HIGH SCHOOL SCANDAL
Multiple allegations of sex misconduct, other wrongdoing led to staff suspensions at Lincoln Park H.S., cancellation of basketball season, CPS says
The allegations that led to the ouster of top administrators at Lincoln Park High School and the cancellation of the boys basketball season last week included multiple instances of sexual misconduct, retaliation against witnesses, lying to families and financial mismanagement of the athletics program, Chicago Public Schools officials said at a meeting at the school Monday night.
CPS Chief Schools Officer Bogdana Chkoumbova told a packed school auditorium that students had been harmed “physically” and “emotionally.”
The decision to remove the school leadership is “irreversible,” said Chkoumbova.
“There are allegations of both adult-on-student sexual misconduct as well as student on student,” Deb Spraggins, director of investigations for the Office of Student Protections, said.
But Marybeth Jones, a member of the local school council, said members of the school’s governing body were “shocked” and “blindsided” by the removals.
“It would be unconscionable for CPS to decapitate the most student-focused, faculty-focused, safety-focused and community dedicated administration it has had in anyone’s memory,” she said.
In a presentation shown at the meeting, CPS laid out in broad terms the allegations that have prompted four distinct investigations by the CPS Office of Student Protections and Title IX (OSP) and the CPS Office of Inspector General.
The presentation did not provide extensive details of the incidents or allege who was specifically involved. Chkoumbova said additional details would not be immediately forthcoming as the investigations continued. The allegations also include:
◆ Failure to follow mandatory sexual misconduct reporting procedures
◆ Repeated and ongoing retaliation against witnesses and complainants
◆ Improper student discipline
◆ Interference with an official investigation by school leadership and staff
◆ Withholding evidence from investigative bodies
◆ Improper evidence gathering and retraumatizing interviews of students
◆ Dishonesty to families
◆ Allowing suspended employees to continue to work
◆ Athletic recruiting violations
◆ Financial misconduct with respect to athletics’ program accounts
Probes began in early January
The series of events started Jan. 2 when the OSP received a report of misconduct involving the Lincoln Park boys basketball team on a trip to Detroit near the end of December. Five days later, the district found allegations of “additional serious policy violations,” according to the presentation. That’s when Lions basketball coach Pat Gordon was suspended by CPS.
The district at that time was investigating claims about students having sex in Detroit, social media being involved and that Gordon knew about it, the Sun-Times previously reported. Gordon, who denied knowledge of the alleged incident in Detroit, has not been accused of improper contact with a student.
As the investigation continued, CPS days later found “greater systemic policy violations by adults,” though the presentation doesn’t clarify what those included.
Alleged assault in the school
Investigators on Jan. 14 learned of a new, separate complaint of alleged sexual misconduct, the presentation says. A CPS source said that involved a female and male student inside a classroom and was unrelated to the basketball team.
Two days later CPS found a case of “student-on-student retaliation previously reported to school leadership that was not properly reported to ensure student safety,” the presentation says. Those findings prompted the opening of two new investigations.
On Jan. 17, the inspector general’s office received another report of alleged sexual misconduct involving the girls basketball team and launched a fourth investigation. The IG’s office on
Jan. 24 requested the removal of an unidentified adult related to the girls basketball team investigation.
Later that week, the district “was made aware of additional systemic schoolwide issues regarding misconduct and sports,” according to the presentation. That’s when CPS decided to remove interim principal John Thuet and assistant principal Michelle Brumfield while reassigning a dean and interim basketball coach Donovan Robinson.
The reminder of the boys basketball season was suspended “due to the severity of the allegations and the adverse culture that was created,” the presentation states.
Team culture defended
Gordon on Monday denied the team culture was a problem and said the complaints are from disgruntled people.
“Our culture is better than any other program in the city,” he said.
“Does this mean anyone can say anything and [CPS] is going to suspend the coach? ... Some of the stuff I’m hearing is about bullying and favoritism. Every coach has favoritism. We favor the kids that work hard and are committed to the program.”
Neither Thuet nor Brumfield could be reached for comment.
Student walkout
Before some of the allegations were outlined later Monday, about 300 Lincoln Park High School students walked out of class in the morning, demanding the reinstatement of Thuet and Brumfield and the resumption of the basketball season.
“This is all we know,” said Romelle Howard, co-captain of the basketball team. “We worked too hard to come this far just for our season to end. It’s pretty messed up.”