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House OKs plan to restore Chicago schools' elected board

Posted May 25, 2017 7:00 am

The Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Illinois House has again endorsed a proposal to restore an elected school board for Chicago Public Schools.

Representatives approved the measure 105-9 Thursday. The chamber OK'd a similar plan last year. The proposal heads to the Senate.

Democratic Rep. Robert Martwick of Chicago is sponsoring the bill. He says Chicago residents have overwhelmingly called for a say in their school board's membership.

Chicago voters elected school board members until legislation took effect in 1995 giving the city's mayor authority to appoint the board. The change was made to deal with the district's systemic problems.

Martwick's plan would provide for a 21-member elected board beginning with Chicago's 2023 primary election.

Democratic Majority Leader Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie of Chicago cautioned a board of that size could become unwieldy.

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The bill is HB1774 .

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