Education
Chicago Board of Education's Monthly Meeting Postponed, No Makeup Date Announced
(WTTW News)
Chicago’s Board of Education is no longer scheduled to meet this month after seven members abruptly resigned following ongoing turmoil between Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez.
The board’s monthly meeting, which had been scheduled for Oct. 24, is no longer set to be held and a makeup date has not yet been announced.
“As soon as a date has been determined, the information will be posted,” a message on the board’s site states.
As it currently stands, the board is not yet scheduled to meet again until Dec. 12 — more than a month after the first wave of board elections will be held, though those new members won’t be sworn in until January.
The board’s regular agenda review committee meeting, scheduled for this week, had also already been postponed with no new makeup date set.
Earlier this month, all seven members of the board announced plans to step away from their positions.
Those resignations came amid ongoing strife between Johnson and Martinez following squabbles over finances, possible future school closures and the district’s ongoing contract negotiations with Johnson’s former employer, the Chicago Teachers Union.
Johnson has since appointed six new board members, though he’s stated the vetting process remains ongoing.
The new members include: former local school council chair Frank Niles Thomas; the Rev. Mitchell L. Ikenna Johnson; Southeast Environmental Task Force Executive Director Olga Bautista; Michilla “Kyla” Blaise, who serves as chief of staff for 16th District Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar; West Side community activist Mary Gardner; and former CPS teacher and ex-CTU member Deborah Pope.
Beginning in January, the board will expand to a 21-person body with 10 elected members and 11 members appointed by Johnson.
Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson | [email protected] | (773) 509-5431
