WEST ENGLEWOOD — Local School Council members said two finalists are being considered for the vacant principal position at Earle STEM Elementary School, but they could not say when a decision will be made.
"We have been involved in the search process and are down to two candidates," said Darlene O'Bannon, a school council member, who declined to name the finalists. "But CPS will make the final decision."
Normally principals are hired by the school council, but a Chicago Public Schools' policy prohibits a school council from doing so when the school is on academic probation. Earle, 2040 W. 62nd St., has been on academic probation for 11 years.
Chicago Public Schools officials said they expect to hire a new principal soon.
"CPS is currently going through a process to evaluate candidates for the principal position at Earle STEM," said Bill McCaffrey, a CPS spokesman. "While the selection process is ongoing, the Local School Councils' feedback will be incorporated in the proposal that will ultimately be brought to the CEO [Barbara Byrd-Bennett]."
Betty Smith is the interim principal until a new principal is hired.
Once a new principal is hired, he or she would be the Earle's third principal in less than a year.
In August, interim Principal Demetrius Hobson resigned after eight months, and, in December, former Principal Ketesha Melendez was reassigned to Crispus Attucks Elementary School in Bronzeville.
The constant change in leadership is not sitting well with parents.
"It's not good to have all these principals," said Davon DeFrance. "I won't be sending any more of my kids to a public school."
The 34-year-old Englewood father has one child on the way and a pre-kindergartener and third-grader at Earle.
"I went to private schools so I did not have to experience this type of chaos," DeFrance said. "CPS is [changing principals] because this is a neighborhood school and many parents don't have a lot of options to send their kids elsewhere."
Breanna Scott, 24, said she was unaware that the school did not have a permanent principal.
"I have not received any letters or anything from CPS letting me know they were looking for a new principal," said Scott, who has two children in pre-kindergarten and one in kindergarten at Earle. "I guess CPS felt like this type of stuff is not important to us. Well, they're wrong."
Ald. JoAnn Thompson (16th), whose ward includes Earle, said parents should be patient and give CPS a chance to select the right person for the job.
"I am hoping this is the last principal search because children suffer when you have a school in disarray," Thompson said. "If this search goes on too long, then I will have to get involved to see what I can do to speed up the process."
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