LSCs need to be energized to attract new generations of parents to hold their schools accountable, says Andrew Wade, director of the Chicago School Leadership Cooperative. The need never goes away. LSC advocates aren't the only ones calling for more effort in this area. It was astonishing the number of people who were interested, and from all walks of our city's life. Training is key too, says Barrett of the Metropolitan Planning Council.
Training is the ultimate leveler.
Julie Woestehoff, executive director of Parents United for Responsible Education, goes further. The environment right now is very repressive. Woestehoff and Vallas have clashed frequently over issues of local control and testing. Reece of the CTU puts cooperation between the board and the union leadership at the top of his list of keepers. Madigan, other Democratic legislators, and staff from the Metropolitan Planning Council say that statewide funding reform, including more state funds for Chicago, should be the Chicago system's top priority in the coming years.