Chicago Board of Education chambers (Photo Credit cpsboe.org).
In a massive move, the entire Chicago School Board is resigning, setting the stage for transitioning to a hybrid elected and appointed school. Mayor Brandon Johnson announced, via a release, that the transition allows for a fresh start as the city prepares to reshape how education is governed.
The embattled Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez, whom Mayor Johnson reportedly wants removed, issued a letter thanking outgoing board members.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank all seven of these individuals for their vision and their leadership — Board President Jianan Shi, Vice President Elizabeth Todd-Breland, Mariela Estrada, Mary Fahey Hughes, Rudy Lozano, Jr., Michelle Morales, and Tanya D. Woods,” wrote Martinez in a letter posted to social media Friday afternoon (Oct. 4).
“I am sincerely grateful to each one of these dedicated, civic-minded public servants who have volunteered their time, their expertise, their experience, and their energy to supporting our system and serving more than 324,000 students.”
None of the resigning board members had intended to continue on the new board, and none are running for election.
Here is the complete statement released from Mayor Johnson’s office:
Mayor Brandon Johnson and members of the Chicago Board of Education are enacting a transition plan which includes all current members transitioning from service on the Board later this month. With the shift to a hybrid elected and appointed Board forthcoming, current Board members and Mayor Johnson understand that laying a strong foundation for the shift is necessary to serve the best interests of students and families in Chicago Public Schools.
Together, Mayor Johnson and the Board fulfilled many objectives of the Johnson Administration’s vision for Chicago’s public schools, including shifting away from inequitable student-based budgeting, completing the change to a school safety model that does not rely on school resource officers and focusing on Black Student Success. Their partnership also improved special education services, increased charter school accountability in the renewal process and embarked on a new five-year strategic plan that emphasizes continued progress, investing in neighborhood schools and expanding the Sustainable Community School model in lieu of school closures.
None of the members leaving the current Board planned to continue onto the hybrid Board, and none are running for election. With the unprecedented increase in Board membership, transitioning new members now will allow them time to orient and gain critical experience prior to welcoming additional elected and appointed members in 2025.
Here is the full letter from CPS CEO Martinez:
Dear CPS Staff, Families, and Supporters:
Earlier today, all seven members of the Chicago Board of Education announced that they plan to resign their positions in the very near future.
I want to take this opportunity to thank all seven of these individuals for their vision and their leadership — Board President Jianan Shi, Vice President Elizabeth Todd-Breland, Mariela Estrada, Mary Fahey Hughes, Rudy Lozano, Jr., Michelle Morales, and Tanya D. Woods.
I am sincerely grateful to each one of these dedicated, civic-minded public servants who have volunteered their time, their expertise, their experience, and their energy to supporting our system and serving more than 324,000 students.
School board members — who are not paid for their work — review thousands of policies and proposals each year and spend additional time researching, asking questions, and offering input before voting on major decisions, including the District’s annual budget, and more recently, the District’s five-year strategic plan, ‘Success 2029: Together We Rise,’ which this board approved just 19 days ago.
I want to salute these Board members in particular for their steadfast dedication to ensuring greater equity in our system, emphasizing our collective responsibility to improve the quality of education for those who are furthest from opportunity.
I want to extend my special thanks to Board Vice President Todd-Breland, who has been a board member since 2019, for her leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic and in the aftermath. She worked to restore services and lead academic recovery efforts that have yielded some of the biggest gains among large urban districts.
I know that families and staff may have concerns about what this means for the future of our District. Please know that regardless of the makeup of the Board of Education, my team and I remain focused on the work: robust teaching and learning, building on the great momentum we’ve seen in students’ academic gains, and continuing to realize our vision of a District where every student has a rigorous, high-quality, and joyful learning experience.
Sincerely,
Pedro Martinez
Chief Executive Officer
Chicago Public Schools
Elected and Appointed School Board Members to Shape Immediate Future
The Chicago Board of Education is undergoing a significant transformation, expanding from 7 mayor-appointed members to 21 elected members by 2027. This new structure also introduces a Non-Citizen Advisory Board and a Black Student Achievement Committee to ensure broader representation and input.
In the spring of 2024, Illinois lawmakers passed SB15, the final legislation establishing election districts and laying out the roadmap for the transition. You can view the finalized districts and subdistricts here.
Voters to Elect First 10 School Board Members on Nov. 5
Chicago voters will elect the first 10 members of the new board on Nov. 5, 2024, while the mayor will appoint 11 others.
Early Voting Has Started with Multiple Locations Open
Early voting began on Thursday (Oct. 3).
Chicago voters can cast their ballots at two main locations. The Voting Supersite at 191 North Clark Street, available to residents from all 50 city wards, and the Board of Elections office at 69 West Washington Street will be open.
For those looking to vote closer to home, early voting sites in each of the city’s 50 wards will open on Oct. 21. The Board of Elections website has a full list of these locations.
More Than Just the Presidential Election is at Stake
Voters should also remember that while the presidential election may be the headline, the school board race is an essential part of the ballot and will shape the future of public education in the city.
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