in a letter on Wednesday but that "no reason was provided" for his removal.
"I got the letter right after they attempted to shut down a meeting I was scheduled to have with principals at a (South Side) elementary school," LaRaviere told the Tribune. "They said it was 'an illegal meeting' because they thought it was regarding the privatization of engineers through an Emanuel campaign contributor."
LaRaviere referred to a recent CPS plan to respond to complaints about unclean buildings by doubling the size of a maintenance program run by a firm partly controlled by formerNBA superstar Earvin "Magic" Johnson, a financial supporter of Emanuel. The district plans to expand the maintenance program across the city, which would affect hundreds of building engineers covered by a CPS labor contract that expires in June. Read More: Outspoken CPS principal known as Emanuel critic ousted from Lakeview school - Chicago Tribune: