The transition to an elected school board in Chicago moved a step closer to becoming a reality Friday, as the Democratic caucuses of the Illinois Senate and House released a draft of the boundaries for 20 districts in which voters will begin to elect school board members in 2024.
According to a Friday news release from Illinois House and Senate Democrats, the map reflects feedback gathered from citywide public hearings, “including requests to keep communities of interest as whole as possible and to ensure the maps reflect the diversity of Chicago.”
The lawmakers said they welcome additional input on the proposed map, which can be viewed here. The boundaries must be finalized by the General Assembly by July 1.
Opportunities for feedback on the map include an in-person hearing at 10 a.m. Saturday at Curie High School, 4959 S. Archer Ave., held by the Illinois House. A virtual meeting is also planned for 5 p.m. Tuesday at www.ilga.gov, at which the Senate Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board will receive testimony regarding the proposed map.
Constituents can also email feedback to [email protected] and [email protected].
The boundaries for the 20 districts must meet the requirements of the Illinois Voting Rights Act and must be drawn in a way that “preserves clusters of minority voters if they are of size or cohesion to exert collective electoral power,” according to the Senate Democrats’ announcement.
“Moving to a popularly elected board is about equity for all Chicago communities, giving everyone a say and a stake in the future of our neighborhoods. Delivering on this goal starts with districts that reflect our unique and diverse communities,” state Rep. Ann Williams, leader of the House Democrats’ CPS districting working group, said in the news release. “People in neighborhoods across our city deserve a voice in our schools, and using their insight to help shape the districts can make that a reality.”
As of his inauguration May 15, Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson will have the power to appoint all members of the currently seven-person board. The group will triple in size to become a board of 21 members following the November 2024 election, when 10 members will be elected, and 10 members and the board president will continue to be appointed by the mayor. Then in November 2026, voters will chose the first fully-elected board, one from each of 20 districts and a president elected at large, under a measure Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law in 2021.
State Sen. Robert Martwick, a sponsor of the legislation creating an elected school board in Chicago, said in the news release that the transition will “bring much-needed accountability and transparency to Chicago Public Schools.” With the release of the draft map, he said, “We are another step closer to our goal of community-led education that puts students first.”