Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Appointed CPS Board Members Could Stay on Past January
New Developments Shaping Chicago’s First-Ever Elected School Board
When the entire Board of Education resigned in October and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced their replacements, he said he hoped they could stay on the 21-seat board that will take office in January. The way the law is written, that wasn’t a given. But, as it turns out, all six can stay on. The mayor’s office said it hopes most will agree to continue.
The Appointment Process
Even ignoring the strife that led to the mass resignations, picking board members was a guessing game. That’s because the law requires the 10 board members who will continue to be appointed by the mayor to live on the opposite side of their voting district than the 10 elected members — meaning the elections would be determinative. The president, who the mayor also will appoint, can live anywhere in the city.
“Some might call me ‘genius,'” Johnson said in an interview Thursday, two days after the elections. “Look, I don’t predict elections, but it looks like I got it pretty close.”
Current board vice president Mary Gardner is the only member who doesn’t live on the opposite side of her district as the newly elected member, Aaron “Jitu” Brown in the West Side’s 5th District. But the mayor could appoint her president.
The Newly Appointed Members
But the rest could continue based on where they live: Michilla Blaise in the 5th District, Debby Pope in the 2nd District, Rafael Yáñez in the 7th District, Frank Niles Thomas in the 9th District, and Olga Bautista in the 10th District. The mayor’s office didn’t say whether any had yet agreed.
Who Will Hold the Most Power on the New School Board?
At the end of the day, it’ll be the mayor and his allies at the Chicago Teachers Union.
The historic school board elections led to split results in which neither the union nor the opposing pro-charter school movement won a majority of the 10 races.
Who Are the Newly Elected Members?
All but two are parents. Four are white, three Latino, and three Black. And they send their kids to a mix of neighborhood and magnet schools, but none send their children to charter schools.
Will Anyone Who Lost Still Get on the Board?
Intriguingly, yes, it’s possible. Of the six CTU-endorsed candidates who lost, Karen Zaccor in the 4th District, Anusha Thotakura in the 6th District, and Felix Ponce in the 7th District would be eligible to be appointed by the mayor because they live on opposite sides of their districts than the candidates who beat them.
Conclusion
The newly elected school board members and the appointed members will work together to shape the future of Chicago’s education system. It will be interesting to see how they balance their differences and work towards a common goal.
FAQs
* Will the newly appointed members continue to serve on the board?
+ Yes, all six appointed members can stay on based on where they live.
* Who will hold the most power on the new school board?
+ The mayor and his allies at the Chicago Teachers Union.
* Who are the newly elected members?
+ All but two are parents. Four are white, three Latino, and three Black. They send their kids to a mix of neighborhood and magnet schools, but none send their children to charter schools.
* Will anyone who lost still get on the board?
+ Yes, it’s possible for the six CTU-endorsed candidates who lost to be appointed by the mayor.
