After Monthlong Delay, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Names Final Member of School Board

Cydney Wallace Appointed to Represent 8th District

After being down an appointee for a month, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has named Cydney Wallace, a Black Jewish mom, to be the 21st school board member. Wallace will join the partly appointed, partly elected board, representing a chunk of the 8th district that stretches from the Loop to Chinatown, Bridgeport, Back of the Yards, and Gage Park.

Background on Cydney Wallace

Wallace has children in Chicago Public Schools, works for the City Clerk’s office, and is a board member for the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, a progressive organization that focuses on local social justice issues, such as housing and fighting anti-semitism and racism.

Complicated Puzzle of Appointments

The law required Johnson to appoint members who live on the opposite side of the district as the elected member, making finding appointees a complicated puzzle. Johnson announced the appointment of 10 members, including the school board president, on December 17, and those appointees were sworn in a month ago. The mayor’s office cited the fact that the position is unpaid, time-consuming, and often "thankless" as the reason for the delay.

Challenges Ahead for the School Board

Wallace joins the board at a controversial time, with the Chicago Teachers Union contract still being negotiated and the possibility of a strike looming. The school board approved a budget that does not include money for teacher raises or other costs associated with the contract or a large municipal pension payment that the city needs to make to balance its budget. The board will also have to hire a new CEO, following the firing of current CEO Pedro Martinez, and confront future budget deficits, which CPS estimates will be at least $500 million, and as much as $700 million, annually.

Future of the School Board

The board will be holding hearings in March to consider its options to incur costs and end the year with a balanced budget, as required by law. With the appointment of Wallace, the board is now complete, and it will be up to the members to work together to address the challenges ahead.

FAQs

• Who is Cydney Wallace?
  • Cydney Wallace is the newly appointed member of the Chicago Board of Education, representing the 8th district.
• What is the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs?
  • The Jewish Council on Urban Affairs is a progressive organization that focuses on local social justice issues, such as housing and fighting anti-semitism and racism.
• Why was there a delay in appointing the 21st member of the school board?
  • The mayor’s office cited the fact that the position is unpaid, time-consuming, and often "thankless" as the reason for the delay.
• What are the challenges facing the school board?
  • The school board faces challenges such as negotiating the Chicago Teachers Union contract, hiring a new CEO, and confronting future budget deficits.