Good afternoon. Here’s the latest news you need to know in Chicago. It’s about a 5-minute read that will brief you on today’s biggest stories.
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Top story
Racist nicknames, throwing chairs and belittling parents: CPS ousts principal for ‘indefensibly unprofessional and unsafe’ behavior
Racist nicknames for staff members, chair throwing, questionable handling of a special education program, harsh treatment of parents and an alternate experience for Black families combined to create a toxic environment at a top-rated elementary school under the leadership of a principal who resigned late last week, according to new details uncovered by a Chicago Public Schools investigation.
The district probe was prompted by a school cafeteria worker’s March concussion at the hands of the principal, Kurt Jones, who threw a water bottle that hit her in the face. But the investigation revealed the incident to be just one of countless uncomfortable, unprofessional and sometimes dangerous actions by Jones, according to interviews with three dozen parents and current and former staff members, summaries of which were provided to us in an investigative report.
Jones stepped down from his role as the principal of Franklin Elementary Fine Arts Center when presented with the findings of a CPS investigation. That investigation grew in scope when new complaints poured in after our report in early April detailed the lunchroom manager’s injuries. Though the district completed its investigation May 1 and investigators filed their report May 10, Jones was on the job all along: he resigned last Friday, the day after the school year ended.
Asked why Jones was still at work three months after the lunchroom worker’s injury and a month after the CPS report was finalized, spokeswoman Emily Bolton said there are several steps between the conclusion of an investigation and disciplinary action. CPS would have fired Jones from the job that paid him more than $152,000 if he hadn’t resigned, Bolton said.
District investigators said they substantiated eight distinct disciplinary charges, each comprised of numerous allegations, and wrote in an investigative report that Jones conducted himself in a “categorically unprofessional” manner, taking part in “indefensibly unprofessional and unsafe” behavior and caused some staff members of color “various feelings of harassment, discrimination and humiliation.” Three other conduct charges were referred to different CPS departments for further investigation.
In three conversations between Jones and CPS investigators, the former principal offered a defense of his actions: He denied any racist intent behind his comments, ascribed some of his behavior to playful attempts to build relationships with his staff, and held that his interactions with parents that were perceived as condescending or patronizing were the result of his aim to fulfill his responsibilities as an administrator and educator. Jones did, however, acknowledge that several incidents were true as alleged, while trying to explain his harmless intent.
Jones, 46, was previously principal at Libby Elementary on the South Side from 2007 to 2016. Reached by text this week, Jones, who has been consulting an attorney, said, “My life has been dedicated to the education of students in the City of Chicago. There are often many sides to a story. Soon, I will be sharing my side of the story.”
Read Nader Issa’s full story for detailed accounts of the allegations against Kurt Jones.
More news you need
- Students and activists are holding protests across the city, including in front the Chicago school board president’s house, in a final push toward police-free schools. A vote by the school board on whether to remove police officers from public schools is expected this afternoon.
- You can still celebrate July 4th on Navy Pier this year — but you won’t see any fireworks. The Chicago landmark will celebrate Independence Day with live music, outdoor dining and cruises on Lake Michigan.
- The president of the Fraternal Order of Police is calling Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s bluff, saying if she’s serious about making disciplinary changes to the police contract, she’ll eliminate the requirement that officers live in the city and give them the right to strike. One proposed disciplinary change would allow anonymous complaints — without a sworn affidavit.
- If you’re the owner of a small business in the city that’s been hurt by the pandemic or recent looting, you can now apply for a grant of up to $7,500. My Block, My Hood, My City has raised about $1 million to help local businesses recover.
- The family of a 57-year-old man who fell to his death while working to build a West Side church is suing his former employer for allegedly failing to provide fall protections. The suit claims the builder knowingly exposed employees to falling hazards by not providing proper scaffolding, railing, harnesses or supervision.
- The Shedd Aquarium is reopening to members and sponsors on July 1, and the general public on July 3. New safety measures include limited and timed admission, face mask requirements and circulation paths.
A bright one
How Dylan Strome’s puppy helped him handle a whirlwind pandemic experience
When Blackhawks center Dylan Strome adopted a golden retriever puppy during the All-Star break, he hoped his new dog — promptly named Wrigley — would keep the mood light during the ups and downs of his NHL seasons.
Little did he know that Wrigley would soon become his every-day companion and source of entertainment through his longest stretch away from hockey.
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For two months, the pending restricted free agent kept in shape by running and roller-skating around the block with his pup, using a newly purchased Peloton bike and doing workouts over Zoom with Hawks trainer Paul Goodman: “That might’ve been the longest anyone — at least me, personally — has been off the ice since I was maybe 9 or 10 years old,” he said.
Since then, Wrigley has doubled in age and weight, from an adorable, if a “little crazy” puppy, as Strome described his new best friend back on March 8, to a nearly full-grown dog.
Now, Strome and Wrigley are waiting to see if hockey can return: “If it’s safe, you want to get back to playing hockey — that’s what we all miss doing and love to do. But if there’s some doubt, I think guys have families and kids and have to look at the future, as well. It’s definitely up in the air, and it’s not really for me to decide.”
Regardless of the outcome, he’ll at least have a cuddly, playful, 60-pound ball of affection to carry him through.
Read the full story from Ben Pope.
From the press box
While both sides in MLB’s standoff over the 2020 season finally came to terms on a deal that’ll have players report to training camp July 1, Rick Morrissey says baseball fans shouldn’t forgive the owners and players for arguing over money while a pandemic raged across the country.
Your daily question ☕
How have your pets helped keep your mood up during the coronavirus pandemic?
Email us (please include your first name and where you live) and we might include your answer in the next Afternoon Edition.
Yesterday, we asked you if you’ll be returning to the gym now that they’re reopening under Phase 4 of Chicago’s reopening plan. Here’s what some of you said…
“Probably not. I don’t want to work out in a mask. I can’t do cardio with one of those on, I’ll just continue to work out at home until masks are no longer a requirement.” — Kristi Lynne
“Too soon! Let somebody else be the guinea pig.” — Les Payne
“I will. The ‘quarantine 15’ is real.” — Al Southers
“Yes! I miss the gym more than anything else.” — Mackenzie Currans
We rounded up more of your answers here.
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