What’s Going On With Chicago’s School Board?

Special Hearing Delayed As Alders Seek Answers

A special City Council meeting called for by alderpeople critical of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s handling of his recent school board reshuffle was canceled after it became clear no board members planned to attend. Instead, alderpeople have scheduled a meeting on October 18 under the council’s education committee to invite Johnson’s newly nominated board members – and the outgoing ones – to discuss their experience and vision for Chicago Public Schools.

The rescheduled hearing is the latest development in the political saga that erupted last week when the entire seven-member school board – six of them appointed last year by Johnson – resigned en masse.

The school board has the final authority to fire the school district CEO. On Monday, Johnson announced the nomination of six new board members during a combative press conference where he defended his power to make the appointments.

The school board resignations prompted immediate condemnation from City Council members. Over the weekend, 41 of 50 alderpeople signed onto a letter calling for a hearing where outgoing and incoming board members could sound off. “There is extreme cause for concern now that those voices have been diminished,” the letter says regarding the departing school board members.

Asked about that potential hearing on Monday, Johnson was dismissive.

“The City Council can have as many hearings as they want. There’s only one person who has the authority, by state law, to make appointments, and that’s the mayor of Chicago,” he said.

But while Wednesday’s special meeting fizzled out, alderpeople said they will invite school board members to attend the education committee hearing at 10 a.m. on October 18.

“Thanks to education [committee] Chairwoman Jeanette Taylor, we are going to get to hear from our board members,” Ald. Maria Hadden (49th) told reporters Wednesday. “I’m excited we were able to work something out, and I think this is in the best interest of all of the constituents of Chicago in order to just meet these people, know what’s going to happen and get some idea of what they are expecting to do in their new role.”

It’s not fully clear if the school board members will show up. Numerous alderpeople say they do have the power to subpoena the members if necessary, although Johnson and the city’s top lawyer Mary Richardson-Lowry disputed that Wednesday.

“If they don’t come to the hearing, then we’ll have to explore what the state statute talks about around subpoena. We’ll explore it,” Ald. Gil Villegas (36th) said after the meeting.

High-Interest Loan Worries Alderpeople

A major focal point of the tension between Johnson and Martinez — and now alderpeople — has been Martinez’s refusal to take out a $300 million short-term, high-interest loan to cover pension payments and upcoming contract costs, Chalkbeat has reported.

The current seven-member school board has declined to remove Martinez. They also approved the 2025 CPS budget, which closed a $505 million deficit — but did not include a $175 million pension payment for non-teaching staff, which the city has shifted to be CPS’ responsibility over the past several years.

That $175 million makes up the majority of the city’s remaining 2024 budget gap of $223 million, officials have said. The Johnson administration instituted a city hiring freeze last month in response to that deficit.

Alderpeople on Wednesday remained opposed to the school district taking out a short-term loan to cover upcoming costs.

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th) said the loan has been his main concern, not Martinez’s potential ouster.

“We’re all invested in making sure that our kids have the best education possible. I don’t want kids growing up having to pay more debt. So it’s about being responsible there,” Vasquez said. “If you were maxing out your credit card at home, you’re paying interest, you’re barely making minimum payments — if someone then proposes that you take out another credit card with a high-interest loan, that isn’t solving a problem.”

Before Wednesday’s council meeting, the CTU held a press conference calling on the city to phase out its use of tax-increment financing districts, which organizers said would bring in $1 billion for the school district.

Conclusion

The appointment of new school board members and the controversy surrounding the use of high-interest loans are just a few of the many issues surrounding Chicago Public Schools. As the new board members take office and the city works to resolve its budget crisis, the future of education in Chicago remains uncertain.

Frequently Asked Questions

* What was the reason for the mass resignation of the school board members?
+ All seven members of the school board, including six appointees of Mayor Brandon Johnson, resigned en masse amid controversy over the city’s budget crisis and the lack of transparency in the hiring process.
* What was the reaction of alderpeople to the resignation and the appointment of new school board members?
+ Alderpeople were critical of the mayor’s handling of the situation and called for a hearing to discuss the resignation and the appointment of new board members.
* What is the issue with the high-interest loan being proposed by the city?
+ The loan would likely result in the city being stuck with a large bill and potentially increasing the tax burden on residents.
* What is the proposed alternative to the high-interest loan?
+ Some are calling for the city to phase out its use of tax-increment financing districts to bring in more revenue for the school district.