ROSCOE VILLAGE — The decision of who will lead Chicago Public Schools' largest high school is now in the hands of district CEO Forrest Claypool after Lane Tech College Prep's Local School Council failed to reach consensus on hiring a new principal.
The LSC winnowed its finalists down months ago: Kathy Anderson, Lane Tech assistant principal, and Cliff Gabor, principal at Mary Lyon Elementary in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood.
During a series of votes, the most recent taking place last week, Anderson consistently received the support of six members, one shy of the seven required.
With members entrenched in their positions, the LSC had two options: start over or submit the finalists to Claypool to break the deadlock.
According to the LSC reference guide, the CEO has 30 days to evaluate the candidates and offer one a contract.
Asked to comment on Claypool's selection process, CPS provided the following statement:
"When choosing the next principal of Lane Tech, the CEO will make the best choice for the students and school community, which has demonstrated its enthusiasm and passion for a strong leader by offering support for both candidates."
LSCs were created in 1988 as part of the Chicago School Reform Act, with the intention of giving parents and members of the community more control over their schools.
The three primary responsibilities of an LSC are: approval over certain budget items, developing and monitoring the annual School Improvement Plan, and evaluating and hiring the school's principal.
The top job at Lane Tech has been open since February, when Christopher Dignam announced he was resigning with a year left on his contract in order to take a job in suburban Deerfield.
David Gilligan, a retired CPS administrator, has been serving as Lane's acting principal since July.
Lane Tech has a tradition of hiring from within. Dignam and his two immediate predecessors, Toni LoBosco and Keith Foley, were teachers and administrators at the school before being tapped as principal. Dignam and Foley were also Lane Tech alums.
Anderson was a science teacher at Lane before becoming an assistant principal at the school. Gabor is a 1991 Lane Tech grad.
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