Though there was disappointment over the record low turnout in the March primary, Chicago school officials were praising voters Monday for one of the highest turnouts for local school council elections in years.
According to Chicago Public Schools Chief Executive Officer Paul Vallas, 122,042 voters turned out for last week’s elections. That compares with 74,680 in 1993 and 108,832 in 1991, which was the first year local school council elections were held.
“I feel good,” Vallas said. “The number of nominees were up. The voter turnout was up. It was helped in part because of report card pickup. In schools where there were controversies . . . you not only had a large number of nominees but a significant turnout.
“What does that tell you? It tells you that people want accountability,” Vallas said. “Raising those issues brought out more nominees and more voters.”
So far, Vallas said, even the number of challenges to the election results was down. Voters had until 5 p.m. Monday to file objections. New school council members will serve two-year terms and take their seats July 1.
Among the more prominent winners and losers, according to school officials:
– Hale Council Chairman John Bartgen, his brother and sister-in-law William and Christine Bartgen, and family friends Nikkie Lewis and Randie Lewis, who are mother and daughter, all lost re-election bids.
Alleged misconduct by the council was a center of controversy until the school board suspended the council’s power last month.
– Former Prosser High Council Chairwoman Lynnette Carr-Sherrod lost her bid to return to the council and was the lowest vote-getter among community representative candidates there. While Carr-Sherrod was chairwoman last year, the Prosser Council was disbanded by the school board, whose investigation found grade-fixing, teacher intimidation and misspent funds.
– King High Council Chairman Ronald Sistrunk, who was re-elected as a parent representative. Sistrunk had sought the removal of Principal Ronald Smith and basketball coach Landon “Sonny” Cox for letting an ineligible student play. The school system instead suspended Cox for 10 days without pay.
“The difference between this year’s election and previous ones is that the central office truly did take them seriously,” said Carlos Azcoitia, director of school and community relationships for the school board.
Both Vallas and Azcoitia said that if school reform programs are to succeed, effort must be made by the community as well as the school management team, and the local school councils are a key element.
