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Civic Action & Parent Engagement

How can I improve my school?

In Chicago, parents don't just attend the school — they help run it. Local School Councils approve budgets, shape improvement plans, and choose principals. And parents hold more council seats than anyone else.

Looking at
Who's at the table

Your school's Local School Council.

These are the people who vote on how this school spends its discretionary money, what goes in its improvement plan, and who leads it. They're elected — mostly by parents like you.

A Local School Council is a small elected board at the school itself — parents, neighbors, teachers, staff, and the principal, sitting at one table. Parents hold more seats than any other group.

The council has real power: it approves how the school spends its discretionary budget, signs off on the school improvement plan, and selects and evaluates the principal.

13 members · SY2026-27 council

Parent representatives

Parents or guardians of enrolled students, elected by parents and community members.

  • Carmen Gioiosa
  • Elaine Frei
  • Francesco Belviso
  • Linda Luo
  • Maria E Hernandez
  • Terri Sabol

Community residents

Neighbors who live near the school — you don't need a child enrolled to serve.

  • Beatriz Reiner
  • Nada Riley

Teacher representatives

Teachers at the school, chosen by school staff.

  • Allison Vogt
  • Cindi Gerber

Non-teacher staff

School staff who aren't teachers — counselors, clerks, aides.

  • Paula Dongas

Student representatives

Students at the school, chosen by their classmates.

  • Jakob H Knobel

Principal

The school's principal serves on the council automatically.

  • Rachael Carnacchio
Where you come in

Open seats.

Every LSC reserves seats for parents and for neighbors. When one opens up, anyone can step forward — no experience required.

Open seats right now · SY2026-27
Every parent and community seat is filled.

That's a sign of an engaged school community. Seats open up between elections too — the steps here will have you ready.

Parent seats
6 of 6 filled
Community seats
2 of 2 filled
How to get involved
  1. Come to a council meeting and introduce yourself. That's how most LSC members started.

  2. Ask the principal or a council member about open seats. Between elections, the council can fill vacancies by appointment.

  3. Run in the next LSC election — held every two years in the spring. Parents and guardians can run for parent seats; adults who live nearby can run for community seats.

Most LSC members are elected. Elections happen every two years in the spring, at the school. Parents and community members vote — no citizenship requirement, and you don't need to be a registered voter.

When a seat opens mid-term, the council appoints a replacement. Telling the principal or a council member you're interested is usually all it takes to be considered.

Show up

Meetings you can attend.

LSC meetings are public. You don't need a seat on the council — or an invitation — to walk in, listen, and speak up.

No upcoming meetings are on the public schedule right now. New dates are posted during the school year — or ask the front office when the council meets next.
  • Thursday · June 4, 2026 5:45 p.m.
  • Wednesday · May 6, 2026 5:45 p.m.
  • Thursday · March 5, 2026 5:45 p.m.
  • Thursday · Feb. 5, 2026 5:45 p.m.
  • Thursday · Jan. 8, 2026 5:45 p.m.
  • Thursday · Dec. 4, 2025 5:45 p.m.
  • Thursday · Nov. 6, 2025 5:45 p.m.
  • Thursday · Oct. 2, 2025 5:45 p.m.
  • Thursday · Sept. 4, 2025 5:45 p.m.
  • Tuesday · June 10, 2025 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday · May 13, 2025 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday · April 8, 2025 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday · March 11, 2025 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday · Feb. 11, 2025 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday · Jan. 14, 2025 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday · Dec. 10, 2024 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday · Nov. 12, 2024 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday · Oct. 8, 2024 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday · Sept. 10, 2024 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday · Aug. 13, 2024 6 p.m.

The council discusses school business in the open — the budget, the improvement plan, the principal's report. Meetings set aside time for public comment, so you can raise what's on your mind.

You can simply sit and listen, too. Going once is the easiest way to see how your school is really run.

Coming soon

Chicago now elects its Board of Education by district. We're working on showing you who represents this school's area on the school board — and how to reach them. Check back here.

Source

Local School Council rosters, seat counts, and meeting schedules published by Chicago Public Schools, refreshed throughout the school year.

Coverage

Data through SY2026-27. CPS publishes only the current council, so this page has no year-by-year history.

How to read this page

Rosters can lag a few weeks behind real-world changes.

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