Despite lobbying by Governor Bruce Rauner and Mayor Rahm Emmanuel, both houses of the legislature voted overwhelmingly to replace mayoral control with an elected school board. The two bills differ in important details, and legislative leaders will have to hammer out a compromise. The bills were approved by veto-proof majorities.
This is great news for Chicagoans who have wanted an elected board that would listen to the public.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Too many mayors and governors are out of touch with the public. They seize the power and sell off the schools, even though it is not the will of the people. Many members of the legislature must have been hounded by the public in order for the vote to be “veto proof.” Good news!
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Hip
Hip
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Hooray!
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seconded
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…and may Rahm quietly go into the night and out of politics, one can hope.
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Great news! Can someone please show Rahm the door. Fast.
Why did they ever elect him?
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Wonder where stand on children was in this legislative action. They must have been lobbying heavily against this, even though 2023 is far away. MAybe another loss for Jonah in Illinois?
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Great, except not until 2023, so it won’t get in Rahm’s way.
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Your local school board is a place where many get their start in politics … it is about the most grassroots of any political body. How undemocratic it is to take power from a school board, and in many cases, how racist.
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I would like to be happy about this, but it is just too far off. WHY did the legislature kick this can (actually, SOMEONE’S can should be kicked!) so far down the road? SIX more years of putting up w/the garbage of the appointed CPS Board–time for lots more damage, approving LOTS more charter schools & closing LOTS more public schools.
This is just like the excuses that have been spewing forth for the G.A.’s inability to push forth a progressive tax for ILL-Annoy, “Can’t do it till 2014,” or “Can’t do it till 2016.”
Finally, 6 years is a looong time during which, this bill could most certainly be reversed or amended.
Sick to death of politics.
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Meant to add–this is a Pyhrric victory.
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