Five members of East St. Louis' elected school board are suing to reverse the state's takeover of the city's public school system.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Lonzo Greenwood, George Michom, Victoria Clay, Levondia Neely and Kinnis Williams argued in motions filed in St. Clair County Circuit Court that the state's move Thursday was unconstitutional.
The members also say the takeover infringed on what they called the "fundamental right to vote" and that state failed to allow an evidentiary hearing.
The Illinois State Board of Education on Thursday ousted the elected school boards in East St. Louis and North Chicago, citing nagging academic underperformance.
A five-person independent panel will be appointed to run those districts.
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