The CPS boardroom has been revamped to accommodate 21 members, enhancing the space for public meetings and improving audience visibility.
Chicago: So, the Chicago Public Schools are shaking things up a bit. They’re moving from seven to 21 board members, which is a big deal. This change has stirred up some drama, but let’s focus on the practical side: where are all these folks going to sit?
Enter the $4 million renovation of the boardroom. They’ve been busy redoing the space in the basement of their headquarters at 42 W. Madison St. It’s set to be used for the first time in a public meeting this Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.
The new setup is pretty impressive. They’ve doubled the audience seating from about 100 to 200. The room is now longer, which means the back row isn’t so far from the action. Plus, there are seven big monitors along the wall, so everyone can see what’s going on without squinting at tiny screens.
For the board members, there are two rows of chairs and computers—15 in the back and eight in front. There’s even a door leading to a roundtable conference room for private meetings. Ivan Hansen, who oversaw the renovation, mentioned they managed to keep the same space, which is a win.
The old boardroom had been in use since December 2014 but was out of commission since last July due to water damage from a burst pipe nearby. Instead of fixing it, they decided to wait for this bigger renovation since they knew the board was expanding.
By the way, the Board of Education and CPS are renting their office spaces, and that lease runs until November 2034. So, they’ve got a nice new space to work in for a while!
