Illinois State Representative La Shawn K. Ford (8th) recently launched an advisory referendum for a new comprehensive public high school in Austin. Ford’s petition will circulate throughout the 29th Ward ahead of the Nov. 6 election.
In a statement, the state representative said that during a meeting with Janice Jackson, the CEO of Chicago Public Schools, he learned that the city “will work with and listen to the request of the community. The Austin community is the second largest community in Chicago with a population of 97,643 with 30% of the population being 19 and under.”
Ford’s statement noted that despite the city’s recent announcement that it plans to construct new high schools in some Chicago communities, the city “still ignores the taxpayers of the Austin community. Austin has around 7,000 seats available for around 14,000 high school-age youth on the West Side.”
“As a resident of the 29th Ward, we should start there and expand to all Austin Wards for the November’s election,” Ford said.
For more information, contact: Stratton Office Building in Springfield at 217-782-5962 or email at repford@lashawnford.com.
CONTACT: michael@austinweeklynews.com
