NATION IN BRIEF : ILLINOIS : Chicago Voters Elect Local School Units
Chicago residents elected local school councils as part of reforms that will give parents more control of an education system labeled the worst in the nation. The elections--Wednesday at the city’s 469 elementary schools and today at 71 public high schools--are part of a reform package passed last year by the Illinois General Assembly. School Board spokesman Bob Saigh said turnout was low but he expected it to improve by the time polls closed. Community activists spent weeks trying to mobilize residents to vote, but predicted a 50% turnout among parents with children in school. The 17,256 candidates sought 5,400 unpaid positions on the 540 councils.
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