Chicago Schools Chief Reorganizes District

Rebecca Vevea

New Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard unveiled a major reorganization of the district's management structure Wednesday, overhauling how schools are divided regionally and creating new upper management positions.

Brizard created four new cabinet-level positions: Chief Community and Family Engagement Officer and Chief Portfolio Officer, who will report to Brizard, and Chief of Leadership Development and Chief of Instruction, who will be under Chief Education Officer Noemi Donoso. District spokeswoman Becky Carroll said the new positions will not increase the size of the central office staff.

Brizard said the Chief Portfolio Officer will face a "monumental task" to develop the district's strategy for increasing high-quality school options, especially in high-need neighborhoods on the South and West Sides. The portfolio officer will be charged with helping to decide when to open new schools and close existing ones, Brizard said, and may also work to attract outside school operators, such as the College Board, to run schools in Chicago.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at July 28, 2011 1:16 AM
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