Last week during a pivotal moment for Chicago’s educational and political ecosystem, our city’s civic leaders, parents, educators and editorial boards successfully thwarted the efforts of the Chicago Teachers Union and Mayor Brandon Johnson to oust Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez. This victory symbolizes more than just saving an individual’s job; it also symbolizes a unified front against the entrenched interests that have influenced our politics by the new political machine of our city, the CTU.
However, this triumph raises crucial questions: What’s next? How do we stop future attempts to oust Martinez or any CPS CEO for purely political reasons? Does this level of influence over Johnson stop at the school board, or does it ripple across the entire city? In the short term, the answer lies in the upcoming school board elections this November, which will be ground zero for this ongoing struggle. In this election, Chicago voters will have the choice to either elect independent board members who will prioritize students and families or vote for CTU’s hand-picked candidates, who will continue to push the union’s agenda.
Let me inform you of the seriousness of the time. By 2026, the elected school board will comprise 21 seats, including one citywide president seat. However, this fall, voters will elect only 10 board members. After Johnson’s mayoral victory, CTU President Stacy Davis Gates reversed her earlier democratic stance and instead lobbied for 10 seats, which would allow Johnson to appoint the others. This means the union starts with a significant advantage, holding 10 seats before the first ballot is even cast. In District 5, there is only one candidate running: CTU loyalist Aaron “Jitu” Brown. This effectively gives the union a 12-seat head start, including the citywide president seat.
So, what’s the state of the race for the remaining nine seats? Union leadership has strategically hand-picked candidates for each district, backing them with substantial support for months. These candidates have received tens of thousands of dollars in backing. If successful, these candidates will owe their political fortunes to Davis Gates, much like Johnson. With an initial advantage of 12 seats, winning just a few more races would grant the CTU a supermajority, giving them unprecedented control over our school system. This level of power would enable them to advance any part of their agenda without effective opposition. This is a scenario we cannot afford to overlook.
To carry forward the momentum from last week’s victory, we must take decisive action to elect independent candidates now. This is not merely a call to action; it also is an imperative for the future of our educational system and our city. We need independent candidates that will establish open lines of communication and create platforms for dialogue that allow all stakeholders to voice their concerns and suggestions. These candidates must fully understand the myriad challenges our schools face, from funding disparities to resource allocation, and be committed to working with integrity and purpose. They must commit to rejecting the reckless high-interest loans just because the people that helped them get elected are the ones that would benefit from them. By ensuring that our school board is held by independent thinkers, we can create a resilient system that not only survives but also thrives.
The Chicago Democrats for Education political action committee was established to support candidates who prioritize the needs of students and families over the influence of special interests.
Let’s seize this moment to make real, lasting change and build a school system that works for everyone. Together, we can make a difference.
Hugo Jacobo is director of Chicago Democrats for Education.
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