Mayor Johnson announces new interim Chicago Board of Education nominees
Appointments come amid Johnson's push to oust CPS CEO Pedro Martinez
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Mayor Brandon Johnson announced six nominees to serve on the Chicago Board of Education Monday.
All members of his previous hand-picked board resigned on Friday.
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"My vision is about building a system that works for everyone," Johnson said. "Imagine our schools down a pathway of new discovery, where you don't have to senseless cuts and real disruption and chaos. You can actually have a school district that doesn't embrace mass layoffs, massive school closings, austerity."
The announcement was briefly interrupted by a small group of protesters for school choice.
"I am confident that these individuals and their experience in education, community, faith, business and elsewhere will continue our work to transform Chicago Public Schools into a world class school district for students and families," Johnson said. "As a CPS parent, I want the same thing for other CPS parents that I want for my own children, which is every class, every activity and every resource that will help build bright futures and bold leaders. I know these individuals will fight for our children to receive the investments they deserve, and will work with my administration and the district to put the needs of our students and families first."
The candidates are Olga Bautista, Michilla Blaise, Mary Gardner, Rev. Mitchell L. Ikenna Johnson, Deborah Pope and Frank Niles Thomas. Pope recently worked for the Chicago Teachers Union and served on the CTU contract negotiating team.
"I, like my fellow board nominees have a record of community change and sat and steadfast in our commitment to Mayor's Johnson's vision to fully fund neighborhood schools," said nominee Rev. Mitchell L. Ikenna Johnson.
"You know, there is a lot of attention on this transition of this board right now, but I have to ask, where is the outrage about what is at stake if we don't fully fund our schools?" said nominee Olga Bautista.
Johnson described this as "a transition period to transform the school district."
Johnson wants Martinez out partly because he refused to take out a short-term, high interest loan to help pay for a new contract for the CTU.
The mayor is appointing interim board members before a new board, partly-elected in November, takes office in January.
The mayor over the weekend reiterated he was voted into office because he has a plan to build a better school district. Johnson said he's honoring that campaign promise.
"I'm leading; I'm in charge," Johnson said. "They elected a parent.... We have schools on the West and South sides that don't have librarians. That's unconscionable."
The mayor would not allow the new nominees to answer any questions about on the loan, Martinez or their connections to the CTU.
"No, you are not doing that. If you have a question for the mayor of Chicago, then ask me a question," Johnson said.
One City Hall ally addressed the Martinez issue.
"And so I think that Pedro had long enough to fix this. What's the Pedro plan? That's all I'm asking. What is Plan B? Pedro doesn't have that," said 6th Ward Ald. William Hall.
In a lengthy and combative press conference, the mayor berated reporters and attacked those who have been critical of allowing the previous board to resign so close to an elected school board election.
"So you have a Black man who's a parent, a teacher, and the mayor of Chicago with the authority that the state gave me, and now they have concerns of expressing those authority," Johnson said. "The moment people begin to take those unnecessary for political shots at my administration, you have to questions the motives."
Forty-one members of the Chicago City Council, including many of Johnson's allies, signed a letter denouncing the board resignations and calling a short-term high-interest pay-say loan not a smart decision.
Johnson compared the argument to slavery and emancipation.
"They said it would be fiscally irresponsible for this country to liberate Black people. Now, you have detractors making the argument of the confederacy when it comes to public education in this system," Johnson said.
Among the letter signees is Alderwoman Nicole Lee, who spoke outside City Hall on Monday afternoon.
"We deserve more responsible leadership. I want to say also that I'm absolutely opposed to the $300 million payday loan scheme that's been suggested. I think it's irresponsible on the part of CPS to take on that type of that type of loan in," Lee said.
Other alderpersons also weighed in.
"When we have an election in less than 30 days to decide who's going to be the new participants of this board just reeks of this banana republic mentality that you know you can manipulate the Democratic process however you wish, so long as you get the desired result," said 15th Ward Ald. Ray Lopez.
"I think the bottom line for taxpayers, too, is they want to see the leadership, but they also want to see somebody be fiscally responsible ethically responsible and morally responsible, and we're not saying that with Mayor Johnson," said 32nd Ward Ald. Scott Waguespack.
One of the legislative champions of the elected school board law expressing concerns about everything that's played out since Friday.
"What decisions were being made that led us to the place that we're in now where we're scrambling to put together a whole new board just two months before the first elected school board, that's concerning," said Illinois State Rep. Ann Williams.
Parents, flanked by multiple members of City Council, also denounced the way all of this has come about.
"The fact that all this politicking is happening and it's effect on our kids, ultimately, and we are not having a seat at the table, or being a part of any discussion. It kind of makes me angry," said Tierra Pearson, a single mother of three.
Johnson brushed aside concerns that this appeared to be a coup done in consorts with his allies at CTU.
"So every single mayor in the history of Chicago has had the authority to appoint board members to multiple boards. Guess who still has that authority? This mayor does," Johnson said.
The mayor also repeated demands that state lawmakers come up with more money for CPS, something seen as unlikely given previous statements from the governor and others.
Some City Council members have called for a special meeting on Wednesday, right after the regular meeting to address the turmoil at CPS.
The CTU released a statement Monday, saying:
"In response to Mayor Brandon Johnson exercising his authority to appoint six new members of the Chicago Board of Education, President Stacy Davis Gates, issued the following statement:
"'Chicago elected a mayor who promised to transform our school district, to break with the failed cuts, closings and furloughs of the past. The Chicago Teachers Union looks forward to collaborating with the new board members to enact the transformation of our public schools that our students and educators need and deserve.'
"Additionally, the CTU urges the public and our elected officials to ask and investigate these questions of the CPS CEO:
"1. What is Pedro Martinez's solution for overcrowded classrooms with 37 or more students?
"2. What is his plan to provide libraries and librarians to the 80 % of CPS schools that don't have them?
"3. How will he get CPS into compliance with federal law and address the critical shortages of special education teachers, clinicians, social workers and nurses in school buildings?
"4. What is his revenue plan to complete the CPS budget for this school year and next?
"Mayor Johnson's first school board accomplished important firsts and centered equity throughout its tenure, beginning the transformation the mayor envisioned. The task of the new CPS Board members is to collaborate with Chicago's educators, parents and students to make that vision a reality."
