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* Greg Hinz…
It looks like a compromise proposal to dilute, but not eliminate, Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s power to appoint the Chicago Board of Education is about to surface in Springfield.
According to Senate Majority Leader Kim Lightford, D-Maywood, language calling for a “hybrid” board that will be partially elected by the public and partially selected as now by the mayor is being drafted and will be introduced as soon as Wednesday.
Lightford declined to disclose key details, such as how large the board would be, what kinds of qualifications candidates would have to meet and how soon the next election would occur. Lightford said the mayor needs to disclose that herself as negotiations begin.
But the majority leader said she’s introducing the language at the mayor’s request as an alternate version for a fully elected school board backed by the Chicago Teachers Union gains steam in both the Senate and House.
As noted in the story, I told subscribers about Lightford’s move into this topic earlier in the week. Senate President Don Harmon apparently wants a compromise. The CTU is not amused…
Mayor Lightfoot is on record saying she supports a fully elected school board not because she actually does so, but because this is what she had to say to get elected. And if a hybrid plan is revealed that continues mayoral control, she has to own that. pic.twitter.com/nzNvK6IJs7
— ChicagoTeachersUnion (@CTULocal1) April 14, 2021
* Center Square…
A bill that would ban physical restraint and timeout rooms in Illinois schools passed a Senate Education Committee on Tuesday.
The legislation, Senate Bill 2296 sponsored by state Sen. Ann Gillespie, would require all schools to eliminate reliance on any kind of timeout room and face down physical restraint. In addition, schools could seclude students in unlocked spaces and use other types of restraints only when it is deemed there is a danger of serious physical harm to the student or others.
Schools are now required to report every seclusion or restraint incident to the state and provide more employee training.
Cheryl Jansen, director of public policy with Equip for Equality, an advocacy group for people with disabilities, said the punishment is counterproductive.
“Restraint and seclusion are not therapeutic nor are they educational, in fact, they may exacerbate the very behaviors that they purport to address,” Jansen said.
* SJ-R…
Independent pharmacies and their customers would benefit under a bill to be debated Wednesday that would slap major regulations on intermediary companies that control what pharmacies are paid by Medicaid and private insurance plans.
“It’s really to promote a level playing field,” said state Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria, the sponsor of Senate Bill 2008. “There has to be fairness to the independent pharmacies and all the customers who need choice.”
Koehler said Tuesday that the bill, which has bipartisan support and is scheduled for a hearing Wednesday in front of the Illinois Senate Insurance Committee, would build upon legislation passed by the General Assembly and signed into law in 2019 by Gov. JB Pritzker that deals with companies called “pharmacy benefit managers,” or PBMs.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 6:07 am
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I’m actually in favor of a hybrid board that still allows mayoral control, however, reading that tweet above seems a bit cynical on the mayor’s part. She supported an elected school board to get elected and then I see a headline that shows shes in favor or a hybrid board. It seems as if she hadn’t thought this through had she?
Comment by Levois J Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 8:56 am
CTU has no credibility - they seek only to keep and concentrate power, with a bit of progressive economic policy thrown in. One only has to look at their “reopening” demands to see that they are not bargaining in good faith.
3. Provide the support services that our students/
parents need in neighborhoods
a. Work with the city to ensure homeless student services,
b. Sustainable Community Schools,
c. Social-emotional supports for traumatized students,
d. “Counselors not Cops,”
e. Rent abatement.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 9:10 am
I’m used to politicians breaking promises once they get elected but Lightfoot may be the most obviously egregious thus far.
Comment by WSJ Paywall Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 9:17 am
” It seems as if she hadn’t thought this through had she?”
That is a more generous interpretation of her switch than I have. As WSJ points out, saying one thing on the campaign trail and another when mayor is one of Lightfoot’s defining characteristics. I am much more cynical about her change in stance on this issue and many others - i.e. she never intended to follow through on her campaign promises.
Comment by Montrose Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 9:32 am
A hybrid board that will allow the Mayor to overrule the democratic mandate of an election by stacking the board in the opposite direction. Chicago!
Comment by Nuke the Whales Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 9:36 am
WRT physical restraint and timeout rooms in schools. Is this stemming from the major issue a couple of years ago? How are they just now getting around to this and how is it still (or until very recently) in committee (insert unapproved punctuation)
Comment by Bothanspied Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 9:46 am
What I don’t understand is why the Mayor keeps going back on her promises while also refusing to offer any alternatives. If you don’t like the criminal justice reform bill in the City Council or the elected school board bill in the Legislature that’s fine but then what is your plan?
Comment by uialum Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 9:47 am
Comment not showing up. Apologies if they shows up twice.
WRT physical restraint and timeout rooms in schools. Is this stemming from the major issue a couple of years ago? How are they just now getting around to this and how is it still (or until very recently) in committee (insert unapproved punctuation)
Comment by Bothanspied Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 9:48 am
She probably was in favor of an elected school board; not anticipating having such an acrimonious relationship with the teachers’ union that has the resources to pack the board.
Comment by Father Ted Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 10:30 am
the teachers’ union that has the resources to pack the board.
It’s extremely difficult to believe that the mayor was not fully aware of that.
But it is also hard to believe that she didn’t have any coherent plan for governing. But the evidence is piling up that that is in fact the case.
Comment by Fav Human Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 10:39 am
== not anticipating==
I continue to be both amazed and interested in how many things the mayor did not/could not “anticipate” which are surfacing now. I honestly do not know whether to blame her or to feel sorry for her. But I am pretty sure that being the mayor of Chicago is not what she had thought it would be like. Nor is she performing in the way her voters had hoped.
Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 10:46 am
I suggested a hybrid approach during the Rahm years. It was an iterative step that could eventually evolve into a fully elected school board.
Even on a fully-appointed school board, CTU (or labor in general) should have had been entitled to one seat.
Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 10:48 am
The only way to describe the term of Mayor Lori Lightfoot… in it’s entirety…. is…
Campaigns are Hard… Governing is Difficult
I’m perplexed. Sincerely. What accomplishments does Mayor Lightfoot have that reflect her campaign promises that can be done, pandemic or not, via council ordinances or legislative action?
For the love of Peter… look at the Chicago casino debacle… start there.
Be it the school board, Springfield ineptitude, arguing and fighting with potential allies… even choices to words and actions…
Am I suppose to be surprised or shocked with the CPS action or want here?
The squandering of political capital and the misguided political will Lightfoot has… and the real malpractice of her staff and crew… in Chicago AND Springfield… and let me be very crystal clear… if the elected you are advising, working for, helping, guiding… can’t and won’t listen… the end product *still* reflects on your own sphere of influence and help in that administration or political operation. It may be unfair… but it’s not untrue.
I really can’t see Lightfoot changing her way… and unless those around her start imparting real political acumen in helpful ways… Lightfoot will be fighting herself come her next election and others will use Lightfoot’s own inept ways to end her mayoral run.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 10:48 am
The school board is not in charge of the schools any more than Lori Lightfoot or the public health experts.
Mayor Jesse Sharkey is where the buck stops
CPS students will go back to high school when he says it’s safe and not a minute sooner
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 10:56 am
To repeat a comment from yesterday, the bill in legislature would create a 20 member board. Los Angeles’ board has 7 members. I think an “elected school board” means the mayor doesn’t control it, but 20 members seems guaranteed to be under the thumb of CTU.
Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 11:03 am
She still has one asset. “Not Preckwinkle”
Comment by Streamwood Retiree Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 11:08 am
Ideas that sound good when you are a candidate look a lot less attractive if you get the gig. Being mayor of Chicago or LA or NYC is a lot different than being the mayor of Mayberry.
Comment by levivotedforjudy Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 11:12 am
Given the mayor’s track record in Springfield on legislation, I’ll bet on the CTU backed version passing.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 11:36 am
A ‘hybrid’ Chicago school board is simply delaying the inevitable loss of control by whoever the next Mayor is. Agree with other commenters that Lightfoot continues to show her incompetence at actually running Chicago. Just like taking away Aldermanic ‘privileges’, it’s time Chicago got a fully-elected school board; decades of appointments haven’t helped.
Comment by thisjustinagain Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 11:48 am
Good luck compromising with a 20 member Chicago School Board full of CTU activists.
Blame the incompetence of governing Chicago on the Democratic legislators and Governor who have handed over total control of government in Illinois to public sector unions
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 12:02 pm
=== who have handed over total control of government in Illinois to public sector unions===
… and yet Lightfoot still wants Mayoral control… not labor possibly controlling the board.
Recalibrate your AdLibs… you’re looking foolish
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 12:31 pm
==Even on a fully-appointed school board, CTU (or labor in general) should have had been entitled to one seat.==
As soon as CPS gets a seat with the CTU governing body, this would be fine.
Comment by phocion Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 12:33 pm
@Donnie “they seek only to keep and concentrate power” ah yes, unlike everyone else in politics.
Comment by From the 'Dale to HP Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 1:28 pm
The CTU is not amused. Not surprising, they aren’t a very amusing group. It would be nice if the Governor backed up the mayor on this one and backed up the children of the city of Chicago rather than his donors.
Comment by Out of Illinois Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 1:54 pm
===rather than his donors===
Are you new here?
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 2:06 pm
=== As soon as CPS gets a seat with the CTU governing body===
Argue like an adult please.
Can you grasp what the function of a union is… and the function of CPS is in that union’s existence?
They are clearing out the dorms in the coming weeks, where can we get this kind of logic after that?
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 2:11 pm
Big mistake. It will satisfy no one. Forget it please. We don’t want highly costly elections for Chicago school board We saw what happened with the school board elections earlier this week.
Comment by low level Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 4:01 pm