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Harmon files amendment to elect all Chicago school board members next year

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Senate President Don Harmon has filed amendment 2 to HB2233 dealing with the elected Chicago school board. Under this new proposal, half of the 20 members will be elected for two-year terms, and half elected to four-year terms. In two years, those with two-year terms will be elected to four-year terms. The amendment bypassed committee.

Rich talked to Speaker Chris Welch’s spokesperson who said that the Speaker and Senate President will meet to discuss this idea. There was no immediate indication that this would be a problem.

An agreement had been made with former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to appoint phase-in the elected board, but she’s no longer around.

Adding…Rep. Ann Williams, sponsor of HB4221, which is the House’s latest version of an elected school board bill…

Our priority is to ensure this every Chicagoan has the opportunity to vote for the elected school in year one. The House’s “Representation for All Plan” is an effort to ensure the most equitable and representative as. possible. We’re reviewing the Senate’s amendment and open to continuing the conversation.

* UPDATE: The Senate has adjourned without moving HB2233.

posted by Isabel Miller
Tuesday, Nov 7, 23 @ 6:19 pm

Comments

Seems like the smartest way to do it, right? Not been following this too closely.

Comment by wowie Tuesday, Nov 7, 23 @ 7:11 pm
If Johnson didn’t come from CTU you might think the union would be all over having an election in every district. They might want to stack the deck with Brandon appointing half and giving them a leg up on reelection in two years. I have not heard what his stance is on half appointments vs all elected.

Comment by Been There Tuesday, Nov 7, 23 @ 8:23 pm
I prefer the Senate version. It’s simpler; everyone gets to vote, and anyone who wants to run for election can run, and not be precluded from doing so because they live in a subdistrict where an appointee lives.

Comment by Valerie F. Leonard Tuesday, Nov 7, 23 @ 10:18 pm
So are CTU members allowed to run?
If so do they have to resign from being a paid teacher before taking office?
Thank goodness they will, hopefully, be getting a salary that can replace the income they’ll lose not being a teacher. I hope Rep Martwick brings up the resolution they can continue to get pension credit as long as they pay the 11% pension piece of their salary.

This is going to be a full-time job with full-time staff. No different than MWRD. It will have massive campaign cash all to decide teachers salaries and pensions, not to decide what to teach in schools. Add in huge union infrastructure payouts as well.

Comment by Frida's boss Wednesday, Nov 8, 23 @ 1:50 am
=== This is going to be a full-time job with full-time staff===

You keep saying staff.

Where is that part of this?

=== It will have massive campaign cash all to decide teachers salaries and pensions, not to decide what to teach in schools. Add in huge union infrastructure payouts as well.===

Oh. This is a CTU worry. Got it.

Elections have consequences.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Nov 8, 23 @ 10:19 am
I heard about the House Executive meeting very very late. It seems that they gave a few minutes notice. There was no virtual option. The only witness slip I saw was filled out by a CTU rep, who supports the House version but not the Senate version. I filed in opposition because I prefer the Senate version. What is troubling is the hearing seemed to have been called with minutes notice, no virtual option and one person giving testimony. At least I only caught the tail end of one person giving testimony. If the CTU was the only representative with the opportunity to speak, that’s troubling. There may or may not have been a second person testifying who is a lobbyist, and is in Springfield frequently. At what point will the process be truly democratic (small “d”), where everyone has equal opportunity to weigh in on these matters.

Comment by Valerie F. Leonard Wednesday, Nov 8, 23 @ 3:01 pm