Chicago, IL – Tuesday, July 26th

Illinois State Representative La Shawn K Ford (D-8th) and Local School Activist Daniel Steven Kleinman (formally of Senn HS LSC and of Disney Magnet ES LSC) Announce First of Several Legislative Efforts to Strengthen the Victory of Chicago’s first Elected School Board.

Ford’s new bill, if passed, will allow the future School Board Members to each have a paid staff member to assist in their office.  The Board Members themselves are unpaid, by law.

“There is a long, proud, and resilient history that won Chicago’s first Elected School Board and that needs to be celebrated,” Representative Ford said. “But that first step should not be our last step.”

Kleinman has served on local school councils and has been involved in such education efforts as the fight for funding the Grow Your Own Teachers program in 2012, which helps Illinoisans receive their own teaching credentials and return to communities as an educator to a district in need.

“I think we both hope that this language is a conversation starter, and that as many stakeholders who wish will join in this discussion, or welcome us to their own. The conversation is stronger with more of us at the table” he said.

“We need to consider things like: can the board give needed stipends to Local School Council members?  Or will the new board still have the power to unilaterally undo principal hiring decisions made by the LSC, as the board does now?  These will be follow up conversations and, ideally, legislation, too,” said Kleinman.  “But one thing at a time.”

/ click here for full draft bill /

For follow up:

Daniel Steven Kleinman
Direct: 1-312-860-3847

danielstevenkleinman@gmail.com