Mon Sep 23 21:44:46 UTC 2024: ## Chicagoans to Elect School Board for the First Time in History
Chicago will hold its first-ever election for members of the Chicago Board of Education on November 5th. This marks a historic shift from the previous system where all members were appointed by the mayor.
This change comes after years of grassroots activism, fueled by dissatisfaction with the appointed board’s handling of issues like school closures and funding. The newly elected board will initially have ten members, with the remaining eleven still appointed by the mayor. By 2026, the board will become entirely elected.
The election has already seen a flurry of activity, with various interest groups vying for influence. The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), the Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS), and several independent committees have already begun campaign spending and candidate endorsements.
While the election presents an opportunity for greater community involvement, the impact on the quality of education remains uncertain. Some research suggests that big-city districts with appointed boards may have seen slightly better student performance, and concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of a large, 21-member board.
The election also highlights challenges in achieving fair representation. A significant number of parents of CPS students are non-citizens and cannot vote, even though a bill to allow non-citizen voting failed in the state legislature.
The focus of the campaign appears to be on the practical concerns of the district, such as finances, transportation, building repairs, school safety, and improving outcomes for underserved students. While some candidates are promoting school choice, others are emphasizing the importance of strengthening neighborhood schools.
Ultimately, the success of the elected board will depend on voter engagement and participation. As Roderick Wilson, a longtime advocate for an elected board, stated, “Having an elected school board is not a panacea…But it does give us power. If we have someone representing us on that board and they’re not doing what we need them to do, we can vote them out. But it’s all gonna fall back on us.”
First Piper 