Chicagoans don't care about @ChiPubSchools: On #LSC elections, apathy and a challenge to do more

Headline of recent DNA Info story.

Chicagoans don't care about their local schools.

Is that the issue? Apathy? Is that why only 700 people have thus far signed up for 6,000 potential elected Local School Council seats? Or, is there something more...

Certainly more individuals will sign up as we approach the Feb 26th deadline, but a look at the results from the last election doesn't inspire a lot of confidence.

McAuliffe elementary's results are pictured below, in a school with more than 650 students the leading vote getter walked away with 15. This is one of dozens of examples, click around on this map, attempt not to be depressed.

Check out other results here.

Now, maybe LSC races aren't the sexiest elected positions in the world - they don't set taxes, they don't pass laws, they don't control district budgets. But, they do hire and control principal contracts - a wildly important role for the success of a school. They do approve budgets. They can become active and help to set policy and vision for a school.

The initial conception of the LSC during the Harold Washington years in Chicago was to return schools to local control after years of a recalcitrant board entirely controlled by the elder Mayor Daley that was unresponsive to the needs to smaller communities. In the first election more than 17,000 people ran for 6,000 slots. LSCs were a resounding success.

So, why are so few people interested in running now? Is it apathy?

Dave Meslin has an eloquent take on this in his 2010 TEDx talk. The basic argument: if your design doesn't call on people to engage, they won't. My argument, right now Chicago Public Schools is not calling on Chicagoans to engage - so, they aren't.

I mean LOOK at this beauty, don't you just want to jump off your couch and get involved right now?? 

That's right folks, if you are interested in becoming involved in your local school you only need to search through 24 hard copy .pdfs, print them out, read them all, and physically walk or mail them to a designated office. At that point, someone will maybe get back to you in a few days.

Sarcasm aside, what would an actual, earnest, well-run campaign to engage communities in schools look like?

So, a challenge to graphic designers, public relations professionals, mad men - reimagine this call to action. 

And further a challenge to Chicagoans, if you care about your city, if you care about the future for children of our city at an absolute bare minimum, go vote in your LSC elections on April 7th and 8th. 

The educated citizen has an obligation to serve the public. He may be a precinct worker or President. He may give his talents at the courthouse, the State house, the White House. He may be a civil servant or a Senator, a candidate or a campaign worker, a winner or a loser. But he must be a participant and not a spectator. 

- President Kennedy, May 18th 1963