Brandon Johnson reorganizes Chicago school board as mayor-appointed members’ tenure ends.

Mayor Brandon Johnson to Reshape Chicago School Board

Exciting changes are on the horizon for the Chicago school board as Mayor Brandon Johnson takes the lead in transitioning from handpicked members to a board of elected representatives next year.

Mayor Johnson has carefully selected a diverse group of former or current educators and parents within the Chicago Public Schools system to serve on the city’s Board of Education. As a former Chicago Teachers Union organizer and educator himself, Mayor Johnson announced that Jianan Shi, the executive director of the nonprofit Raise Your Hand for Illinois Public Education, will serve as the head of the school board.

“This is an honor, privilege, and responsibility that I do not take lightly. … As stewards of the transition toward an elected school board, we have much to add to and change over the next year and a half,”

The newly-appointed members of the school board represent various areas of community activism and engagement, aligning with Mayor Johnson’s campaign platform to restructure and improve the education system through comprehensive measures.

Mayor Johnson’s vision for education includes a needs-based funding model, with a focus on expanding staffing, increasing clinicians and counselors, and forging partnerships with city colleges and trade schools. He also plans to improve under-enrolled schools to provide essential services such as child care and health clinics.

Among the newly appointed members of the Chicago board are Tanya D. Woods, executive director of the nonprofit legal aid clinic the Westside Justice Center, and Michelle Morales, president of the Woods Fund Chicago and former associate director of the Alternative Schools Network.

However, Mayor Johnson is the last mayor of Chicago who will handpick the members moving forward. The transition to an elected school board will begin next year, with 10 elected members joining in November 2024 and the remaining 10 seats, plus a president elected at large, chosen by Chicago voters in 2026.

Despite the exciting changes, the board and Mayor Johnson face challenges, particularly in terms of the budget for Chicago Public Schools. Without additional funding, the system is projected to have a $628 million budget shortfall in the 2025-2026 school year. However, CPS officials have committed to providing an additional $150 million to increase spending per pupil and target investments towards schools with the greatest need in the 2023-2024 school year.

CPS CEO Pedro Martinez, the district’s first Latino superintendent, will continue in his role, but the board has the authority to approve a replacement if necessary.

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