Gage Park HS Principal Fired For Refusing To Enroll More Kids

"The interim principal of Chicago's Gage Park High School [Martin McGreal, 37] has been fired for refusing an order to enroll more students at his overcrowded school on the Southwest Side...On the Southwest Side, Hubbard, Kennedy, Curie, Kelly and Bogan High Schools all have a third shift."

Link: Principal stands up to system, gets fired | Chicago Tribune.

UPDATE:  If anyone knows this guy's cell phone or how to find him, please let me know -- AlexanderRusso@gmail.com.

Comments

Another martyr for the cause...

Add Hirsch

What happened at Hirsch?

[Levois]

Outrageous!!!

Who is this demographic planner? That is the person who should be fired.

Lindbloom is in the phase out mode for college prep and had only 112 students in 2005. At their peak year they had 1076 students. In 2005, Gage Park had 1599 students and 1t 119% of capacity. There are 8 selective high schools and 5 regular high schools mentioned. In 2005 the selective HS total enrollments were 10,625 and the 5 regular HS enrollments were 11,249 students. Kelly is at 174 of capacity. There is not one selective HS at 100% capacity. The demographic planner has the mentality of school leadership.

This ia the classic example of why Ren10 is bad. It develops selective schools at the expense of the children in neighborhood schools. We are seeing the development of a massive two tier system, especially in high schools. It is a travesty. Add Gage to Hyde Park, Clemente, Wells, Hirsch, Bogan, Kelly, Kennedy, Phillips, Fenger, etc. to the list of neighborhood schools that are becoming the cps dumping ground

Lindblom is already housing another school.
http://www.lmsa.cps.k12.il.us/Index.htm

There is only one school located within the Lindblom facility, that is the Lindblom Math and Science Academy HS, which is one of eight selective enrollment high schools. It will have a 9th grade and 10th grade in the upcoming school year.

The former school was officially closed earlier this year (see http://www.cps.k12.il.us/AboutCPS/Board/Board_Actions/FY06/02/06-0222-EX10.pdf)

URBAN PREP CHARTER SCHOOL
For the 2006-2007 school year, Urban Prep Charter School for Young Men will be sharing the Lindblom building. Please read the Principal's letter here.
Please read the letter from Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan here.

I don't really know how this got to be about Lindblom but to correct 7:36, Urban Prep is moving into the Lindblom facility next year (for one year). Why was there no forsight in school construction? I have read that this has been a growing problem for 10 years.

1:59 said that none of the SE schools are at capacity. Northside, Payton, Lane, Jones & Young would be surprised to hear that.

The southwest side has been overcrowded since the early 1980's. This is not new. What is new is that there is a principal who cares more about his students than his salary. Where are the politicians and advocacy groups? What does the Principals' Association say about this?
The Sun-Times needs to get on this story.

The Southwest side is in greatest need of a new high school. No question.

% capacity selective high schools; King 5%, Lindbloom 31%, Northside 88%, Payton 53%, Young 89%, Lane 94%, Jones 81%, and Brooks 72%. Southwest side elementary schools are all overcrowded.

Kudos! To the Principal at Gage Park. Someone is finally standing up to the Politics in this city. As educators we need to give him all the support we can. I am sure the media will address this issue, and "PRINCIPAL GAGE" will probably have an abundance of job offers. Stand Proud "Mr. Gage", God is not through with you yet!!!

Again, the politicians are making unrealistic demands and decisions, which, in most cases, they do not have the educational training for. It's said to say that it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know, that at this late date you do not make drastic changes that will prevent the successful opening of a school.

First of all, by this time all teaching staff members are in place, and it will be very difficult to get teachers, at this late date. There are many other pertinent issues in the daily operations of a school; apparently our overpaid politicians don't realize. Our children are being shuffled around like a deck of cards. Have these so-called, GIVE OURSELVES RAISES WHEN WE WANT TO, leaders thought about the safety factor, the availability of classroom space, and the courses the students have selected? Is this the reason why Daley is pushing for a five year education plan? One may wonder why the suburban school districts have much better results than Chicago. Hum...the political machine of Daley, what a JOKE!!!

[Kugler]

My new catch phrase for this is "educational terrorism."

I think it is well beyond John Kozol's apartheid connotation. It is a means to train youth to listen, pass tests and shut up or you are a failure. And not only are you a failure but so is your community and the reward will be to ship you to a far off unknown area for your reeducation.

Is this guy brave? Hell no he had nothing to loose, in this labor market, and he is part of the problem. Anyone in the salary range of 100+ quiting a few days before schools is incompetant and should be sweeping a street with his certification: no regard for the students.

In prosperity our friends know us; in adversity we know our friends.
John Churton Collins

No disrespect Mr. Kugler, but your aldermen and Mayor are in the same salary range. Many of your aldermen have no more than a high school diploma. What are they doing that warrants such monetary gain? They definitely are not sitting in front of children. The reality is that they are running the education system in Chicago.

Regardless of his salary range, this man has integrity; something that is missing in today’s society.

I wouldn't say he has integrity. I'd say he's clueless about the CPS HS system. Every HS principal knows that before September STATUS (the CPS student info system) over-represents the number of "registered" students. Gage Park's actual 06-07 enrollment will be *lower* than in recent years. Did anyone notice that the Board actually dramatically reduced the number of students living in its boundary in an attempt to address this issue? (http://www.cps.k12.il.us/AboutCPS/Board/Board_Actions/FY05/03/05-0323-EX10.pdf).

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena (TR), so don't say this guy has integrity. He has nothing to lose in this labor market? Oh, right. There are thousands of school districts looking to a hire an obstreperous HS principal who walked out on kids two weeks before school.

You're hired!

Where did those % capacity numbers come from? I know they're wrong for my school. We are an overcroweded college prep.

The man did not walk out. He stood up for something he felt that was wrong. Would you put your child in a class with 40 students. You may look at the enrollment, yet you also much consider the course curriculum. What happens if 30 of these new enrollees want to take computer technology and you only have 3 labs with 28 work stations; where do you put them? Can you get a teacher at this late date, or you just put a sub in who doesn't have the background for technology? You also have to realize that many of the students in these areas are competing with social ills of society. Teachers are not able to just go in and teach the subject matter which is really sad. Many of our suburban counterparts, do not have to deal with the same situation. On the private school side; they would NOT overload their classes but just close enrollment. Yet even if they had to take more students, they would surely agree, that it is not conducive for a learning environment.

No need in getting angry, but you have to look and the entire picture. If these were the ideal situations; your comments would be correct. Should I assume that you are not an educator?

Some schools may have to allow for the anticipation of walk-ins or last minute enrollees, but not over 200! Give me a break. You must be an alderman?

6:47.

There are 1,130 9th grade students in Gage Park's attendance area. 650 have registered and have schedules. This is not a STATUS number. There are another 120 that do not have a school and will now be going to Gage. And, yes, traditionally Gage gets 100-200 walk-ups.

The building capacity is 1,448. Gage has already registered and scheduled 1,650. There will be at least 1,800 students enrolled and in membership after the first two weeks.