D'Amico Stands Up for Community, Votes to Create Chicago Elected School Board

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In light of the lack of accountability on the part of appointed, unelected Chicago school board, state Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, issued the following statement Friday after voting to pass a measure that would create an elected, representative school board:

“One thing that the Chicago Public School system currently lacks is accountability and transparency. The first obligation of every school system should be to the parents, students and taxpayers, and currently that hasn’t happened under this reckless and unaccountable school board.

“Recent school closings have highlighted the need for more transparency and accountability. Our communities do not have a voice in the direction of our schools and there’s no way to hold those making decisions accountable for their actions. After the closure of nearly 50 schools, the Chicago Public Schools wasted $25 million of tax payer money on an out-of-state firm tasked with moving the desks, chairs and other items out of the closed schools. Instead, a recent report found that most of those items are unaccounted for, wasting thousands of precious resources that could have been used to help struggling schools. This is exactly why we need accountability.

“Clearly, the current school board has failed at their jobs by allowing this type of negligence to occur. Our parents, students and residents should be able to hold these decision-makers accountable and I applaud all those who helped pass this measure out of the House. Having an elected school board, completely accountable to the taxpayers, would help remedy the gross mismanagement that’s plagued the school system for years.”

For more information on this bill or any other legislation please contact our full-time constituent service office at 773-736-0218.

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