HR0796 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0796 LRB100 18386 MST 33595 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, 94% of school boards around the country are elected; of the 10 largest school districts in the country, only three, including Chicago Public Schools (CPS), have appointed boards; and

WHEREAS, The City of Chicago is the only city in Illinois who by law is required to appoint their school board; an elected school board would represent the diverse viewpoints of members' constituencies the same way any legislative body does; and

WHEREAS, Having an appointed board has weakened CPS over the years; millions of dollars have been cut from district school budgets and numerous CPS schools have been closed or phased-out since 2012; and

WHEREAS, In 2015, Chicago overwhelmingly voted for a non-binding referendum pushed by leaders of the Chicago Teachers Union, who called the absence of an elected school board the "most pressing civil rights issue" in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, The people of Chicago are in desperate need of a board who represents their communities; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we encourage the General Assembly to pass legislation that requires Chicago Public Schools board members, who are currently appointed by the Mayor of Chicago, to be elected by the people; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to Chicago Public Schools board members, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and all the members of the General Assembly.