Elections Begin For Chicago Local School Councils

CHICAGO (CBS) -- It's election day in Chicago Monday. Not for mayor or alderman, but for a group of lesser-known people who can have a big impact on how public schools are run.

Local School Councils help decide budgets, school improvement plans and whether a principal stays or goes.

Jill Wohl is an LSC member at Inter-American Magnet School in Lakeview who has been through the principal selection process twice.

Listen to Elections Begin For Chicago Local School Councils

She says based on her experiences, the Board of Education is trying to limit LSCs' power.

Former Board of Ed Member Rod Sierra is running for the LSC at Blaine Elementary in Lakeview, as is a member of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools.

Ald Tom Tunney has endorsed Sierra and others, while Ald Amaya Pawar has criticized the idea of public officials weighing in on the elections.

Wohl sees the proliferation of charter advocates running for LSCs as a power grab and wants them to disclose their background to voters.

LSC elections for elementary schools are Monday and high schools are Tuesdays.