Will Mayor Johnson’s CPS Power Play Mean More State Funding — or More Headaches?
Johnson’s Plan for a New School Board
By installing a new school board that will do his and the Chicago Teachers Union’s bidding, Mayor Brandon Johnson is hoping to turn up the heat on the Illinois General Assembly to increase funding to Chicago Public Schools. But that mayoral power play — opposed by 41 of the City Council’s 50 members — could accomplish just the opposite.
Risks and Uncertainties
Instead of coming up with more money for CPS, the Democratically controlled Illinois Legislature and Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker could impose more oversight, taking power away from Johnson without providing any additional state funding. The Council once had the power to confirm appointments to the Chicago Board of Education and sign off on the school system’s annual property tax levy. The General Assembly could reinstate those powers and/or require Council authorization of school loans such as the high-interest $300 million borrowing that Johnson is pressuring the new board to approve.
The Role of the State Legislature
A longtime Springfield observer, who wished to remain anonymous, said the General Assembly would act only if the entire Chicago delegation “comes together and says, ‘We need to do something, and this is what we need to do.'” That is highly unlikely, considering every Illinois House member is up for reelection, and Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, is focused on picking up seats.
Funding Uncertainty
State Rep. Ann Williams, D-Chicago, the prime mover behind the House version of a fully elected school board, set out to guarantee a transition that would “minimize disruptions.” However, the rationale is out the window, thanks to Johnson. The mayor’s power play sets the stage for the newly appointed board to dump schools CEO Pedro Martinez and authorize the short-term, high-interest $300 million loan to cover both a new teachers’ contract and a $175 million pension payment for non-teaching school employees.
The Will of the Legislature
The notoriously risk-averse Legislature, along with a governor who tries mightily to avoid controversy, could simply let Johnson stew in a political mess of his own making. “Springfield doesn’t like to get … in the middle of messes that aren’t theirs to clean up,” the observer said. “They’re not gonna do something controversial for no reason.”
Fresh Fears and Fallout
The turmoil could undermine the case Johnson hopes to make for additional state funding for CPS. Johnson has argued repeatedly and emphatically that the state “owes” CPS more than $1.1 billion. But State Rep. Curtis Tarver, D-Chicago, believes the situation is more likely to lead to further gridlock, citing the lack of a clear plan for how the funds would be used.
New Board Members Announced
Johnson was unapologetic and downright combative during a lengthy news conference Monday to introduce six new school board members who are still in the process of being vetted by the mayor’s office. “Some of the same individuals who claim to support a [fully] elected representative school board only got the gospel once I became mayor of Chicago. These are the same individuals in Springfield that did not fight for adequate funding. That when massive school closings were taking place. None of them stood up in that moment and said, ‘You know what? Maybe the authority of the mayor is too much,'” Johnson said.
Conclusion
The situation is far from settled, with many factors in play. The City Council has called a special meeting to explore the situation and discuss possible future actions. The road ahead is uncertain, and the outcome is far from clear. Will Johnson’s power play lead to more state funding, or will it create more headaches for the city and its leaders?
Frequently Asked Questions
* What is Mayor Johnson’s plan for the new school board?
Johnson plans to install a new school board that will do his and the Chicago Teachers Union’s bidding.
* What is the potential impact of Johnson’s plan on state funding?
The plan could lead to more state funding or create more gridlock, with the state potentially imposing more oversight and taking power away from Johnson without providing additional funding.
* What is the role of the state Legislature in this situation?
The state Legislature has the power to impose more oversight and take power away from Johnson, potentially creating more gridlock rather than increasing funding.
* How does the City Council fit into this situation?
The City Council has called a special meeting to explore the situation and discuss possible future actions, which could include more hearings and potentially impeaching Johnson.
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