Wednesday, November 7, 2012

School Tech Connect: Dear Illinois Legislature

School Tech Connect: Dear Illinois Legislature:


Dear Illinois Legislature

Please note two things:

First, the people of Chicago have spoken very clearly (over 86% of those voting) indicated that they want to vote for the members of their school board, like residents of every other town in the state.

These people have utterly no faith in the politically appointed board's competence, especially with regard to the mayor's radical 100-school closure plan, which is accompanied by a bizarre, destructive, 60-charter school opening plan.

So, while CPS may be shopping for an addendum to the school facilities law, your responsibility is to respect the will of the people.  You need to move forward with legislation for an elected, representative school board in Chicago. The only responsible move for Barbara Byrd Bennett and CPS is to declare a moratorium on school closings until the school board is reconstituted with democratic legitimacy.

It currently has no democratic legitimacy.

Second, please know that I stood outside polling places yesterday and talked to voters. Every single