Backlash after full Chicago school board resigns, mayor appoints new members

Lauren Taylor

CHICAGO MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON NAMED SIX NEW MEMBERS TO THE CHICAGO BOARD OF EDUCATION DAYS AFTER ALL SEVEN BOARD MEMBERS RESIGNED AMIDST A GROWING FIGHT OVER CONTROL OF THE CITY’S SCHOOLS. THE MOVE RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT MAINTAINING CONTINUITY IN GOVERNANCE.

“WHAT’S BEING CARRIED OUT RIGHT NOW IS MY AUTHORITY AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO,” MAYOR JOHNSON SAID WHILE TAKING QUESTIONS DURING A NEWS CONFERENCE MONDAY. “IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, I AM FULFILLING THE EXECUTIVE RESPONSIBILITY THAT IS GIVEN TO ME BY STATE LAW.”

THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE SCHOOL BOARD IGNITED WHEN JOHNSON ALLEGEDLY CALLED FOR THE CEO OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PEDRO MARTINEZ, TO STEP DOWN WHICH JOHNSON DENIED DOING.

THE SEVEN BOARD MEMBERS – ALL APPOINTED BY JOHNSON LAST YEAR – RESIGNED AS  NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION ARE RAMPING UP AS CITY FACES A MAUOR BUDGET DEFICIT.

JOHNSON APPOINTED SIX NEW MEMBERS IN RESPONSE TO THE RESIGNATIONS – AND IS NOW FACING CRITICISM FROM ACTIVIST GROUPS FOR HIS HANDLING OF THE SITUATION. THE MAYOR, A FORMER TEACHERS UNION ORGANIZER, IS FACING ACCUSATIONS OF ATTEMPTING TO CONSOLIDATE POWER.

OVER THE WEEKEND, 41 OF THE CITY’S 50 ALDERMAN SIGNED A LETTER CONDEMNING THE SITUATION, DEMANDING A HEARING BEFORE THE MAYOR APPOINTS NEW BOARD MEMBERS.

CHICAGO WILL BE EXPANDING ITS SCHOOL BOARD TO 21 MEMBERS NEXT YEAR — INCLUDING 11 MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR AND 10 ELECTED MEMBERS. CHICAGOANS WILL VOTE  IN JUST A FEW WEEKS TO ELECT 10 OF THE NEW BOARD, WHICH WILL BE SEATED IN JANUARY.

STATE LEGISLATORS ARE REPORTEDLY DRAFTING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR ALL CPS BOARD APPOINTMENTS.