For Immediate Release JUNE 1st, 2011

For more information, please contact:

Cecile Carroll, Blocks Together, Chicago Educational Facilities Taskforce Member

Cell (773) 426-0842

Andrea Lee, Grand Boulevard Federation Office (773) 548-8140

“SCHOOL ACTION ACCOUNTABILITY & MASTER PLANNING

ACT”
WINS APPROVAL IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Springfield, IL – May 31st, 2011 SB 620 -- reform legislation to ensure new procedures for
Chicago Public School’s management of school buildings and improvements as well as new process for
school actions – passed the State House unanimously last night, and the Senate concurred by a vote of
58 “Yeas” and only one “No” vote. The Chicago Educational Facilities Taskforce, a General Assembly-
initiated taskforce of community groups, educators and lawmakers, charged to create recommendations
to address facility and school action controversies that have arisen over the past decade, worked for over
a year to create the recommendations outlined in the legislation.

"This legislation was a grassroots effort supported by our state elected officials to address critical
problems within CPS to provide safer and more appropriate learning conditions for our children. I applaud
our elected officials and the parents and community residents from all over the city who helped to create
and pass this bill," said Cecile Carroll, who represents the Humboldt Park community organization Blocks
Together on the taskforce.

The legislation requires more accountability and community participation around school repairs,
renovations and school actions; mandates creation of a 10 year Master Facility Plan for all of Chicago
Public Schools educational facilities to prioritize CPS’ capital improvements; creates more structure for
school actions such as school closures and consolidations; and requires fiscal transparency, including
annual and 5-Year Capital plans and budgets and a yearly capital expenditure report. In the past few
years the district has come under growing scrutiny from community groups, concerned parents, and
elected officials for its school actions and spending on school improvements.

"With this law, the community has the potential to see what CPS is really doing with our tax dollars. CPS
will now have to explain and make a case for school actions, and also will have to provide real resources
to aid and protect students when school actions do occur,“ explained Laurene Heybach of the Chicago
Coalition for the Homeless. Ms. Heybach, who also serves on the General Assembly’s Chicago
Educational Facilities Task Force added, “And this new legislation will help CPS to re-focus on what they
should be focused on - - helping every child and every school first and foremost".

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