Should Public Schools Have an Elected School Board?
Posted: Thursday Oct 04, 2012

In Search of Democracy in Education: Should Chicago Public Schools Have an Elected School Board?


 


Who:  State Representative La Shawn K. Ford, Sponsor of HB 5727; Progressive Action Coalition in Education (PACE) and the Lawndale Alliance


 


What:  Series of town hall meetings to discuss the pros and cons of an elected school board in Chicago; to provide the status of advisory referendum asking voters if they think Chicago Public Schools should have an elected school board; to provide an overview of State Representative La Shawn K. Ford's HB 5727, a bill seeking to create a task force to study optimal governance structure of Chicago Public School's Board of Education; to discuss the roles of the City Council, Chicago Board of Education and LSC in public education; to discuss the need to develop a school board that is reflective of Chicago communities;  to hear a panel discussion featuring proponents and opponents of an elected school board in Chicago.  Invited panelists include representatives from Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Teachers Union, Democrats for Education Reform (DFER), Communities Organized for Democracy in Education (CODE) and Chicago Community Coalition for an Elected School Board (CCC4ESB). 


 


When/Where: 
October 2, 2012
Sankofa Cultural Art Center
5820 West Chicago Ave 
6:00 pm- 8:00 pm


 


October 8, 2012
Legler Library
115 South Pulaski
6:00 pm- 8:00 pm


 


October 29, 2012
Carey Tercentenary AMEC
1448 South Homan
6:00 pm- 8:00 pm


 


Why:   There is a growing feeling among parents, community groups and Chicago citizens that the Chicago Board of Education is not responsive to concerns of rank and file parents, students and local residents.  Four community coalitions, including CODE, PACE, CCC4ESB and the Lawndale Alliance have collected a combined 15,000 signatures from Chicago voters asking that a referendum be put on the November ballot asking voters if they think Chicago should have an elected school board. The referendum will be on the ballot in more than 250 precincts in 26 wards in Chicago. All 24th Ward voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on the question.  The 24th Ward, which includes most of North Lawndale, and some parts of Little Village, is ground zero for a disproportionately high number of school actions, including turnarounds, closings, phaseouts and proliferation of charter schools in former public school campuses.  There are no representatives from the West Side on the Chicago Board of Education.
 


Contact: 
Valerie F. Leonard
E-mail: consulting@valeriefleonard.com
 


More Information: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151202064238024.483466.587348023&type=1&l=fc1a9eb808

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