(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Despite overwhelming passage of legislation mandating an elected school board in Chicago, Mayor Lightfoot says she’s still hoping to persuade lawmakers to make major revisions to the measure.
The bill that would eventually create a 21-member elected Board of Eduction by 2027 passed the House on Wednesday.
Lightfoot noted the bill’s sponsor, Chicago Democrat Delia Ramirez, placed a procedural hold on the measure. She said she hopes that gives her administration some room to negotiate changes.
For years, Chicago mayors have appointed members of the school board, effectively giving the city’s top elected official control of Chicago Public Schools.
Meantime, Gov. Pritzker on Thursday promised to sign the bill if it reaches his desk.
He said 21 members may be a large number of board members but added drawing 20 districts would give residents within them a greater say in how CPS is run. A 21st board member would run at-large.
Lightfoot has said the bill has numerous faults, such as not regulating the amount of money that can be spent in a school board race. She recently had pushed for a permanent hybrid board, weighted with appointees.
The Chicago Teachers Union says a fully elected school board is an idea whose time has come.
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