* The Senate Executive Committee is deliberating this bill right now. Click here to watch it. This post will be updated…
State Rep. Delia C. Ramirez, D-Chicago, released the following statement on HB 2908 Senate Amendment 1, the Senate Elected School Board Compromise bill.
“My commitment has always been and continues to be to pass a fully elected and representative school board for Chicago Public Schools. This is why we took action on HB2908 in April, to honor the wishes of the overwhelming majority of CPS parents and stakeholders who have been demanding a fully elected board.
Senate Amendment 1 to HB2908 achieves the goal of finally securing a fully elected school board for CPS. This bill does not set a timeline that I would have wanted or that Chicagoans deserve. However, with key protections during the transition period including a moratorium on school closures and city council confirmation of temporarily appointed members, I believe it is time to finally legislate a path to a fully elected board. If the Senate passes HB 2908 SA1, I plan to call it for concurrence once the house reconvenes.”
…Adding… Senate Exec passed the bill with two Democrats voting “Present.”
…Adding… The full Senate is taking up the bill. Click here to watch it and/or click here to monitor it on the live coverage post.
*** UPDATE *** The bill passed 36-15-2. Sens. Lightford and Harris were both “Present,” the same as they were in committee earlier today.
- TheInvisibleMan - Tuesday, Jun 1, 21 @ 5:50 pm:
“Click Here to watch it.”
- TheInvisibleMan - Tuesday, Jun 1, 21 @ 5:52 pm:
apologies. slipped and hit enter too soon above…
On the click here to watch, there is nothing to click on.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jun 1, 21 @ 5:54 pm:
===there is nothing to click on===
Oops
Been a day
- low level - Tuesday, Jun 1, 21 @ 7:08 pm:
So when might the House take it up for concurrence?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 1, 21 @ 7:16 pm:
Candidate Lightfoot approves… big loss for Mayor Lightfoot
- Dan Johnson - Tuesday, Jun 1, 21 @ 7:19 pm:
As I read it, they moved them to even-numbered years.
- James - Tuesday, Jun 1, 21 @ 8:39 pm:
The mayor probably won’t be around to have to work with an elected school board, so the timing is a big win for her. She’s got her hands full now finding new leaders for CPS–her top three execs all left her.
The politics of this were such that a long transition period was going to be part of it, and it probably could have been worse.
I have to trust Delia Ramirez’s judgment supporting the amendment. Delia’s with the people in her neighborhoods. She’s the real deal.
- Commisar Gritty - Tuesday, Jun 1, 21 @ 8:42 pm:
Hope you were able to get some sleep, Rich. Seems like it was quite the sprint this weekend.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 1, 21 @ 8:53 pm:
===so the timing is a big win for her===
Anytime you lose so badly on policy that you did a 180 on, even if Lightfoot might not face these changes, it’s a loss of stature and leverage to her own power
Lightfoot failed to learn a simple truth all mayors learn, some just not as hard as this… the legislature can’t and won’t bend to any mayor, it’s best to build a coalition and allies then think you can find the noses yourself.
Plus it’s a self own… how can Mayor Lightfoot even contemplate she’s the same as Candidate Lightfoot… at her core?
This is so much bigger than a policy loss, and so much larger than Lightfoot losing out on the merits of policy.
With respect.
- low level - Tuesday, Jun 1, 21 @ 9:24 pm:
I guess it’s a loss for MLL but she’s dug herself such a big hole that I really wonder how much impact this will have.
I can’t think of a single constituency in Chicago that is excited about her being mayor or running for re election.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Tuesday, Jun 1, 21 @ 9:28 pm:
The bill puts a moratorium on school closures until the partially elected board seats in 2025. Don’t think it is super significant, but it is kind of interesting that is in there. Also, having 21 new districts to draw is going to be interesting to say the least.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jun 1, 21 @ 10:30 pm:
=== Also, having 21 new districts to draw is going to be interesting to say the least.===
Maybe we could cut the city council to 21 seats while we’re at it. That would be worth the trade.
- Ashland Adam - Tuesday, Jun 1, 21 @ 11:03 pm:
Found Sen. Lightford a bit much in committee and on the floor. It’s really not all about you - Sen. Lightford.
- walker - Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 1:15 am:
Sometimes compromise produces the dog’s lunch.
- lake county democrat - Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 8:10 am:
Mark the date this bill gets signed - it’s Chicago’s version of the Edgar pension ramp. CTU will control this board and will show every bit of fiscal restraint you’d expect from them.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 8:23 am:
===CTU will control this board===
The nice thing about elections is that unexpected things can always happen. I know you are intimately familiar with Chicago politics in Lake County, but maybe just allow people to control their own schools’ destiny like you can up there.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 8:26 am:
=== Mark the date this bill gets signed - it’s Chicago’s version of the Edgar pension ramp. CTU will control this board===
This is doubtful.
Will they have a slate in hopes to to do just that, dominate, but the political backlash… I mean, kids and parents love the teachers, support teachers, but as a political entity not tried and true as almost a political party… it’s not like CTU is the winning formula to win consistently in Chicago.
“Watch what does happen”… and we’ll see how the House rolls too.
- Ashland Adam - Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 9:16 am:
Candidates w strong CTU will win a few races. Candidates w strong support from INCs/Charters will win a few races. Candidates w strong corporate/financial/billionaire family foundation-funded think tanks will influence outcomes in a few.
Very likely - board elections will mirror the GA and City council make up. some partisans, with most in the middle.
- lake county democrat - Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 9:36 am:
Rich: I’ll be happy to be proved wrong, but that’s my prediction, and it’s from both observing local school board elections here and down ballot/judicial races in the city (thankfully for us luddites we still get hardcopy Tribune and Sun-Times delivery!): non-parents (or non-lawyers) don’t take much interest.