New CPS Board President Picked by Mayor Praises Johnson, Makes Clear He Backs Mayor’s Plans
New Board President Voices Support for Mayor’s Vision for Public Education
Three weeks after the entire Chicago Board of Education resigned, the board’s new president, Rev. Mitchell Ikenna Johnson, lauded Mayor Brandon Johnson in a politically tumultuous time and indicated he’s willing to take the school district in the direction the mayor has ordered.
“My opinion is the mayor has a clear vision for public education here in Chicago: a fully funded school district that gives every Chicagoan a world-class public school in their neighborhoods. A transformation of our public education is a critical piece for [Mayor] Johnson’s vision for transforming Chicago,” Rev. Johnson said at his first meeting as board president.
“I am proud to not only align with this vision but I am proud to be chosen to work to start implementing,” he added.
New Board Members Press District Officials at Meeting
The meeting saw the new board members press district officials at times, with the new president’s comments seeming in direct response to the controversy that led to the resignation of the entire school board earlier this month and the appointment of seven replacement members.
“The conflict initially was over how to address a budget shortfall this year, with Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez rejecting the mayor’s plan to take a short-term loan. Martinez and the board that resigned also refused the mayor’s demand to take on a contribution to a city pension fund that includes non-teacher CPS staff,” the article stated.
Top Priority: Improving Education for Black Children
Rev. Johnson said his top priority is improving the city’s education of Black children, whom he said have been failed for years by a lack of resources and care for their needs. He said the mayor is only Chicago’s second progressive leader after Harold Washington, and the first to work and send his kids to the public school system.
“You know where a man’s heart is, where he places his treasure,” Rev. Johnson said.
Questions for District Officials
The board members hand-picked by the mayor peppered district officials with questions about their proposals, at times digging into specifics. They questioned a new policy for soliciting public comments on proposals, changes to employee health care, and the purchase of tablet devices. At times, their procedural questions showed their inexperience, but other times, they questioned long-standing policies they felt should be challenged.
Conclusion
The new board members’ comments seemed to signal a willingness to work with the mayor to implement his vision for public education in Chicago. However, it remains to be seen how the board will navigate the challenges facing the school district and how they will prioritize the needs of students, staff, and teachers.
Frequently Asked Questions
* What is the new board president’s top priority?
+ Improving education for Black children
* What is the mayor’s vision for public education in Chicago?
+ A fully funded school district that gives every Chicagoan a world-class public school in their neighborhoods
* What is the conflict that led to the resignation of the entire school board?
+ A budget shortfall and disagreement over a short-term loan and a contribution to a city pension fund
* Who are the new board members?
+ Rev. Mitchell Ikenna Johnson, Michilla “Kyla” Blaise, Rafael Yañez, and others
