Chicago Alderman's sister named Chicago Public School principal despite failing eligibility test

The Chicago Tribune reports:

A powerful Chicago alderman's sister who failed Chicago Public Schools' selection test for principals twice will become the new principal at Gray Elementary thanks to changes in the district's hiring policy made in July.

Catherine Sugrue has been an assistant principal at the Portage Park school for a year. She is the sister of Ald. Patrick O'Connor, 40th, Mayor Rahm Emanuel's City Council floor leader.

Gray's Local School Council selected Sugrue as principal in the spring. The district did not allow the promotion to go through because Sugrue had failed a principal eligibility assessment twice in the last 12 months, making her ineligible for the position. Officials said she could retake the assessment in three years.


But under a new policy approved at the July 23 Board of Education meeting, the schools chief can appoint an interim principal regardless of whether he or she passed the eligibility assessment, if the person "has a proven record of performance" demonstrating "he or she is exceptionally qualified" to serve the needs of the school. The interim status is indefinite and at the discretion of the CEO.

A government run school system is run by politicians: should be we shocked? This maybe one of the best examples on why public education should be abolished.