CPS School Board: The race in the West Side’s District 5
The 5th District of the Chicago Public School Board represents a diverse range of communities, from the affluent West Loop to the more disinvested West Side neighborhoods of West Garfield Park and Austin. In this election, three candidates are vying for the seat, but only one of them will officially be on the ballot.
The Candidates
Three candidates are vying for the 5th District seat: Aaron "Jitu" Brown, Jousef M. Shkoukani, and Michilla Blaise. Only Brown and Shkoukani completed candidate questionnaires. Blaise, who has dropped out of the race, was recently appointed by the mayor to fill the board.
Aaron “Jitu” Brown
Brown, 58, is a long-time education activist and advocate for an elected school board. He grew up in the South Side and graduated from Kenwood Academy High School, which his teenage son now attends. Brown believes in prioritizing neighborhood schools, ending "punitive" standardized testing, and developing a new curriculum that caters to the needs of the predominantly Black and brown students who make up 90% of the student population.
Jousef M. Shkoukani
Shkoukani, 29, is a first-generation Palestinian American from Michigan. He earned his JD from Michigan State Law School and works as an attorney at the firm Shook, Hardy & Bacon. As a local school council member at the Wilma Rudolph Learning Center, a special education elementary school, and founder of Unity in Diversity School, he focuses on providing students with back-to-school resources and running a reading retention program.
Differences in the Campaign
The two candidates, Brown and Shkoukani, diverge on key issues, including school closings and charter schools. Brown, endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union, wants to develop a pre-K through 12th-grade model to encourage local parents to send their kids to neighborhood schools instead of charter schools. Shkoukani supports charters alongside neighborhood schools and is open to considering closing low-enrollment schools.
Conclusion
The 5th District election is crucial for the future of public education in Chicago. The candidates’ varying views on school closings, charter schools, and budget management will shape the direction of the school district. As voters prepare to cast their ballots, they should carefully consider the candidates’ stances on these issues, as well as their experience and level of engagement with the community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who are the candidates running for the 5th District seat?
A: Aaron "Jitu" Brown and Jousef M. Shkoukani are officially on the ballot, although only Brown and Shkoukani completed candidate questionnaires. Michilla Blaise, who has dropped out of the race, was recently appointed by the mayor to fill the board.
Q: What are the main issues dividing the candidates?
A: School closings, charter schools, and budget management are key areas of disagreement between Brown and Shkoukani.
Q: What are their views on school closings?
A: Brown wants to develop a pre-K through 12th-grade model to keep students in neighborhood schools, while Shkoukani is open to considering closing low-enrollment schools.
Q: What are their stances on charter schools?
A: Brown opposes charter schools, while Shkoukani supports them alongside neighborhood schools.
