There's no consensus from Chicago's major mayoral candidates on a group's request to have the board of Chicago Public Schools elected by the citizens rather than appointed by the mayor.
Explains the Chicago Sun-Times:
Among those opposed to the idea of a 13-member board that's geographically representative of the city is Gery Chico, who once served as the Chicago Board of Education's president.
"We ought to have a mayor singularly accountable, along with a president, CEO and chief education officer," he said Wednesday.
He and Rahm Emanuel said they feared having the board chosen through an election would needlessly politicize Chicago's education system.
In a statement, an Emanuel spokesman said the candidate "does not believe the school board selection process should be politicized while we are working to turn the system around, but he believes teachers must be represented on the board and would ensure that they were if he has the privilege of serving as mayor."
From the Chicago Tribune:
U.S. Rep. Danny Davis is warm to the idea of elected officials, but doesn't necessarily support the idea put forth by the group.
"People all over America have elected school boards. It’s the norm. What has to be so different about Chicago?" he said.
A spokesman for Carol Moseley Braun's campaign said she fully supports keeping CPS' governing body in control of the mayor.
