First Look: $4M Renovation of CPS Boardroom Makes Space for 21 Members
A New Era for Chicago Public Schools
The transition from seven to 21 school board members is bound to cause change at Chicago Public Schools — and it already has created turmoil in some public ways. But putting the political divisions aside for a minute, there’s a much more mundane question of change to answer: Where will they all sit?
A $4 Million Renovation
CPS officials spent the past few months rebuilding the boardroom in the basement of the district’s headquarters at 42 W. Madison St., which will be used for a public meeting for the first time at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.
A New Look for the Boardroom
The new space doubles the number of audience seats from around 100 to 200. It reorients the room from wide to long, putting quite some distance between the furthest back spectators and the board members.
Improved Technology
There are seven large monitors spread along a side wall for viewers to observe presentations — an improvement from the two screens at the far end of the room that caused audience members to squint to follow along.
A New Seating Arrangement
At the front of the room, there are now two rows of chairs and computers for board members, the CPS CEO, and the honorary student board member — 15 in the back and eight in front. A nearby door leads to a roundtable conference room for closed session meetings.
Background on the Renovation
The old design of the boardroom had been used since December 2014. But it was out of commission since July of last year after a burst pipe in a nearby business caused water damage in the room. Hansen said the district opted to forgo those repairs since officials knew they’d need to make room for a bigger board in a few months anyway.
What’s Next
The Board of Education and CPS rent their office spaces under a lease that expires in November 2034.
Conclusion
The newly renovated boardroom is a significant step forward for Chicago Public Schools, providing a modern and functional space for board members to conduct their business. With its improved technology and seating arrangement, the room is better equipped to accommodate the growing needs of the district.
FAQs
* What is the cost of the renovation?
The renovation cost $4 million.
* How many audience seats are available in the new boardroom?
The new boardroom has around 200 audience seats.
* What is the purpose of the roundtable conference room?
The roundtable conference room is for closed session meetings.
* When will the boardroom be used for the first time?
The boardroom will be used for the first time at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.
