CPS to Pay $700K After Wrongfully Firing Lincoln Park High Principals Over False Misconduct Claims
CHICAGO, Illinois — The Chicago Board of Education has agreed to pay $700,000 to two former Lincoln Park High School principals, closing a five-year saga that began with widely publicized — and later disproven — allegations of sexual misconduct.
Principals Fired Without Investigation
In January 2020, John Thuet and Michelle Brumfield were abruptly fired amid a wave of suspensions and accusations at LPHS. The claims, presented as “adult on student sexual misconduct,” fueled protests, student walkouts, and citywide attention.
But an investigation later revealed the allegations were false, retaliatory, and mishandled by senior CPS officials. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) found the decision to terminate Thuet and Brumfield was made without notice, warning, or due process, and based on misleading information.
OIG Report Exposes Misconduct at CPS
At the center of the controversy was Camie Pratt, head of the Office of Student Protection (OSP), who filed a complaint involving her daughter’s basketball coach. Pratt and OSP investigator Deborah Spraggins were later accused of conducting a “secret off-the-books investigation” and exaggerating claims during public meetings.
The OIG’s 90-page report in 2024 condemned their actions, stating:
“Pratt’s and Spraggins’s conduct fundamentally undermined OSP’s integrity and fairness and jeopardized public trust in CPS.”
Legal Settlements and Restitution
Over the years, CPS faced multiple lawsuits tied to the LPHS scandal.
- In 2023, CPS settled with deans Donovan Robinson and John Johnson for $1 million.
- In 2024, Thuet and Brumfield were removed from CPS’s “Do Not Hire” list after an outside petition.
- In 2025, the CPS Board approved $350,000 payments to each principal as part of the final settlement.
Their attorney, Bill Choslovsky, said the case shows CPS must do better:
“The choice for CPS should not be either protecting students or treating their teachers, coaches, and principals with dignity and some due process. It needs to do both.”
Community Fallout
The scandal left a lasting mark on the Lincoln Park High School community. Parents and students were left angry over years of uncertainty, while staff members who were cleared of wrongdoing said their reputations were unfairly destroyed.
For Thuet and Brumfield, the settlement closes a chapter — but the case highlights serious flaws in CPS’s handling of misconduct claims and the need for transparency in safeguarding both students and staff.
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