Mayor Johnson Announces 10 Of 11 Appointees For New Chicago Board Of Education
Mayor Picked 10 of 11 People to Complete City’s New Half-Elected, Half-Appointed School Board
CHICAGO — Mayor Brandon Johnson has selected 10 of 11 people to complete the city’s new half-elected, half-appointed school board. The announcement comes just hours before the deadline, and it includes some individuals who ran unsuccessfully in Chicago’s first school board elections this November.
The New Board Members
The new board will be sworn in on January 15, 2025, and will include 10 people who won in November. State law required the mayor to choose the remaining 11 people, including a board president, by Monday. The shift to an elected school board in Chicago has been years in the making, with a complicated process outlined in state law. While there were 10 school board races in November, each district was split into two subdistricts. As a result, Johnson was limited to selecting people who did not live in the same subdistrict as winners of the election.
The Appointees
- Sean Harden, a South Side native and former CPS employee, will serve as president of the Board of Education and represent the city at large.
- Ed Bannon, who ran for alderman in 2023 and served on the Dever Elementary School Local School Council, will represent District 1a alongside Jennifer Custer in 1b.
- Debby Pope, a current appointed school board member and former CTU employee and retired teacher who filed campaign finance paperwork and considered running for an elected school board seat, will represent District 2b alongside Ebony DeBerry in 2a.
- Norma Rios-Sierra, an artist who also works as cultural events manager for nonprofit Palenque LSNA, will represent District 3a alongside Carlos Rivas Jr. in 3b.
- Karen Zaccor, a retired teacher and active CTU member who finished second in a six-way race in November’s election, will represent District 4a alongside the winning candidate Ellen Rosenfeld in 4b.
- Michilla Blaise, a current school board member who withdrew as a candidate one month before Election Day, will represent District 5b alongside Jitu Brown in 5a.
- Anusha Thotakura, a former teacher who also lost her bid in November, will represent District 6a alongside Jessica Biggs in 6b.
- Emma Lozano, a Pilsen pastor and advocate for bilingual education and immigrant rights, will represent District 7a or 8a, depending on her residency.
- Frank Niles Thomas, a current board member appointed last month, will represent District 9a alongside Therese Boyle in 9b.
- Olga Bautista, a current board member appointed last month, will represent District 10b alongside Che "Rhymefest" Smith in 10a.
The Unclear 11th Appointee
It is unclear why the mayor only announced 10 of 11 picks before the deadline. State law does not specify any consequences for missing the deadline.
The Mayor’s Influence
Johnson’s picks will make up a majority of the board, giving him significant influence over a governing body that has been controlled exclusively by the mayor for the past three decades. The mayor’s appointees include most of the current board members as well as losing school board candidates endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union, a close ally of the mayor.
Conclusion
The new school board will have a significant impact on the city’s education system, with the potential to shape policies and decisions that affect thousands of students, teachers, and families. With the mayor’s influence over the board, it will be important to monitor the new board’s actions and ensure that they prioritize the needs of all students in Chicago.
FAQs
- What is the purpose of the Chicago Board of Education?
The Chicago Board of Education is responsible for overseeing the city’s public school system, including setting policies and making decisions that affect students, teachers, and schools. - How was the new school board selected?
The new school board was selected through a combination of elections and appointments. Ten members were elected in November, and the remaining 11 members were appointed by the mayor. - What is the role of the mayor in the selection process?
The mayor has significant influence over the selection process, as they are responsible for appointing half of the board members. - What is the significance of the new school board?
The new school board will have a significant impact on the city’s education system, with the potential to shape policies and decisions that affect thousands of students, teachers, and families.
