Chicago School Board Puts Two Money Questions on the November Ballot

The Chicago school board voted on Thursday to add two questions to the November ballot asking city voters how they feel about raising new money for Chicago Public Schools. The first question asks whether Illinois should charge millionaires an extra tax to help pay for public schools. The second asks whether Chicago should fine people who own empty or undeveloped lots, with that money going to the school district. Both questions are nonbinding, which means they won't create any new laws — they just show lawmakers what voters think.

Board vice president Angel Velez said the goal is to build public support for giving schools more money. Both questions passed with a 12–1 vote, and board member Debby Pope said she wants the cost of new funding to fall on those who can most afford it. This is also the first time the Board of Education has used its power to add advisory questions to a ballot. Chicago Public Schools is currently receiving only about 70% of what it is supposed to get under the state's funding formula.

Thursday's meeting didn't go smoothly at first. The board didn't have enough members present to start, so it had to pause and try again one hour later. The second time around, 14 members showed up and the vote was held. Six members were absent, and they are part of a group that often votes differently from the majority on the board.

Members who support the Chicago Teachers Union held a press conference after the meeting and accused the absent members of 'boycotting' the vote. Board member Michilla Blaise pointed out that several absent members had received campaign donations from billionaire businessman Michael Sacks. She questioned whether that money influenced their decision to miss the vote on taxing wealthy people. The absent members said they had prior work and family commitments and were only told about the vote on Monday morning.

Board member Jennifer Custer was the only person to vote against the two questions. She said the proposals wouldn't help students right away and argued the board should focus on solutions that make a difference now. 'The North Star is pretty simple. Does it help kids today? No, I don't think that these do,' she said. Board president Sean Harden pushed back, saying the board must explore all of its options and cannot focus on just one thing at a time.