Rapper Paid $192K for Nonexistent NYC School
Rapper Caleb Haraguchi-Combs received a $192K salary for leading a never-opened NYC high school project.
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Former assistant principal Caleb Haraguchi-Combs, a 33-year-old rapper, received a $192,000 salary for leading a never-opened high school project in New York City. The project, Next Generation Technology High School, was intended to focus on artificial intelligence and computer technology but was scrapped in April by Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels.
Salary for Nonexistent School
Haraguchi-Combs was appointed as project director for the school earlier this year, even though the institution was never opened to students. According to the New York Post, the role typically involved taking on the responsibilities of a principal. However, the city’s education officials terminated the proposal due to ‘woke backlash over its merit-based admissions model and general fear of AI in schools.’
Education Policy Shifts
In September, the New York City Department of Education announced a new policy banning generative AI tools for students from early childhood through eighth grade. Despite this, Haraguchi-Combs was still receiving his salary, which was over $140,000 annually at his previous position as assistant principal at the Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics.
DOE Response
The DOE stated that Haraguchi-Combs is currently ‘developing new proposals and supporting in-progress proposals,’ a typical role for project directors whose schools don’t exist. However, a DOE source strongly refuted this claim, stating, ‘Unless a principal has tenure, they get bumped back to AP if their schools don’t open. Officials ‘never should have named a principal before the school was approved.’
Rap Career and Lyrics
Haraguchi-Combs, known for his rap career, also wrote a song titled ‘War Propaganda’ featured on Apple Music. The lyrics express frustration over political power and the lack of accountability in leadership, suggesting a war is ongoing outside the classroom.
Teacher Performance Metrics
Meanwhile, teachers in New York City’s public schools were reportedly passing nearly 100 percent of their students, even though a large number of them were struggling to learn math and reading. This raises concerns about the accuracy of performance metrics and the effectiveness of current educational practices.
Source: Breitbart
