Why Were Chicago Board Members Missing in Action?

Let's talk about what happened in Chicago recently. The Chicago City Council wanted to chat about some big money problems in their school system. They invited the CEO of Chicago Public Schools and both the old and new members of the Chicago Board of Education to discuss. Guess who didn't show up? None of the board members! The seven members who were leaving got some heat for approving a big loan with high interest and for wanting to fire the CEO. The new members probably should have thought about all that before agreeing to join. Chicagoans are wondering what's really going on and deserve to know the truth. These board members make important decisions that affect over 300, 000 students and their families in 634 schools. They also handle billions of dollars, which affects everyone in Chicago. We need more transparency and accountability from them. One way to do this is to let the City Council make board members talk, just like they can for other important jobs. Having more meetings with the media is also a good idea. People elected to the board next month will answer to voters, and being accountable is just part of the job. Let's ask school board candidates how they'll be more accountable. Let's also make sure the rules in place are followed. Incoming board members should meet with advisory boards and others to build trust. Chicago wants a stronger, more trustworthy government.