City Council delays meeting to ask school board members about budget conflicts

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Members of the Chicago City Council put off a special meeting Wednesday to question Chicago School Board members about budget conflicts until later this month.

Most Chicago alderpersons want to question present and future members of the Chicago Board of Education about their jobs and Chicago Public Schools finances.

However, they agreed to put off a special meeting until the Education Committee meets.

Mayor Brandon Johnson said they can ask questions but he intends to ramp up spending on the schools any way he can.

“I made a commitment to make sure that we're going to invest in our Children and we're going to invest in the classroom,” Johnson said.

“We're going to make sure that there are social workers and counselors, that there are special education services that are available to families.”

A key alderman threatens to subpoena school board members if there are no shows next month.

Corporation counsel Mary Richardson-Lowry said aldermen have subpoena power but not over them.

“That's a different agency. They simply don't have subpoena authority relative to the said agency.”

The hearing is slated for Oct. 18.

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