CPS to Restrict Access to LSC Election Records (short)

Chicago Public Schools indicated Monday they will demand Freedom of Information Act requests from the public for the public to access nomination papers to the Local School Council.

The change in CPS policy restricts the public right to access the information and represents a significant change in policy for the district. Previously the public had a right to inspect the records without a FOIA.

The change, detailed in an exclusive Bulldog story, has grabbed the attention of the Chicago Kent School of Law Center for Open Government, the Society of Professional Journalists and public officials.

“I completely support you in this effort to gain access and get transparency on LSC elections,” GOP 32nd Ward Boss John Curry wrote in an email this afternoon.

In a study by The Bulldog, six local schools were visited to determine compliance with CPS policies regarding LSC elections. Those CPS policies spell out a number of requirements for the schools to meet:

• An approved poster shall be placed at the main entrance to the school announcing the LSC elections
• A map of the school district must be posted on a bulletin board
• The bulletin board should contain optional statement of candidacy from the candidates
• A form listing each candidate posted on the bulletin board
• A policy stating the method for inspection of nominating papers and the right of parents to inspect these papers
• In the main office of the school, and separate from the LSC minutes, there should be a binder containing copies of the nomination papers presented to the school.

 

Read more at The Bulldog

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Tags: Adam Robinson, Aimee DeBat, Alden Loury, Ameya Pawar, Amundsen High School, Ann Williams, Better Government Association, Budlong School, Carmen Mendoza, Cassandra Daniels, Center for Open Government, Chappell School, Chicago, Chicago Headline Club, Chicago Kent School of Law, Chicago Public Schools, Coleman Goode, David Ratowitz, Diane Shapiro, Document Cloud, education, elections, Freedom of Information Act, Friends of McPherson, government accountability, government open, government transparency, Greg Harris, Hamilton School, Harry Osterman, Heather Steans, Illinois, Illinois Attorney General, Illinois Election Code, Illinois Records Act, Illinois School Code, James Cappleman, Jerry Boyle, Joe Lake, John Cullerton, John Curry, John Fritchey, Local School Councils, McPherson School, Michael Carlson, Natalie Potts, National Lawyers Guild, Open Meetings Act, Pat O'Connor, Patrick Boylan, Paul Pinderski, Peter Coffey, Pinderski & Pinderski, Public Access Counselor, Richard Mell, Sarah Pratt, schools, Scott Waguespack, Sheila Pacione, Society of Professional Journalists, Tom Tunney, Trumbull School, Waters School, Welles Park Bulldog

This entry was posted on March 1, 2012 at 12:25 am and is filed under Neighborhood News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.