Principals and teachers at Chicago Public Schools are gearing up for the school year that begins next week, and some say they’re doing it without a needed chief education officer.

The chief education officer is the No. 2 position at the district. That person helps determine the education strategy citywide. 

Clarice Berry heads the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association. She says the job of education chief is critical because major decisions are being made for the upcoming school year. 

BERRY: The principals are feeling a little lost at sea. There’s no continuous stream of educational advice, strategies, and directions coming out. I think we really do have to get someone. This is a post that can not go unfilled much longer.

Berry says she hopes an educator will be selected for the position.

Schools chief Ron Huberman says he hopes the office will be filled in the “near future.“