Chicago City Wire

This morning, seven new members joined the Chicago Board of Education to serve the Chicago Public School (CPS) System. The newly appointed members are Olga Bautista, Michilla Blaise, Mary Gardner, Rev. Mitchell L. Ikenna Johnson, Deborah “Debby” Pope, Frank Niles Thomas, and Rafael Yáñez. They will serve until the transition to an elected representative school board in 2025.

“I am honored to officially welcome these individuals to the Chicago Board of Education,” stated Mayor Brandon Johnson. He emphasized his commitment as a CPS parent to collaborate with the new board members to ensure every neighborhood in Chicago has access to a fully resourced and equitable learning environment.

Mayor Johnson has assured the board members and CPS staff that he will provide CPS with the maximum tax increment financing amount. Additionally, there is consensus among the new board members and Mayor Johnson on honoring past CPS employees by covering their pension costs.

The first election for Board of Education members is scheduled for November 5, 2024. This will lead to a transition into a 21-person board in 2025, with 11 appointed by the mayor and 10 elected by voters. The new members began their duties today at the Agenda Review Committee Meeting and will hold their first official Board meeting on November 1, 2024.

Reverend Mitchell L. Ikenna Johnson expressed gratitude upon being sworn in as President of the Chicago Board of Education: “I want to thank Mayor Johnson and my fellow board members as I am sworn in as the President of the Chicago Board of Education,” he said. He pledged to work alongside his colleagues towards equity and growth within CPS under the Johnson Administration’s vision.

As CPS prepares for a hybrid model of governance with both elected and appointed board members, current officials stress that establishing a solid foundation during this transition is crucial for benefiting students and families within Chicago Public Schools.