CPS School Board: The race in the North Side’s 4th District
Progressive and Conservative Groups Coalesce Behind Two Candidates
Like many districts in Chicago’s first-ever school board elections, progressive and conservative groups have coalesced behind two opposing candidates in the North Side’s 4th District. But that doesn’t tell the whole story in this district, where there are six candidates with varying views on key education issues.
The Candidates
The lakefront district is one of the city’s wealthiest, with 33 schools in Lincoln Park, Lake View, North Center, and most of Uptown. All six candidates are Chicago Public Schools parents and all have worked in education in some form.
* Karen Zaccor, a retired longtime teacher, is backed by the Chicago Teachers Union and several progressive organizations, including Northside Action for Justice. She taught for 28 years at Stockton Elementary, Arai Middle School, and Uplift Community High School, and served on the local school councils at all three.
* Ellen Rosenfeld, a current Chicago Public Schools employee in the community engagement office, is supported by a slew of other groups, including some establishment Democratic organizations and more conservative “school choice” groups — the latter of which Rosenfeld has said she did not solicit. She’s also a former teacher at Dulles and Hartigan elementary schools and a parent at Whitney Young Magnet High School, and served on Bell LSC as a parent.
* Kimberly Brown, a marketing executive and adjunct professor, is a Nettlehorst Elementary parent who served on the school’s parent-teacher organization board. She previously founded a nonprofit focused on teaching and developing middle managers and another that aimed to empower mid-career women.
* Thomas Day, a parent at Hawthorne Scholastic Academy, founded a nonprofit that brings lab inventions to commercial and defense markets. A veteran of the war in Iraq and former journalist, he has worked as a substitute teacher in CPS and lectured at the University of Chicago.
* Carmen Gioiosa, a Lincoln Elementary parent and LSC chair, used to teach Italian at Schurz High School and led the implementation of small learning communities. She worked in CPS’ central office supporting at-risk students.
* Andrew Davis, a parent at Lincoln Park High School, founded the Education Equity Fund, which makes zero-interest loans to CPS educators pursuing doctoral degrees. He was on the local school councils at Newberry Math and Science Academy and served as the board chairman of the Global Citizenship Experience Lab School, a tiny downtown private high school that closed last year.
Issues
The candidates have differing views on several key issues, including:
*
Standardized Testing
+ Gioiosa is the only candidate who supports standardized testing more than once a year, though “with reservations.” She said testing can be used to show students’ progress, highlight skill gaps to address, and identify school-wide areas for improvement.
*
Curriculum
+ Zaccor and Rosenfeld are the only two who don’t support requiring all schools to select from a certain curriculum authorized by the school board, both arguing educators should be able to personalize lessons for their unique classes.
*
Funding
+ Rosenfeld is the lone candidate who said the school board should continue raising the property tax levy to the maximum allowed by the state each year. But she said that’s out of necessity and there need to be new revenue sources to address the district’s structural deficit.
Conclusion
The election for the North Side’s 4th District is a complex and nuanced race, with six candidates vying for the attention of voters. As the community prepares to make its decision, it’s essential to consider the varying perspectives and priorities of each candidate.
FAQs
* What are the main issues in this election?
+ Standardized testing, curriculum, and funding are among the key issues dividing the candidates.
* Who is backed by the Chicago Teachers Union?
+ Karen Zaccor is backed by the Chicago Teachers Union.
* Who is supported by the Education Equity Fund?
+ Andrew Davis founded the Education Equity Fund.
* Who is the only candidate who supports standardized testing more than once a year?
+ Carmen Gioiosa is the only candidate who supports standardized testing more than once a year, though “with reservations.”
