(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Community activists and others gathered outside City Hall today Thursday to rail against the Illinois Senate’s version of a measure that would create an elected school board in Chicago.
Rosa Esquivel of the Pilsen Alliance said the bill moving to the Illinois House for consideration is not a victory for advocates of an elected school board. This is because the Senate bill preserves mayoral control of the school board until 2027, and that’s unacceptable, she said.
The advocates are calling on the Illinois House to vote for the bill they originally passed.
Mayor Lightfoot does not support any of the measures in Springfield, saying lawmakers don’t understand the pitfalls they may create.
Critics note Lightfoot ran on a platform that included an elected school board.