# CPS Parents Angry Over Political Group at School Event

> CPS parents protest political group's electioneering at back-to-school fair.
- Title: CPS Parents Angry Over Political Group at School Event
- Summary: CPS parents protest political group's electioneering at back-to-school fair. CPS parents demand school board sanctions after Common Ground Collective handed…
- Keywords: cps, common ground collective, school board election, peirce elementary, local school council, chicago teachers union, michael sacks, school board race, back-to-school fair, political action committee, digital ads, school board candidates
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2026/09/23/as-school-board-election-nears-cps-parents-incensed-by-political-group-at-school-event
- Published: 2026-09-23T10:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: cps, common ground collective, school board election, peirce elementary, local school council, chicago teachers union, michael sacks, school board race, back-to-school fair, political action committee, digital ads, school board candidates
## Parents question political group at school event
CPS parents raised concerns about why the Common Ground Collective had a table at Peirce Elementary's back-to-school fair with election fliers.

> The return-to-school celebration is, I think, supposed to be about the kids and about meeting the teachers, not about promoting a particular political agenda
## Common Ground Collective claims social welfare role
The Common Ground Collective said it staffed a table and paid for the DJ at the Aug. 20 fair through its nonprofit, separate from its political arms.

> The organization, which has a nonprofit and two political arms, said it was there in a social welfare capacity
## Parents report electioneering at school event
Parents said the Common Ground Collective handed out fliers in English and Spanish about the school board election at the Peirce Elementary back-to-school fair.
## CPS prohibits political campaigning on school grounds
CPS strictly prohibits political campaigning on school grounds and is investigating the Peirce Elementary event.
## Common Ground Collective's political spending
Common Ground Collective's political groups have donated $31,000 directly to school board candidates and spent $944,000 on digital ads.
## Common Ground Collective endorses opponent
Common Ground Collective endorsed Kyna Lenhof, the treasurer of the 40th Ward Democratic Organization, and contributed $4,000 directly to her campaign.
## School board member under fire
School board member Ellen Rosenfeld faces criticism after her husband is listed as a board member of the Common Ground Collective's nonprofit.
## Local School Council demands action
Peirce LSC members asked CPS to reinforce ethical expectations for political organizations using school grounds for candidate advocacy.
## Common Ground Collective's social welfare claims
Common Ground Collective claims it provides backpacks, school supplies, and sponsors school events for students.
## School board member defends actions
Rosenfeld says her husband has never been on the board and that the endorsements weren't on the website during the back-to-school fair.
## Common Ground Collective's funding source
Common Ground Collective is heavily funded by billionaire Michael Sacks, a former adviser to Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
## CPS ethics office investigation
CPS ethics office is investigating Common Ground Collective's activities at Peirce Elementary's back-to-school fair.
## School board race context
Chicago school board elections are happening on Nov. 3 with 21 members up for election.
## Common Ground Collective's tax filing
Common Ground Collective's nonprofit reported $2.1 million in assets but does not disclose donors.
## School board member's social media post
School board member Michilla Blaise posted a video of students dancing and welcoming her to school, which she later took down.

> Blaise says the video showed students dancing and welcoming her to a school. She promptly took it down out of concerns for student privacy, but she says she posted it because she thought “it was so cute,” not as part of her campaign
## CPS guidance on electioneering
CPS recently issued guidance to principals and Local School Councils about electioneering rules.
## Key takeaway

CPS parents demand school board sanctions after Common Ground Collective handed out school board election fliers at Peirce Elementary's back-to-school fair.