November 28, 2012

Statement from Mayor Emanuel on the Illinois General Assembly Approving Legislation Amending SB 630

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

“I applaud the Illinois General Assembly for their action today, which, when enacted, will allow Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett to continue engaging parents and community members in making decisions about our school district’s future. Year after year, Chicago Public Schools did not do an adequate job of engaging communities in these critical decisions; this additional time, in conjunction with the appointment of an independent commission to gather information and make recommendations, allows parents and community members to be brought into the discussion earlier in the process and more openly than before. Our city has more school buildings, classrooms and desks than it has students and it is essential that we take time to create a sensible plan that invests our resources most effectively so that every child in every school gets a high-quality education.”