Johnson Names New CPS Board of Education Members After Resignations

Mayor Brandon Johnson Announces Six Proposed Appointments

Mayor Brandon Johnson on Monday announced six proposed appointments to the Chicago Board of Education following the uproar over last week’s announcement that the entire board was resigning.

Johnson Rebuffs Calls to Pause Appointment Process

During a heated news conference, Johnson rejected calls to pause the appointment process and responded to criticism that he has been too harsh in his handling of Chicago Public Schools (CPS). He said his mission is to prevent major cuts to staff and programming in city schools and at one point compared his critics to Confederate leaders who said it was too expensive to end slavery.

New Board Members Vowed to Fund Schools

The six proposed appointments were vetted by Johnson’s staff and will now go through another vetting process with CPS before they officially sit on the board later this month. The mayor has the exclusive authority to appoint board members. He did not say who would serve as board president.

New Board Members to Focus on Funding Schools

The six nominees are all parents of CPS students or those who previously attended. Three of them have been elected to local school boards. The new board members vowed to focus on funding schools and preventing major cuts to staff and programming.

Protesters Demand Mayor’s Resignation

Protesters chant “Fire Brandon” as the mayor speaks about his picks for the Chicago Board of Education at a South Side church Monday.

New Board to Face Challenges

The new board will face enormous political pressures and will likely be tasked with carrying out Johnson’s orders on some key and controversial issues. The surprising announcement of the resignation of all board members sparked concern among city and state officials.

New Board to Address Funding Shortfall

CPS doesn’t have the money to pay a $175 million pension for non-teaching school staff or new collective bargaining agreements for the CTU and the new principals union, both still in negotiations. The CTU has called for salary increases and more staff to help homeless, disabled, and migrant students.

New Board to Address Staffing and Programming

The new board will need to address staffing and programming issues in city schools. The Johnson administration has pushed for a high-interest, short-term loan to cover pension payments and the first year of contracts, an idea rejected by Martinez and the board he is resigning.

New Board to Seek State Funding

Johnson has repeatedly declined to comment directly on Martinez, saying only that he rejects the cuts and wants to secure more revenue for CPS. The new board will need to seek state funding to address the financial deficit of the school system.

Conclusion

The new board of education will face significant challenges in addressing the financial and staffing issues in Chicago Public Schools. The mayor’s appointments will aim to project stability and control of a situation that has shaken the political landscape of the city.

FAQs

Q: Why did the entire board resign?
A: The board members resigned due to conflicts with the mayor and the teachers union over how to address the financial deficit of the school system.

Q: Who will serve as board president?
A: The mayor did not say who would serve as board president.

Q: What are the new board members’ priorities?
A: The new board members vowed to focus on funding schools and preventing major cuts to staff and programming.

Q: Will the new board address staffing and programming issues?
A: Yes, the new board will need to address staffing and programming issues in city schools.

Q: Will the new board seek state funding?
A: Yes, the new board will need to seek state funding to address the financial deficit of the school system.