Alderman Bill Conway to Introduce Legislation to Provide City Council Oversight of Mayoral Appointments to the CPS Board of Education (Chicago, IL) – Amidst ongoing turmoil and a new hybrid Chicago Board of Education to be sworn in on January 15, 34th Ward Alderman Bill Conway is introducing legislation that would provide City Council oversight of mayoral appointments to the CPS Board.
Currently, the Board of Education is the only City of Chicago sister agency for which mayoral appointments are not reviewed and approved by City Council. Alderpersons have the authority to advise and consent on board appointments to the Chicago Transportation Authority, Regional Transportation Authority, Chicago Park District, Chicago Housing Authority, City Colleges of Chicago, and Public Buildings Commission.
“Providing the City Council with oversight of appointments to the Chicago Board of Education is not only good government, but it’s also becoming increasingly necessary for our students’ future. My common-sense legislation will bring CPS into alignment with every other sister agency of the city. If we had been given this opportunity to collaborate sooner, perhaps we could have avoided some of the chaos that has left the city’s fiscal health and schools in an unfortunate and unstable situation,” said 34th Ward Alderman Bill Conway.
Several months after taking office, Mayor Johnson appointed six individuals to the Chicago Board of Education. On October 4, 2024, the entire Board of Education resigned following pressure from the Mayor to fire CPS CEO Pedro Martinez for his unwillingness to take out an irresponsible short-term, high-interest loan to fund school operations. On October 7, 2024, Mayor Johnson announced six new board appointees. One of those appointees – then-Board President Mitchell Ikenna Johnson – was forced to resign after “antisemitic, misogynistic and conspiratorial” social media posts resurfaced.
Mayor Johnson has declined to describe the vetting process for his board appointments and has not yet named an 11th school board member. The ongoing chaos around CPS leadership has also forced the process into court, wasting valuable time and resources amidst contract negotiations.
“While the current board is nearly complete, given recent turnover it’s reasonable to expect that new vacancies will emerge,” added Conway. “I urge my colleagues to support this ordinance.”
The hybrid school board of appointed and elected members will be sworn in on Wednesday, January 15.
Regarding vacancies of an appointed member of the Board, state law (105 ILCS 5/34-3) directs the Mayor to “appoint a successor who has the qualifications as the member’s predecessor to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the expired term.” When there is a vacancy of an elected member, a majority vote of the Board selects an individual to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.
Current statute is silent on oversight provisions for the Chicago Board of Education, suggesting state law contemplates consistency with other sister agencies and the ability to introduce legislation of this kind at the City level. Any legal uncertainty would be settled if the City Council passes – and the Mayor signs – this legislation in the interest of consistency and collaboration.
The ordinance will be introduced at the City Council meeting on Wednesday, January 15.
Alderman Bill Conway to Introduce Legislation to Provide City Council Oversight of Mayoral Appointments to the CPS Board of Education
