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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Chicago Public Schools is the only school district
3in the State of Illinois that, by law, requires an appointed
4rather than elected school board; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The Chicago Board of Education has the power to
6levy property taxes, cut or increase funding for schools, set
7the terms of teacher contracts, and decide whether neighborhood
8schools should remain open or shutter their doors; and
 
9    WHEREAS, The members of the Chicago Board of Education
10making these crucial decisions, which impact every student,
11parent, educator, businessperson, and homeowner in the city,
12are not accountable to the general public but rather to the
13Chicago mayor and special interests; and
 
14    WHEREAS, The appointed school board system has led to the
15privatization of school services and conflicts of interest,
16including cases wherein board members profit from the school
17district by contracting with businesses owned by the board
18member; and
 
19    WHEREAS, For years, concerned parents, community members
20and their elected officials in the General Assembly have
21advocated for legislation providing for an elected school board

 

 

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1for the City of Chicago; and
 
2    WHEREAS, The General Assembly is closer than ever to
3passing such a measure and establishing an elected school board
4in the near future; and
 
5    WHEREAS, During recent elections, the amount of money
6flowing into campaigns for candidates up and down the ballot
7has been unprecedented, giving wealthy individuals and
8corporations a large influence over voters; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Across the United States, local communities have
10taken action to curb the influence of big money in campaigns;
11and
 
12    WHEREAS, Unless action is taken by the State of Illinois
13and the City of Chicago, funding from corporations and the
14ultra-wealthy will flow into elections for the Chicago Board of
15Education, leading board members to be accountable to special
16interests rather than the local community; therefore, be it
 
17    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
18HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
19we urge the General Assembly to consider developing a campaign
20finance reform structure and implementing it specifically in
21regard to elections for the Chicago Board of Education; and be

 

 

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1it further
 
2    RESOLVED, That members of the Illinois General Assembly are
3encouraged to work with city officials and interested members
4of the Chicago Public Schools community to develop legislation
5that may be introduced after the creation of an elected Chicago
6Board of Education.