Parent Advocates Win Local School Council Election with Wellness Platform

by Rosa Ramirez

Simply stated, a Local School Council (LSC) in Chicago Public Schools gives parents and community a say in what happens in their neighborhood public school. It provides an official structure for parents and community to have a role in school operations and ensure that their voices are heard. At HSC, we were thrilled to hear about the newly elected Little Village Academy LSC. 

In the April 2010 LSC election, Little Village community residents elected six parents to the LSC who strongly believe that “healthy students are better learners.” The parents, who now fill all the parent positions on the council,  are active in HSC’s Parents United for Healthy Schools coalition and completed an intensive parent leadership training.

Parents United for Healthy Schools is a coalition of parent and community organizations that was formed in 2006 by Healthy Schools Campaign out of concern for the skyrocketing rates of childhood obesity in Chicago, particularly in low-income African American and Latino communities. While it is not unusual to see Parents United members engaged with their schools, it is an exciting and unprecedented success to see parents advocating for wellness win all six parent seats on an LSC.

Every Chicago public school has an LSC which consists of parents, community members, teachers, and the principal of the school. The elected council members conduct monthly public meetings, allocate  funds and resources, make decisions regarding the annual school improvement plan, and evaluate the progress of the school’s principal.

With a strong belief in the positive connection between health and learning, the six candidates ran on a campaign platform rooted in improving the food and fitness environment of their school.  Experienced Parents United advocates who had also completed HSC’s parent training helped the candidates formulate and execute a successful campaign that involved door-to-door organizing, recruiting volunteers, canvassing the neighborhood with fliers, making phone calls, and most notably delivering an important message: “healthy students are better learners.”

HSC congratulates Maria Tapia, Josefina Torres, Fabiola Andrade, Erika Martinez, Claudia Terrazo, Olga Bonilla for winning the Little Village Academy Local School Council election! We wish them continued success in advocating for students’ wellness.

Comments

[Mendy Heaps]

This is simply put...marvelous. I am excited for these parents and look for this to have a ripple effect for other LSC's in Chicago. Good luck to them!

[Tina Escobar MS RN CSN]

I also want to extend congratulations. This is wonderful! I will spread the news...