Chicago Would Move to Fully Elected School Board 2 Years Sooner Under…

Chicago Public Schools headquarters. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

The end to mayoral control of the Chicago Board of Education could come sooner than expected.

Chicago’s mayor has long had the power to appoint a president and board members, but under a 2021 state law the city will move to an elected school board.

The original plan had been to ease into it, with a board in 2025 made of half mayoral appointees and half elected board members, before moving to a 20-person wholly elected body come 2027.

But on Tuesday, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon introduced a proposal (House Bill 2233, Senate Amendment 2) that would elect all 20 school board members during the November 2024 election.

Chicago could still go the hybrid route.

State Rep. Ann Williams, head of the House Democrats CPS Districting Working Group, also put out a fresh plan on Tuesday (House Bill 4221) that would elect 10 school board members next year, and the other half in 2026.

Harmon’s and Williams’ plans…