Mayor Brandon Johnson Appoints Seventh Chicago School Board Member
New Board Member Appointed
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has selected Rafael Yáñez, a hate crimes investigator with the Chicago Police Department, to join a new school board he appointed earlier this month after the entire seven-member board stepped down.
Meeting Scheduled for Thursday
The new appointees will meet for the first time on Thursday to review the board’s October agenda, which was pushed back a week. Rev. Mitchell Johnson, the former executive director of the Developing Communities Project, is expected to serve as the new board’s president, and Mary Gardner, a West Side community organizer, as vice president.
Agenda Items for New Board
The Thursday agenda includes a closed session to discuss personnel matters, but it’s unclear if CEO Pedro Martinez’s post is one of the items the new board will tackle. The schools chief’s job hangs in the balance after an increasingly public clash with Johnson over how to handle the district’s budget challenges.
Budget Concerns Loom
Johnson is set to present a new city budget on October 30, which could include a $175 million payment by CPS toward the pensions of non-teaching staff. The district began picking up some of this cost in 2020, but it was not included in the $9.9 billion CPS budget approved in July. Martinez, backed by the former board, has argued that the city, not CPS, should cover this payment.
New Board’s Connection to Chicago Teachers Union
Earlier in October, Johnson announced six new board appointees, and Yáñez rounds out the new slate. Yáñez ran for 15th Ward alderman as a progressive in 2019, with the Chicago Teachers Union and the Service Employees International Union among his top donors during that election cycle. The teachers union, which helped elect Johnson, has fiercely criticized Martinez as talks over a new four-year educator contract have grown increasingly tense.
Conclusion
The new board will face a critical decision on the fate of CEO Pedro Martinez and a short-term, high-interest loan for the district, issues the previous board refused to take on. With the fate of the board and the district’s leadership in limbo, the future of Chicago Public Schools remains uncertain.
FAQs
- Who is Rafael Yáñez?
- A hate crimes investigator with the Chicago Police Department.
- What is the agenda for the new board’s first meeting?
- Review of the board’s October agenda, including a closed session to discuss personnel matters.
- What is the current status of CEO Pedro Martinez’s job?
- His job hangs in the balance after a public clash with Mayor Brandon Johnson over budget challenges.
- What is the potential impact of the new board on the district’s budget?
- The board may consider a $175 million payment by CPS toward the pensions of non-teaching staff, a decision that could have significant implications for the district’s finances.
