Bhimani said the administration has stayed “opaque” about the process so far.
He also said his deputy mayor for education Jen Johnson is working with him on appointing school board members.Īdvocates say they want that vision to be more clearly defined and communicated to the public. “We’re going through a process now where we are reviewing those who are currently on the board, and those who ultimately align with our vision,” Johnson said. In a press conference last week, Chalkbeat also asked Johnson when he planned to appoint school board members. While on the campaign trail, Johnson told Chalkbeat that in the transition to an elected board, “We need candidates who are deeply invested and knowledgeable from the communities served to have a fair chance to win races to influence the education of their children.” He sees them, he hears them, and he will ensure that appointments to the Chicago Board of Education reflect the principles they value.” In a statement to Chalkbeat, a spokesperson for the mayor’s office said that “As a Chicago Public Schools parent and former educator who fought for an elected representative school board, Mayor Johnson is a partner to many of these individuals and organizations seeking education justice. “Standing for the people means that you need to trust and respect the deep reservoirs of experience and knowledge that families have in a city, and you do that by being transparent,” said Bhimani, a researcher for one of the letter’s signees, FOIA Bakery, which focuses on transparency. Until then, said Miriam Bhimani, Johnson should live up to his campaign promise to “stand for the people.” By 2027, the board will be fully-elected. In 2024, the board will expand from seven to 21 people - a much larger school governing body compared to other major cities - with the mayor appointing the school board president and 10 of those seats. He will be the last mayor to appoint members of the school board before Chicagoans get the chance to vote for their school board members. Along with the letter, the group also asked to meet with the mayor.įour of seven current school board terms are set to expire on June 30, but Mayor Brandon Johnson could replace all of them like his predecessors did. In a Wednesday letter, the advocates, who are primarily focused on education and disability justice, asked the mayor’s office to do an open call for members, increase transparency around the qualifications for selection, and outline the administration’s goals for the composition of the school board. A group of Chicago parents and advocacy organizations are urging the mayor’s office to keep the public better informed about upcoming appointments to the city’s Board of Education.
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