Chalkbeat

15 West: Blaise or Hargrove? What to know about the District 5b school board race

2026-09-30T19:01:59+00:00

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La Raza: Norma Ríos-Sierra, Distrito 3a

2026-09-30T17:32:09+00:00

https://laraza.com/2026/09/24/hacer-un-verdadero-trabajo-de-participacion-comunitaria-hacer-que-las-personas-sientan-que-son-escuchadas-norma-rios-sierra/

La Raza: Peter Gonzales, Distrito 3a

2026-09-30T17:22:06+00:00

Should parents be held accountable for their children’s chronic absenteeism? Board candidates weigh in.

2026-09-30T14:19:05+00:00

As Detroit’s school district has explored ways to reduce chronic absenteeism, the conversation has at times turned to whether parents should be held more accountable for their children’s absences.

The Detroit Public Schools Community District board has also discussed incentives for parents to ensure their kids get to school. With 34 candidates running for five board seats in the Nov. 3 election, it’s a conversation newcomers will likely contribute to.

Researchers generally frown on penalties and incentives for parents and students, citing research showing they don’t move the needle on attendance. Michigan law allows parents to face penalties for their children’s poor attendance and allows the state to halt public assistance for parents whose children are missing too much school.

DPSCD has had some success, however, in paying high school students for perfect attendance from January to March. It plans to expand the program to middle school students this school year.

At a meeting last October, board member Monique Bryant said she doesn’t understand “how we are not more firm with our parents and their responsibility to get their children to school.” At the same meeting, Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said “it is time to enhance the accountability and engagement” with parents.

High rates of student absenteeism have plagued Detroit schools for years, impeding the district’s academic reform efforts. When students aren’t in school, they aren’t learning, and research shows students who are frequently absent are more likely to struggle academically and drop out.

In DPSCD, 60% of children were chronically absent at the end of the 2025-26 school year, down from 76.7% in the 2021-22 school year, during the pandemic. But district and city officials say it’s still too high and have continued looking for options to improve attendance, including by providing more transportation options for students and expanding after-school programs.

Chalkbeat asked candidates their thoughts on whether parents should be held accountable for their children’s absences. Of the 34 candidates, 31 are running for four seats with four-year terms, and three are running for a partial two-year term.

Here’s what those who filled out our questionnaire told us. You can also read their responses to a question about improving attendance in the district here.

Lori Higgins is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat Detroit. You can reach her at lhiggins@chalkbeat.org.

Elecciones de la Junta de Educación de Chicago 2026: La carrera en el Distrito 3b

2026-09-28T21:26:22+00:00

Leer en inglés.

Este reportaje se elaboró y publicó en colaboración con WBEZ, el Chicago Sun-Times y Block Club Chicago, redacción sin fines de lucro que cubre los diversos vecindarios de Chicago. Mantente informado a través del boletín de Chalkbeat Chicago, el boletín sobre educación de WBEZ y el Sun-Times, y los boletines de Block Club Chicago.

Dos hombres que crecieron en Humboldt Park, se graduaron de escuelas secundarias públicas de Chicago de admisión selectiva y se convirtieron en maestros a través de Teach for America vuelven a enfrentarse en la contienda para representar a un distrito que se extiende desde West Town hasta Belmont Cragin.

Ambos candidatos se identifican como progresistas. El actual miembro de la junta, Carlos Rivas Jr., ganó en 2024 con el 54% de los votos, frente al 46% de Jason Dónes. Rivas ha adoptado un enfoque más conservador en materia fiscal respecto del presupuesto escolar que el de su contrincante.

Rivas cuenta con el apoyo del Consejo Estatal de SEIU en Illinois, que representa a miles de empleados de apoyo escolar de CPS y que, en los últimos años, ha tenido diferencias políticas con el sindicato de maestros. También cuenta con el respaldo de defensores de las escuelas charter y de algunos funcionarios locales y del condado del noroeste de Chicago. Además, cuenta con el respaldo de Common Ground Collective, un comité de acción política contrario al CTU, financiado en gran medida por el multimillonario Michael Sacks y que afirma tener como objetivo involucrar a los votantes en torno a “políticas progresistas eficaces”.

Dónes cuenta con el respaldo del Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago y de varios funcionarios electos del noroeste de la ciudad, entre ellos funcionarios locales y estatales y un miembro del Congreso. Ambos candidatos cuentan con el apoyo de donantes individuales.

Las escuelas del Distrito 3b enfrentan escasez de maestros y consejeros, impuestos a la propiedad más altos y una matrícula baja, en medio de una rápida gentrificación y cambios en los vecindarios. El distrito incluye una combinación de 32 escuelas bilingües de doble inmersión, charter y alternativas que atienden principalmente a estudiantes latinos.

Tanto Rivas como Dónes consideran importante proteger a los estudiantes inmigrantes de los agentes federales de inmigración, apoyar más viviendas asequibles y conseguir más recursos y alianzas comunitarias para las familias de CPS. Rivas dice que quiere menos interferencia del alcalde en la Junta y dejar de recurrir a préstamos que aumentarán el déficit presupuestario de CPS. En su lugar, quiere aprovechar alianzas con organizaciones de servicios sociales que puedan ofrecer recursos a los niños, como terapia o acceso a consejeros.

Dónes, quien es padre de estudiantes de CPS, busca aumentar la transparencia presupuestaria e impulsar soluciones creativas dentro del marco presupuestario existente. Además, dijo en nuestro cuestionario para la Junta de Educación de CPS que no aceptará donaciones de corporaciones ni de “grupos de interés privados financiados por multimillonarios y millonarios”.

Para tratar de evitar que se repita su derrota de 2024, Dónes busca tener mayor presencia en las zonas del distrito que no votaron por él en 2024 y cuenta con más voluntarios gracias a sus vínculos con United Neighbors of the 26th Ward, grupo progresista del vecindario.

Dónes ha enseñado y capacitado a maestros en varias escuelas de CPS, trabajó en el Grupo de Trabajo sobre Equidad Educativa de CPS y ayudó a redactar el primer conjunto de estándares de enseñanza culturalmente receptiva de Illinois. Desde 2023, Dónes trabaja para Beyond 100K, organización nacional sin fines de lucro que busca abordar la escasez de maestros de STEM (Ciencia, Tecnología, Ingeniería y Matemáticas), con especial énfasis en atraer a más maestros de color.

Sus dos hijos asisten a la Escuela Primaria Moos, donde forma parte del Consejo Escolar Local desde 2020.

Dónes es copresidente de United Neighbors, donde ha abogado por más viviendas asequibles. Ha sido voluntario con el Northwest Side Rapid Response Team para ayudar a proteger a las familias de los agentes federales de inmigración y, desde el año pasado, ha participado en labores de organización con funcionarios electos del noroeste de Chicago que buscan la reelección.

Dónes enfrentó dos impugnaciones a su candidatura, pero la Junta de Comisionados Electorales de Chicago falló a su favor. Según registros judiciales del Condado de Cook, una de las personas que impugnó su candidatura presentó en julio una apelación contra la decisión de la Junta Electoral.

Dónes dijo que su experiencia como organizador comunitario, como padre de estudiantes de CPS y como integrante de un Consejo Escolar Local lo distingue de Rivas, al igual que los respaldos y las donaciones que ha recibido de vecinos y grupos comunitarios locales.

Si resulta elegido, Dónes dijo que trabajaría para aumentar los recursos presupuestarios destinados a las escuelas del distrito, impulsar una mayor transparencia presupuestaria y proteger los empleos de CPS que brindan apoyo a estudiantes inmigrantes que enfrentan amenazas de agentes de inmigración.

“Los lectores quieren entender cómo nuestros defensores están siendo radicales y creativos en la manera en que [buscamos] ingresos, al mismo tiempo que somos inteligentes y cuidadosos con los gastos”, dijo. “No hay que elegir entre responsabilidad fiscal y una defensa radical de nuestras causas; hay una manera de hacer ambas cosas”.

Lee las respuestas completas de Dónes al cuestionario.

De cara a su campaña de reelección, Rivas dijo que “no es lo ideal” volver a enfrentarse a Dónes. Dijo que su historial de votación demuestra que es una voz para las familias de clase trabajadora, especialmente para aquellas preocupadas por los aumentos de los impuestos a la propiedad en medio de la gentrificación y de los cambios en las escuelas.

Fue uno de los seis miembros de la Junta de Educación que votaron en contra del presupuesto modificado de CPS, que fue aprobado por un estrecho margen este verano y que contaba con ingresos estatales que no estaban garantizados. Rivas dijo que ese voto “incomodó a algunos” funcionarios electos de la zona.

Según nuestro cuestionario para la Junta de Educación de CPS, entre sus prioridades están aumentar el apoyo a las escuelas de vecindario y mejorar el apoyo a los estudiantes de familias inmigrantes. También destaca la rendición de cuentas en materia presupuestaria.

“Creo que tenemos un déficit estructural tan grande en CPS que definitivamente no podemos seguir dependiendo de préstamos para salir de las dificultades en las que estamos”, destacó Rivas. “Tenemos que seguir pensando en el éxito del distrito a largo plazo, mientras continuamos abogando por más fondos de Springfield”.

Desde 2022, Rivas trabaja para la Oficina Civil de Responsabilidad Policial de la Ciudad, agencia de supervisión policial que investiga denuncias de mala conducta de agentes de policía, donde se desempeña como director de asuntos públicos. Ha enseñado en escuelas de CPS y en UIC College Prep, una escuela chárter; también ha trabajado como consejero de exalumnos, asistente de maestro y guardia de seguridad en CPS.

Rivas, quien es propietario de una vivienda y también arrendador, es además padre de crianza temporal de transición. Recibió a menores migrantes no acompañados que necesitan ser ubicados en hogares de habla hispana antes de ser entregados a un patrocinador adulto. Dijo que esa experiencia ha influido en su perspectiva sobre la importancia de los programas bilingües de doble inmersión en las escuelas, la necesidad de fortalecer las políticas para proteger a las familias inmigrantes y el apoyo a los directores escolares y consejeros para que puedan conseguir más recursos para los estudiantes.

También quiere mejorar el apoyo a los estudiantes de familias inmigrantes y fortalecer las políticas para protegerlos de los agentes federales.

“Tengo una amplia variedad de experiencias en todo nuestro distrito que me definen como alguien reflexivo y que considera todos los puntos de vista cuando pensamos en las decisiones que tenemos que tomar para los niños y las familias de nuestro distrito”, aseguró Rivas. “Soy independiente y no recibo órdenes de ningún grupo de interés especial, a diferencia de lo que hemos visto con los miembros nombrados por el [alcalde]”.

Lee las respuestas completas de Rivas al cuestionario.

Ariel Parrella-Aureli es una reportera que cubre Logan Square, Humboldt Park y Avondale para Block Club Chicago. Puedes comunicarte con Ariel en ariel@blockclubchi.org.

Elecciones de la Junta de Educación de Chicago 2026: La carrera en el Distrito 3a

2026-09-28T21:25:56+00:00

Leer en inglés.

Un candidato nuevo que está formando una coalición de apoyo con donantes privados y defensores de las escuelas charter se enfrenta a una veterana activista comunitaria con vínculos con el Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago y con funcionarios electos del noroeste de la ciudad en la contienda por representar al Distrito 3a.

La actual miembro de la Junta, Norma Ríos Sierra, organizadora comunitaria de Logan Square nombrada a la Junta de Educación en 2024 por el alcalde Brandon Johnson, espera conservar su puesto frente a Peter Gonzáles, un abogado y tutor.

Las escuelas del Distrito 3a enfrentan una escasez de maestros, recortes en los programas de arte, cierres de escuelas chárter y dificultades para acceder a servicios de salud mental. El distrito del noroeste de Chicago cuenta con una combinación de 23 escuelas bilingües de doble inmersión, chárter y alternativas que atienden principalmente a estudiantes latinos.

Aunque ambos candidatos tienen posturas similares sobre aumentar los fondos para CPS y apoyar a las familias inmigrantes, cuentan con respaldos distintos. Ríos Sierra tiene el respaldo del CTU y del Consejo Estatal de SEIU en Illinois, que representa a miles de empleados de apoyo de CPS y que en los últimos años ha tenido diferencias políticas con el sindicato de maestros. Es una de las cuatro candidatas que han recibido el respaldo de ambos sindicatos.

Gonzáles cuenta con el apoyo de Illinois Network of Charter Schools, otro grupo que promueve la elección de escuelas, y de Common Ground Collective, un comité de acción política contrario al CTU, financiado en gran medida por el multimillonario Michael Sacks y que afirma tener como objetivo involucrar a los votantes en torno a “políticas progresistas eficaces”.

Gonzáles promueve salarios equitativos para los maestros que puedan contribuir a mejorar los resultados de los estudiantes en los exámenes y ampliar sus oportunidades, por ejemplo, fortaleciendo las vías hacia carreras en los oficios y ofreciendo más opciones para elegir escuelas. Ríos Sierra, por su parte, quiere que haya más recursos de salud mental para los estudiantes y más programas de arte y actividades extracurriculares en las escuelas de vecindario.

Ríos Sierra superó dos impugnaciones para permanecer en la boleta electoral este otoño. Formó parte de un grupo de trabajo encargado de seleccionar a Macquline King, la nueva directora ejecutiva de las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago, y votó a favor del presupuesto más reciente de CPS, que dependía de recibir $150 millones adicionales en fondos estatales.

Ha votado a favor de proteger a los estudiantes inmigrantes de las autoridades federales y de apoyar la creación de un plan de transición sostenible para las familias afectadas por el cierre de escuelas charter, como las escuelas Aspira y Acero.

Nacida en la Ciudad de México y criada en Logan Square, Rios Sierra pasó años organizando a la comunidad a través de la organización sin fines de lucro Palenque LSNA. Trabajó con estudiantes, familias y maestros en programas de arte y eventos, luchó por viviendas asequibles y por reformas migratorias locales, y organizó talleres de bienestar para más de 200 padres mentores. Es integrante de Northwest Side Rapid Response Network; se graduó de CPS y anteriormente formó parte del Consejo Escolar Local de la Escuela Primaria Logan Square.

Como madre soltera de un adolescente que asiste a CPS, dijo que su compromiso con la comunidad y su trayectoria demuestran que está presente para representar a los estudiantes y a las familias del vecindario que quieren escuelas con financiamiento completo y más apoyo en salud mental para los jóvenes.

“Definitivamente quiero seguir defendiendo las necesidades de nuestras familias inmigrantes, y me preocupa genuinamente la salud mental y el bienestar de nuestros estudiantes”, dijo.

Destacó que está comprometida a establecer relaciones que generen ingresos adicionales para las escuelas, mejoren el acceso a servicios de salud mental y apoyen más programas de arte y actividades extracurriculares.

Lee las respuestas completas de Ríos Sierra al cuestionario.

Con experiencia en presupuestos, economía y derecho, Gonzales destacó que sus habilidades son distintas a las de su oponente y que demuestran que está “dispuesto a darlo todo” para defender a las familias inmigrantes y de clase trabajadora.

“Sé lo que significa enfrentar problemas presupuestarios realmente difíciles”, dijo. “Sé lo que significa lidiar con problemas legales complejos… cuando se trata de hacer frente a ICE y al [presidente] Donald Trump. Realmente sé lo que significa defender a las personas ante la corte”.

Originario de Aurora, Gonzales vive con su esposa y su hijo de 2 años, a quien planea inscribir en una escuela de CPS. Vive en Avondale desde 2019.

Gonzales, asesor legal sénior de la Secretaría de Estado de Illinois, fue el primero de su familia en asistir a la universidad. Ha trabajado como tutor voluntario con Reach Out Community Center en La Villita y con Midtown-Metro Achievement Centers en Little Italy. También forma parte de la junta del Institute of Latino Studies de la Universidad de Notre Dame, que ofrece a estudiantes universitarios latinos oportunidades de voluntariado en bufetes de abogados de Chicago enfocados en los derechos de los inmigrantes.

Gonzales quiere representar a la zona para lograr una distribución más equitativa del presupuesto del distrito entre las escuelas y promover salarios equitativos para el personal, fondos para programas después de clases y recursos para mejorar los resultados académicos de los estudiantes. También quiere lograr mayor transparencia y responsabilidad fiscal en CPS, promover más vías dentro de CPS que preparen a los estudiantes para carreras en los oficios y proteger a los estudiantes inmigrantes de los agentes federales de inmigración, tanto en las aulas como en los tribunales.

“Al final del día, se trata simplemente de asegurarnos de que cada niño reciba la mejor educación posible y de proteger a nuestra comunidad”, destacó González.

Lee las respuestas completas de Gonzáles al cuestionario.

Ariel Parrella-Aureli es una reportera que cubre Logan Square, Humboldt Park y Avondale para Block Club Chicago. Puedes comunicarte con Ariel en ariel@blockclubchi.org.

Elecciones de la Junta de Educación de Chicago 2026: La carrera en el Distrito 2b

2026-09-28T21:25:35+00:00

Leer en inglés.

Una maestra jubilada de las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago, nombrada para la Junta de Educación por el alcalde, se enfrenta a una exmaestra de educación especial preocupada por la carga de deuda del distrito escolar y a un científico de datos enfocado en conseguir más fondos de la legislatura de Illinois.

La actual miembro de la Junta, Debby Pope, cuenta con el respaldo del Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago (CTU), Kyna Lenhof tiene el respaldo de Common Ground Collective, un grupo contrario al CTU, y Daniel Basco se ha presentado como “una voz firmemente independiente”.

El Distrito 2b es una de las zonas de mayor diversidad cultural de Chicago y alberga 19 escuelas públicas. Los tres candidatos que compiten para representar al distrito incluyeron entre sus principales prioridades garantizar que los salones de clase cuenten con fondos y recursos adecuados. Sin embargo, tienen opiniones distintas sobre cómo obtener ese financiamiento.

Pope dijo que apoya aumentar los fondos para las escuelas mediante impuestos a las personas de mayores ingresos, mientras que Basco dijo que quiere que CPS reciba más fondos del estado. Lenhof, por su parte, dijo que quiere reducir la dependencia del distrito de préstamos con altas tasas de interés.

Pope fue nombrada a la Junta por el alcalde Brandon Johnson en 2024 después de la renuncia masiva del primer grupo de miembros que había nombrado, en medio de tensiones con el exdirector ejecutivo de CPS Pedro Martínez.

Pope recibió el respaldo del poderoso sindicato de maestros, mientras que Lenhof recibió el respaldo de The Urban Center, una organización política centrista que apoya a las escuelas charter y promueve la elección de escuelas tanto públicas como privadas. Lenhof también recibió el respaldo de Common Ground Collective, que recibe gran parte de su financiamiento del multimillonario Michael Sacks y afirma tener como objetivo involucrar a los votantes en torno a “políticas progresistas eficaces”.

A principios de este verano, Common Ground publicó un anuncio en contra de Pope por votar a favor de un plan presupuestario de CPS que supone que el distrito recibirá $150 millones más en fondos estatales de lo proyectado.

El día antes de la votación, Lenhof también publicó una declaración en la que criticó a Pope.

“Nuestra actual miembro de la Junta, nombrada por el alcalde Brandon Johnson, ha apoyado continuamente préstamos con altas tasas de interés que representan una carga para los contribuyentes y debilitan el futuro financiero de CPS”, escribió Lenhof.

Tanto Pope como Lenhof han destacado su experiencia trabajando en el salón de clases, mientras que Basco se ha presentado como un candidato independiente y ha resaltado su trabajo de investigación sobre políticas educativas.

Pope, quien creció en Nueva York, ha vivido en Chicago durante más de 50 años y en Andersonville durante casi 30.

Fue maestra de secundaria durante casi 20 de esos años, principalmente como maestra bilingüe de estudios sociales. Después de retirarse de la enseñanza, Pope trabajó en el CTU durante poco más de una década en distintos puestos.

Durante su primer periodo en la Junta de Educación, Pope defendió firmemente la educación bilingüe y de doble inmersión, una postura influida por sus experiencias en el aula. Cuando comenzó su carrera en Benito Juárez Community Academy High School, muchos de sus estudiantes eran inmigrantes recién llegados de México. En ese momento, Pope no hablaba español con fluidez, pero dijo que todas las noches, después del trabajo, leía un diccionario de español para mejorar su dominio del idioma.

“Veía la escuela como una oportunidad para ayudar a los niños que habían llegado como inmigrantes a encontrar su lugar en Estados Unidos”, dijo.

Las dos hijas de Pope también asistieron a escuelas de CPS y se graduaron de Whitney Young Magnet High School mientras ella enseñaba en Gage Park High School. Actualmente, su nieta asiste a Inter-American Magnet School, una escuela bilingüe de doble inmersión en Lakeview.

“Era doloroso ver a diario el contraste entre lo que estaba disponible para mis hijas y lo que estaba disponible para mis estudiantes”, dijo Pope. “Una de mis hijas tomó cuatro clases de arte diferentes, y la otra estaba en el coro de conciertos, y las dos formaban parte del equipo de natación. Gage Park no tenía esas cosas y yo quería que todos los niños tuvieran esas oportunidades”.

Pope dijo que es importante garantizar que los fondos se distribuyan de manera equitativa. Le gustaría que hubiera un impuesto estatal sobre la renta con tasas progresivas y que se eliminaran los vacíos fiscales para las corporaciones, de manera que las personas de mayores ingresos contribuyan más a la educación pública.

Hasta mediados de septiembre, el principal donante de Pope era el brazo político del CTU.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Pope.

Lenhof se mudó a Chicago hace 25 años para tomar clases de improvisación en The Second City. Mientras estaba allí, comenzó a trabajar en Easterseals Academy, escuela terapéutica diurna para estudiantes con autismo, y más tarde trabajó como maestra de educación especial en Scammon Elementary School, en Kilbourn Park.

“Me inspiré a postularme porque realmente creo que todos los niños deben tener acceso a una educación segura, equitativa y que les permita disfrutar el aprendizaje”, dijo Lenhof, quien vive en Bowmanville desde hace 13 años.

Actualmente trabaja para KMM Consulting, una firma de estrategia y recaudación de fondos políticos que ayuda a candidatos locales y organizaciones sin fines de lucro a organizar eventos y recaudar fondos. También se desempeña como tesorera de los Demócratas del Distrito 40. Además, continúa actuando y presenta un espectáculo de variedades en Andersonville.

Si resulta elegida, Lenhof dijo que le gustaría que CPS recibiera más fondos para educación especial, garantizar que todos los educadores cumplan con los programas de educación individualizados, conocidos como IEP, y brindar el apoyo adecuado a los maestros de educación especial.

“Mis prioridades realmente se reducen a esto: ¿Cómo hacemos lo correcto para nuestras poblaciones más vulnerables?”, dijo Lenhof.

También dijo que impulsaría un presupuesto que reduzca al máximo los préstamos del distrito y evite “más préstamos con altas tasas de interés en lugar de destinar ese dinero directamente al salón de clases”. Cualquier fondo disponible debe distribuirse de manera equitativa en todo el distrito, dijo.

Hasta mediados de septiembre, los dos mayores donantes de Lenhof entre los comités de acción política eran Common Ground Collective PAC e INCS Action PAC, un grupo estatal enfocado en promover escuelas charter financiadas con fondos públicos y administradas de manera independiente.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Lenhof.

Basco, originario de Texas, estudió análisis de políticas públicas en Northwestern University. Trabajó en ciencia de datos y obtuvo un doctorado en análisis de políticas públicas de RAND School of Public Policy en California antes de mudarse a Andersonville hace cinco años.

Durante la administración de Obama, Basco asesoró al Departamento de Educación de Estados Unidos sobre políticas relacionadas con el financiamiento de la educación científica y trabajó con colegios comunitarios en Texas para evaluar la eficacia de sus cursos.

En su puesto actual en Kindsight, empresa que proporciona herramientas de recaudación de fondos a organizaciones de los sectores educativo, sin fines de lucro y de atención médica, desarrolla tecnología para ayudar a organizaciones sin fines de lucro a encontrar donantes.

“Mi enfoque siempre es: ‘¿Cómo recopilamos la mayor cantidad de datos posible?, ¿Cómo analizamos el problema desde todos los ángulos?’”, dijo Basco.

Si resulta elegido, Basco dijo que abogaría por más fondos estatales e impulsaría presupuestos de CPS que abarquen varios años para dar mayor estabilidad a los estudiantes y sus familias.

“Lo que he escuchado de los padres es que la incertidumbre en torno al presupuesto significa incertidumbre sobre los programas, las actividades después de clases y los programas para aprender inglés”, dijo Basco.

Basco, quien trabaja profesionalmente con inteligencia artificial (IA), también dijo que CPS necesita reglas y protecciones más estrictas para el uso de la IA. Aunque la inteligencia artificial puede ser una herramienta para apoyar el aprendizaje, Basco dijo que el distrito debe garantizar la protección de los datos y la privacidad de los estudiantes.

“Este campo está evolucionando muy rápido, así que necesitamos personas que estén al día con lo que está pasando para ayudar a definir las políticas”, aseguró Basco.

Basco ha destacado su independencia. En su sitio web, dice que “no le debe lealtad a ninguna maquinaria política”.

Basco dijo que ser un candidato independiente significa tener “empatía con todos los sectores”.

“Voy a analizar los temas desde todos los niveles y escucharé a todos para tratar de encontrar posibles soluciones”, dijo Basco.

Hasta mediados de septiembre, Basco había donado $7,000 a su propia campaña y no había reportado ninguna otra donación.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Basco.

Molly DeVore cubre los vecindarios del extremo noroeste de Chicago, entre ellos Portage Park, Jefferson Park, Norwood Park, Forest Glen y Sauganash, para Block Club Chicago. Puedes comunicarte con Molly en molly@blockclubchi.org.

Elecciones de la Junta de Educación de Chicago 2026: La carrera en el Distrito 2a

2026-09-28T21:25:06+00:00

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Un abogado y un empresario se enfrentan a una actual miembro de la Junta con experiencia en organización comunitaria en una contienda de tres candidatos para representar una de las zonas con mayor diversidad cultural de Chicago, ubicada en las orillas del lago en el extremo norte de la ciudad.

Elegida en 2024, Ebony DeBerry está a favor de aumentar los impuestos a las corporaciones y a las personas de mayores ingresos para enfrentar los problemas presupuestarios de las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago. Sus dos contrincantes consideran que reducir gastos es el camino a seguir. Bruce Leon, empresario y representante del Partido Demócrata del Distrito 50, busca recortar gastos innecesarios, mientras que Héctor Morales, abogado del Departamento de Servicios para Niños y Familias de Illinois (DCFS) y exalumno de CPS, dijo que el distrito debe gastar de manera más eficiente.

El Distrito 2a alberga a un gran número de familias inmigrantes. Solo en el vecindario de Rogers Park se hablan más de 80 idiomas, según la Rogers Park Business Alliance.

Los tres candidatos tienen opiniones diferentes sobre cómo financiar e invertir en programas de educación bilingüe y de doble inmersión, mientras se aborda el déficit presupuestario de CPS.

“Tenemos que encontrar maneras de hacer que las corporaciones, los millonarios y los multimillonarios paguen la parte que les corresponde”, dijo DeBerry durante una entrevista. Morales, por su parte, comentó que los miembros de la Junta “tienen que asegurarse de que estamos aprovechando bien lo que ya tenemos antes de empezar a pedirle más dinero a la gente”.

DeBerry, exmaestra de CPS, obtuvo el 43% de los votos en 2024 y superó por un estrecho margen a otros tres candidatos, entre ellos Leon.

DeBerry cuenta con el respaldo del Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago (CTU), mientras que Morales cuenta con el respaldo de Common Ground Collective, un comité de acción política contrario al CTU, financiado en gran medida por el multimillonario Michael Sacks y que afirma tener como objetivo involucrar a los votantes en torno a “políticas progresistas eficaces”.

El invierno pasado, el grupo publicó anuncios en contra de la propuesta del alcalde Brandon Johnson de imponer un impuesto por empleado a las empresas. El CTU, por su parte, apoyó firmemente ese impuesto.

Morales también cuenta con el respaldo de The Urban Center, organización política centrista que promueve la elección de escuelas tanto públicas como privadas.

DeBerry ha vivido toda su vida en Rogers Park y fue estudiante, maestra y madre de un estudiante de CPS. Se graduó de Sullivan High School y enseñó en preescolar, kínder y primer grado en CPS a principios de la década de 2000. También enseñó en los suburbios de Evanston y Arlington Heights. Su hijo se graduó en 2021 de Northside College Prep, escuela secundaria de admisión selectiva de CPS.

DeBerry dijo que su experiencia como maestra y su trabajo con ONE Northside, organización sin fines de lucro que ayuda a los vecinos a involucrarse en diversos asuntos comunitarios, le han demostrado la importancia de involucrar a los estudiantes y a sus familias.

“Nuestras experiencias de vida nos convierten en expertos en lo que necesitamos”, dijo DeBerry. “Creo que por eso valoro tanto las escuelas comunitarias: una iniciativa que lleva programas y recursos a las escuelas de acuerdo con las necesidades de cada comunidad escolar. No todas son iguales porque cada escuela necesita algo diferente”.

Si resulta elegida para un segundo término, DeBerry comentó que le gustaría crear un consejo asesor juvenil para que la Junta pueda escuchar directamente a los estudiantes.

“Necesitamos escuchar una amplia variedad de opiniones, experiencias personales y conocimientos de la comunidad”, agregó DeBerry.

También destacó que el estado necesita reforzar sus políticas sobre las escuelas chárter para evitar que los estudiantes queden rezagados cuando una escuela cierra repentinamente, como ocurrió con las escuelas chárter de Acero la primavera pasada.

“Tuvimos estudiantes de último año que no sabían si podrían graduarse juntos, que no sabían si podrían tener su baile de graduación”, agregó DeBerry. “Fue desgarrador”.

DeBerry quiere que CPS comience a elaborar presupuestos para varios años que tomen en cuenta los aumentos salariales y los costos de mantenimiento de los edificios, para que haya menos recortes de último momento al comienzo del año escolar. También dijo que el sistema de impuestos de la Ciudad debe cambiar y que las personas de mayores ingresos deben contribuir más a CPS.

“Estamos asfixiando económicamente a los propietarios de viviendas, y no todos son ricos”, dijo DeBerry. “Tenemos un sistema de impuestos muy injusto: la clase trabajadora y la clase media cargan con todo en esta ciudad”.

Hasta mediados de septiembre, el principal grupo donante de la campaña de DeBerry era ONE People’s Campaign.

Lee el cuestionario completo de DeBerry.

Leon es un chicagoense de quinta generación que vive en West Rogers Park. Es representante del Partido Demócrata del Distrito 50 y una figura influyente en la comunidad judía ortodoxa del norte de Chicago. Se graduó de Highland Park High School y sus cuatro hijas asistieron a Arie Crown Hebrew Day School en el suburbio de Skokie.

Leon se postuló para la Junta de Educación en 2024, pero perdió ante DeBerry con el 20% de los votos. El año pasado también lanzó una campaña para representar al 9.º Distrito del Congreso de Illinois, pero dijo que decidió retirarse debido a presiones de AIPAC, organización de cabildeo pro-Israel. El autor de una guía electoral independiente informó que Leon está recolectando firmas para postularse como tesorero de la ciudad en febrero. Leon no respondió a las preguntas sobre esa posible candidatura.

En 1998, Leon fundó Tandem HR, empresa de servicios externos de recursos humanos, con apenas tres empleados. Hizo crecer la compañía hasta superar los 200 empleados y la vendió en 2024.

Leon dijo que considera que su experiencia al dirigir una empresa le sería útil como miembro de la Junta de Educación.

“De los 21 miembros de la Junta, ¿no tendría sentido contar con un empresario que ama Chicago y que quiere hacer que esta enorme organización de 42,000 empleados funcione de manera eficiente y eficaz?”, dijo Leon.

Dijo que es importante que en la Junta estén representadas distintas áreas de experiencia.

“Pensar que todos tienen que ser maestros de kínder o miembros de un sindicato para formar parte de la Junta es absurdo”, agregó.

Leon destacó que CPS debería abordar el déficit presupuestario reduciendo el exceso de personal y convirtiendo las escuelas con baja asistencia en escuelas chárter o escuelas vocacionales.

Hasta mediados de septiembre, Leon no había recibido donaciones para su campaña, según los registros de la Junta Electoral del Estado de Illinois.

Leon no respondió a nuestro cuestionario.

Morales trabaja como abogado y su práctica privada se especializa en licencias comerciales, bienes raíces y zonificación. Pero Morales también es un apasionado de la música electrónica y recientemente obtuvo un título en artes e industrias del sonido en Northwestern University.

Morales, quien asistió a las secundarias Senn y Roberto Clemente antes de graduarse de Truman Middle College Alternative High School, dijo que la música no le pareció accesible hasta que estaba en sus treintas, cuando tomó una clase de circuit bending, técnica para modificar circuitos electrónicos y crear nuevos sonidos.

Morales tomó el teclado descompuesto de su sobrina, lo conectó a su computadora portátil y comenzó a crear su propia música electrónica.

“Me demostró que cualquier cosa puede convertirse en música”, dijo.

Morales dijo que decidió postularse a la Junta de Educación después de ser voluntario en Gale Elementary School en Rogers Park, donde enseñó a los niños a crear música electrónica.

“Noté que los niños que al principio eran tímidos se animaban, empezaban a hacer música y se les iluminaba la cara”, recordó Morales.

Si resulta elegido, Morales destacó que le gustaría incorporar la música y las artes al currículo básico de las escuelas. Dijo que fomentar la creatividad de los estudiantes los ayuda a convertirse en alumnos con una formación más integral.

Morales, egresado de Loyola University, creció en el complejo de vivienda pública Lathrop Homes y fue la primera persona de su familia en graduarse de la universidad. Dijo que empezó a considerar la universidad como una posibilidad, en gran parte, porque un estudiante de Loyola fue su tutor cuando estaba en la secundaria. Agregó que le gustaría que CPS estableciera más alianzas con universidades locales para mostrarles a los estudiantes de secundaria que ir a la universidad es una opción.

Morales también dijo que dirigir su propio despacho de abogados desde principios de la década de 2000 le ha dado experiencia en el manejo de presupuestos. Si resulta elegido, dijo que quiere asegurarse de que CPS esté “utilizando cada dólar de la manera más eficiente posible”.

Hasta mediados de septiembre, Morales no había recibido donaciones para su campaña, según los registros de la Junta Electoral del Estado de Illinois.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Morales.

Elecciones de la Junta de Educación de Chicago 2026: La carrera en el Distrito 1b

2026-09-28T21:24:17+00:00

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Las dos mujeres que compiten para representar al noroeste de Chicago no son ajenas a la política: una se postuló para la Junta de Educación en 2024 y la otra ha dirigido campañas o trabajado para otros funcionarios electos durante más de 15 años.

Michelle Pierre perdió por un estrecho margen en 2024, la primera vez que se postuló a un cargo público, tras pasar más de 25 años trabajando en educación como maestra, directora escolar, administradora de distrito y asesora de liderazgo. Claudia Peralta se presenta por primera vez como candidata, pero ha trabajado con varios políticos del noroeste de Chicago, entre ellos la representante federal Delia Ramírez.

El Distrito 1b alberga 20 escuelas públicas, una de las cifras más bajas entre todos los distritos electorales de la Junta de Educación. Las familias de esta zona eligen las escuelas primarias de sus vecindarios en mayor proporción que las familias de otras partes de la ciudad.

Esta contienda no se centra tanto en políticas específicas, sino en distintas estrategias sobre cómo ejercer el cargo de miembro de la Junta de Educación de Chicago.

Pierre se guía por las métricas y evalúa las decisiones financieras del distrito en función de los beneficios que las inversiones generan para mejorar los resultados académicos de los estudiantes. Peralta se apoya en su experiencia política y en sus relaciones dentro del gobierno para conseguir los recursos que las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago necesitan para que los estudiantes prosperen. En última instancia, los votantes del Distrito 1b decidirán cuál de estos estilos quieren que tenga prioridad.

La ganadora reemplazará a Jennifer Custer, quien ha ocupado el cargo durante los últimos dos años y se postuló para la presidencia de la Junta de Educación antes de retirarse de la contienda en agosto.

Peralta ha conocido el funcionamiento interno de las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago desde varias perspectivas, incluida la de haber sido ella misma estudiante de CPS.

Peralta se mudó de Ecuador a Chicago cuando tenía 12 años. Pasó su adolescencia en Logan Square y se graduó de Prosser Career Academy en Belmont Cragin. En medio de la intensificación de las medidas de control migratorio de la administración de Trump, Peralta dijo que puede aportar a la Junta de Educación su experiencia de primera mano como estudiante inmigrante que estaba aprendiendo inglés.

“Estoy aprendiendo que el momento que vivimos exige que demos un paso al frente y enfrentemos nuestros miedos”, comentó. “Estoy lista para luchar y asegurar que nuestros niños reciban los recursos que merecen”.

Uno de esos temores era postularse a un cargo público. Durante casi una década, Peralta ha trabajado entre bambalinas en campañas y en la defensa de causas. Actualmente se desempeña como directora de distrito de la representante federal Delia Ramírez. Antes de eso, fue jefa de personal de la representante estatal Lindsey LaPointe y coordinó programas para la Coalición de Illinois por los Derechos de los Inmigrantes y Refugiados (ICIRR). Los distritos de Ramírez y LaPointe incluyen partes del noroeste de Chicago. Como madre, Peralta formó parte del Consejo Escolar Local de la Escuela Primaria Carl Von Linné.

Entre las habilidades que ha adquirido en esos cargos, Peralta dijo que saber cómo desenvolverse entre los distintos niveles de gobierno es una ventaja importante, especialmente cuando se trata de financiamiento.

Peralta sostiene firmemente que resolver el déficit presupuestario de CPS no debe hacerse a costa del sustento de los educadores, una causa defendida por el Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago y el Consejo Estatal de SEIU en Illinois. Ambas organizaciones han respaldado a Peralta y, hasta mediados de septiembre, SEIU había contribuido a su campaña. También ha recibido contribuciones individuales mediante eventos como su recaudación de fondos durante la final de la Copa Mundial en julio, a la que asistieron unas 50 personas.

“La cantidad de apoyo demuestra que he formado parte de la comunidad durante muchos años”, dijo Peralta. “La gente sabe lo que valgo”.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Peralta.

Si su estrecha derrota en las elecciones de la Junta de Educación de 2024 confirmó algo, dijo Pierre, fue que su plataforma de campaña tuvo eco entre una gran parte de los votantes. Esta vez, está tratando de aprovechar ese impulso para difundir su mensaje con mayor rapidez y obtener más apoyo de líderes locales.

“Pensé que no era una contienda política. Pensé que era simplemente la Junta de Educación de Chicago”, dijo Pierre sobre la primera vez que se postuló. “Después aprendí muy rápido que todo es muy político”.

Pierre se considera una candidata fuera de las divisiones partidistas. Sin embargo, su campaña también cuenta con el apoyo de tres grupos de interés. Uno es Illinois Network of Charter Schools, que aboga por las escuelas charter financiadas con fondos públicos pero administradas de manera independiente. Otro es The Urban Center, una organización política centrista que promueve la elección de escuelas, tanto públicas como privadas. El tercero es Common Ground Collective, un comité de acción política contrario al CTU, financiado en gran medida por el multimillonario Michael Sacks, que afirma tener como objetivo involucrar a los votantes en torno a “políticas progresistas eficaces”. Pierre cuenta con el respaldo tanto de The Urban Center como de Common Ground Collective.

Esos objetivos forman parte de su mensaje general: los niños de Chicago merecen una educación de alta calidad, ya sea en escuelas de vecindario, escuelas chárter o programas magnet.

Pierre señala su amplia trayectoria en educación como prueba de que puede hacer el trabajo.

Trabajó como maestra y directora escolar durante varios años en Nueva York y Washington, D.C., antes de desempeñarse durante seis años como directora académica del Distrito Escolar Metropolitano de Cleveland. Desde que se mudó a Chicago hace casi una década, Pierre ha ocupado un puesto de liderazgo en LEARN Charter Network y actualmente ocupa un cargo de alto nivel en New Leaders, organización que ofrece desarrollo profesional para líderes del sector educativo.

Pero Pierre destacó que sus hijos son su principal motivación para postularse. Como madre de familia, formó parte del Consejo Escolar Local de la Escuela Primaria Ogden. Ahora, su hija menor se graduó recientemente de Chicago High School for the Arts.

“Luché por ella todos los días”, aseguró Pierre a sus simpatizantes durante el lanzamiento de su campaña en Portage Park. “Creo en los 300,000 niños y lucharé por ellos todos los días”.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Pierre.

Makiya Seminera es una reportera que cubre cómo los gobiernos estatal y federal afectan la educación en Chicago y en todo Illinois. Puedes comunicarte con Makiya en mseminera@chalkbeat.org.

Elecciones de la Junta de Educación de Chicago 2026: La carrera en el Distrito 1a

2026-09-28T21:21:52+00:00

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Una policía retirada de Chicago, aliada de dos concejales locales, busca desplazar a un veterano defensor del desarrollo comunitario, quien tiene la ventaja de ser titular, ya que el alcalde lo nombró para representar al extremo noroeste de la ciudad.

Ed Bannon espera superar el desafío de Margie Luczak con el respaldo del Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago (CTU) y del Sindicato Internacional de Empleados de Servicios (SEIU), que representa al personal de apoyo escolar. Luczak, por su parte, ha conseguido el respaldo de grupos de interés que favorecen el proceso de opción escolar y las escuelas charter.

Aunque las elecciones de la Junta de Educación no son partidistas, hay corrientes políticas que influyen en las decisiones de los votantes sobre qué candidato se identifica más con sus valores. En el extremo noroeste de la ciudad, los votantes han sido más receptivos a candidatos conservadores que en gran parte de Chicago y podrían mostrarse más favorables a una plataforma “anti-establacimiento”. Sin embargo, esta contienda abarca un conjunto de temas mucho más limitado que una campaña para el Congreso o la presidencia, lo que podría revelar diferencias de opinión específicamente en torno a la educación.

El extremo noroeste de Chicago alberga 22 escuelas que tienen una proporción mayor de estudiantes blancos que las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago (CPS) en su conjunto, aunque son más diversas que la población que vota en la zona. Las familias de esta área eligen las escuelas públicas de sus vecindarios con mayor frecuencia que las de otras partes de la ciudad.

Es una de las pocas zonas de Chicago que se inclinaron a favor del presidente Donald Trump en las elecciones de 2024. Y en 2023, muchos votantes de esta zona eligieron al exdirector ejecutivo de CPS Paul Vallas por encima del alcalde Brandon Johnson.

Aunque Bannon fue nombrado por Johnson, no siempre ha coincidido con él. El ejemplo más notable ocurrió el año pasado, cuando votó a favor del plan presupuestario de CPS que otros miembros nombrados por Johnson intentaban bloquear. El historial de Bannon le ha valido el respaldo del Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago y del Consejo Estatal de SEIU en Illinois.

Los votantes que buscan un cambio de liderazgo podrían optar por Luczak, quien sirvió en el Departamento de Policía de Chicago por más de 25 años. En muchos sentidos, su campaña representa un contraste con la candidatura de Bannon, respaldada por sindicatos. Luczak dice con orgullo que no es un “títere del CTU” y cuenta con el apoyo de las contribuciones de Illinois Network of Charter Schools y The Urban Center, organización que promueve un liderazgo centrista y la elección de escuelas, incluidas las escuelas privadas. Sin embargo, tiene poca experiencia directa en el ámbito educativo.

Un martes por la noche, en el Copernicus Center de Jefferson Park, un pequeño grupo de personas —entre ellas algunos adolescentes, una maestra, una madre con su hijo y el senador estatal Robert Martwick— entró en silencio a un amplio salón. Era la noche anterior a que las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago presentaran su propuesta de presupuesto, y Ed Bannon organizaba una sesión informativa para explicar las finanzas del distrito y escuchar las inquietudes de los miembros de la comunidad. Hasta donde él sabía, era el único miembro de la Junta que estaba realizando una reunión de este tipo.

Esa participación comunitaria es fundamental por la manera en que Bannon concibe su papel como miembro de la Junta de Educación.

“No conozco otra manera de hacer campaña que no sea estar presente, hablar con la gente y tratar de demostrar que mi trayectoria es una que ayudará a mejorar CPS”, dijo Bannon.

La participación de Bannon en el noroeste de Chicago se remonta a varias décadas. Fue director ejecutivo de Six Corners Association, coordinó programas para atraer y retener negocios en el Distrito 45 y se postuló como concejal en 2023. El concejal titular Nick Sposato lo derrotó.

También formó parte durante una década del Consejo Escolar Local de la Escuela Primaria Dever, donde estudiaron sus hijos. Bannon dijo que su larga trayectoria de participación en CPS contribuyó a que Johnson lo nombrara miembro de la Junta.

“La gente va a decir lo que quiera sobre cómo el hecho de que me hayan nombrado influye en mí como miembro de la Junta”, dijo Bannon. “Lo único que puedo decir es que haría todas esas cosas independientemente de (haber) sido nombrado o elegido”.

Bannon dijo que conversar con sus electores es la única manera de aclarar cualquier idea preconcebida sobre sus lealtades. Cuando Lisa Reed, maestra de Steinmetz College Prep, expresó sus frustraciones con la Junta durante la sesión informativa sobre el presupuesto que Bannon realizó en julio, él no evadió sus preguntas. Al contrario, después de la reunión se apartó con ella para escuchar personalmente sus inquietudes.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Bannon.

Si no fuera por el grupo de asistentes que vestían camisetas de color amarillo brillante con el nombre de Margie Luczak, el evento de recaudación de fondos de la candidata en Tommy’s en la Higgins podría haber parecido una gran reunión de viejos amigos.

La parte trasera del bar de Norwood Park estaba llena de conversaciones mientras Luczak recorría el lugar saludando a los asistentes, entre ellos Reed, la maestra que había asistido a la sesión informativa sobre el presupuesto de Bannon la noche anterior. La asistencia —unas 40 personas— fue una grata sorpresa para Luczak, quien nunca antes se había postulado a un cargo público.

Luczak creció en West Lawn, en el suroeste de Chicago, y se graduó de Curie High School a finales de la década de 1980. Pasó casi 30 años como policía de Chicago y trabajó en varias unidades, entre ellas narcóticos y licencias.

Aunque Luczak no tiene hijos, dijo que conoce el sistema escolar a través de las experiencias de amigos cuyos hijos asisten a CPS y desde su propia perspectiva como contribuyente. Durante el último año, Luczak dijo que asistió a reuniones organizadas por The Urban Center y aprendió más sobre el funcionamiento del distrito.

“No creo que CPS necesite que simplemente le den más dinero”, dijo Luczak. “Creo que primero tienen que solucionar los problemas que ya existen”.

Cuando Luczak se jubiló del Departamento de Policía de Chicago en enero, decidió que era momento de servir a su comunidad de una manera diferente. Entre sus prioridades están reducir los impuestos a la propiedad y devolver a las escuelas a los oficiales de recursos escolares, una iniciativa que, según ella, permitiría que los estudiantes tuvieran experiencias positivas con los agentes de policía.

Luczak reconoce que no tiene mucha experiencia directa en educación, pero considera que su extensa carrera policial le ha dado el “sentido común” necesario para ser miembro de la Junta de Educación.

“Apagué muchos incendios, así que aprendí a escuchar”, destacó Luczak. “Como miembro de la Junta de Educación de Chicago, escucharé a mi comunidad y cuáles son sus necesidades”.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Luczak.

Makiya Seminera es una reportera que cubre cómo los gobiernos estatal y federal afectan la educación en Chicago y en todo Illinois. Puedes comunicarte con Makiya en mseminera@chalkbeat.org.

Elecciones de la Junta de Educación de Chicago 2026: La contienda por la presidencia

2026-09-28T21:20:08+00:00

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Este reportaje se elaboró y publicó en colaboración con WBEZ, el Chicago Sun-Times y Block Club Chicago, redacción sin fines de lucro que cubre los diversos vecindarios de Chicago. Mantente informado a través del boletín de Chalkbeat Chicago, el boletín sobre educación de WBEZ y el Sun-Times, y los boletines de Block Club Chicago.

La primera contienda de toda la ciudad para elegir al presidente de la Junta de Educación de Chicago tiene todos los elementos de un drama político: millones de dólares en contribuciones de campaña, el respaldo de grupos de interés y un candidato que se retiró a mitad de la contienda.

Los votantes de toda la ciudad elegirán entre cuatro candidatos para liderar la Junta de Educación de Chicago el 3 de noviembre. Por primera vez, el presidente de la Junta será elegido directamente por los votantes, poniendo fin a más de 30 años de control de la Junta por parte del alcalde. La persona que ocupe este poderoso cargo, por el cual no recibe salario, representará públicamente a la Junta, dirigirá sus reuniones y ayudará a establecer la agenda. Trabajará con otros 20 miembros para definir una visión y metas para las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago (CPS) durante los próximos cuatro años.

Hilario Domínguez, exsubdirector político del Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago (CTU), quien se graduó y trabajó en CPS, se postula con una plataforma progresista que incluye ampliar el acceso al preescolar a todos los niños de 3 años y exigir más fondos estatales para la educación, en lugar de hacer recortes. El CTU está financiando la candidatura de Domínguez mientras busca mantener su control sobre la Junta de Educación, que obtuvo después de que Brandon Johnson, exorganizador del sindicato, fuera electo alcalde de Chicago en 2023.

Jessica Biggs, exdirectora de una escuela de CPS y actual miembro de la Junta de Educación, quiere dar prioridad a la estabilidad financiera y a una educación de alta calidad para todos los estudiantes. Cuenta con el respaldo del progresista Sindicato Internacional de Empleados de Servicios (SEIU) Local 73, que representa principalmente a trabajadores negros y latinos de CPS con salarios bajos y que mantiene una fuerte disputa con el CTU. También ha consolidado el apoyo de la comunidad empresarial y de exfuncionarios que trabajaron bajo el exalcalde Rahm Emanuel, entre ellos la exdirectora ejecutiva de CPS Janice Jackson y la exvicealcaldesa de educación Beth Swanson.

El abogado Victor Henderson, quien forma parte de la junta de Urban Prep Charter Academy, centra su campaña en mejorar el rendimiento de los estudiantes y promover la responsabilidad fiscal. Eliminó los límites de contribuciones de campaña al prestarle $500,000 a su propia campaña y ha conseguido el respaldo de dos congresistas negros, destacados abogados y pastores de grandes iglesias negras del sur y oeste de Chicago, entre ellos Michael Pfleger de St. Sabina y Byron Brazier de Apostolic Church of God.

El consultor de liderazgo Sendhil Revuluri, quien formó parte de la Junta de Educación durante la administración de la exalcaldesa Lori Lightfoot, promete enfocarse en el aprendizaje de los estudiantes y la participación comunitaria. Cuenta con el respaldo de Chicago Democrats for Education, dirigido por el influyente consultor político Hugo Jacobo. Jacobo criticó duramente a la Junta nombrada por el alcalde que despidió al exdirector ejecutivo de CPS Pedro Martínez en 2024. Aunque dice que apoya a los sindicatos, ha abogado por una Junta independiente del CTU, el poderoso sindicato que representa a unos 30,000 maestros y otros empleados de CPS y que es conocido por su fuerte enfoque en temas de justicia social.

Una quinta candidata, Jennifer Custer, exmaestra que actualmente forma parte de la Junta, se retiró de la contienda a finales de agosto.

Todos los candidatos dicen que se postulan porque quieren que CPS brinde un mejor servicio a los estudiantes y las familias. Sin embargo, sus enfoques son muy diferentes: Biggs quiere enfocarse en lograr que la Junta funcione mejor; Revuluri, en exigir mayor rendición de cuentas al principal líder del distrito por los resultados; y Henderson, en aportar una perspectiva externa a problemas como la crisis presupuestaria y el financiamiento de las escuelas chárter. Domínguez propone grandes iniciativas, como ampliar el acceso de los jóvenes a empleos, pasantías pagadas y programas de mentoría.

Sólo Domínguez descarta el cierre de escuelas ante la constante pérdida de matrícula del distrito, aunque los demás dicen que trabajarían con las comunidades y procederían con mucho cuidado al considerar fusiones de escuelas. Henderson consideraría abrir más escuelas chárter administradas por entidades privadas y quiere que reciban mayor apoyo, mientras que los demás examinarían con mayor rigor las escuelas charter existentes.

El pasillo que conduce a la oficina de Henderson en el centro de Chicago está cubierto de artículos de periódico enmarcados sobre clientes que ha representado como reconocido abogado defensor: el actor Jussie Smollett, quien fue acusado de supuestamente fingir un ataque racista; el concejal William Beavers, quien fue declarado culpable de evasión fiscal; Jackie Robinson West Little League, al que le retiraron su título del campeonato estadounidense de la Serie Mundial; y una directora de CPS que presentó una demanda después de ser destituida por su Consejo Escolar Local.

Henderson es el único candidato de la contienda que no tiene experiencia como educador. Sin embargo, los cuatro hijos adultos de Henderson asistieron a escuelas primarias de CPS en Beverly y a escuelas secundarias de admisión selectiva.

Henderson no sólo es abogado, sino también excontador público certificado. Dice que sabe interpretar contratos, entender presupuestos y enfrentarse a intereses poderosos.

“En esa Junta se necesita la combinación adecuada de personas”, dijo. “Tiene que haber padres. Tiene que haber directores escolares. Tiene que haber miembros de la comunidad, pero también tiene que haber abogados y quizás médicos”.

Henderson decidió postularse para presidente de la Junta después de incorporarse a lo que él llama la junta de recuperación de Urban Prep Academies. En ese momento, en 2023, la Junta de Educación intentaba cerrar la red de escuelas chárter después de que el inspector general de CPS encontrara prácticas financieras “pésimas”, entre ellas gastos sin justificar, préstamos con altas tasas de interés y la necesidad de adelantos de efectivo. El fundador y exdirector ejecutivo de Urban Prep fue acusado recientemente de malversar más de $100,000 de la organización.

Henderson atribuye los problemas de Urban Prep a una mala administración, pero dice que el intento de cerrar la red de escuelas chárter, que atiende casi exclusivamente a estudiantes hombres negros, fue un error. Funcionarios de Urban Prep dicen que sus estudiantes hombres negros obtienen mejores resultados académicos que los de escuelas administradas por el distrito, un grupo de estudiantes que históricamente ha quedado rezagado frente a otros grupos. “No se puede hacer sufrir a esos estudiantes y sus familias”.

Henderson formó parte de un grupo de hombres negros que se movilizó en apoyo de Urban Prep. La organización chárter demandó a CPS y pudo mantener abiertas dos escuelas.

Henderson dice que CPS necesita apoyar mejor a las escuelas chárter. Se muestra receptivo al argumento de que los operadores de estas escuelas deberían recibir más fondos de CPS.

Henderson comentó que encargaría una auditoría forense. Si esta determina que CPS necesita ingresos adicionales, destacó que cuenta con las habilidades necesarias para ir a Springfield y presentar el caso.

Señaló que quiere ocupar el cargo porque la educación le importa profundamente.

“Los hombres con educación tienen más probabilidades de casarse y formar familias. Uno se siente mejor consigo mismo”, dijo. “Los datos muestran que, como regla general, mientras más nivel educativo se tiene, más se gana. La educación simplemente transforma vidas”.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Henderson.

La miembro de la Junta de Educación, Jessica Biggs, dice que su experiencia al encabezar el año pasado la búsqueda del líder principal del distrito la motivó a postularse para la presidencia.

Biggs comenta que logró que todos los miembros de la Junta llegaran a un acuerdo sobre la descripción del puesto de superintendente después de lo que describe como un proceso “auténtico” para recopilar opiniones de la comunidad.

“Eso simplemente me demostró lo que era posible cuando había liderazgo”, dijo.

Pero el proceso se vino abajo después de que los nombres de los candidatos se hicieran públicos y uno de ellos se retirara. Biggs destacó que considera que lo ocurrido fue consecuencia de las divisiones políticas dentro de la Junta, algo que la desmoralizó hasta el punto de decidir que no quería volver a postularse como miembro de la Junta.

“Hubo momentos en los que realmente quería que ciertas cosas avanzaran o fueran sometidas a una votación pública, y no pude lograrlo”, dijo Biggs.

Biggs se dio cuenta de que, para tener el impacto que buscaba, necesitaba asumir un papel de liderazgo en la definición de la agenda de la Junta. La manera de hacerlo era postularse para la presidencia, aseguró.

“Si iba a seguir dedicando mi tiempo a esta Junta”, comentó Biggs, “para mí era importante poder tener esa autoridad”.

Biggs creció en Wheaton, actualmente vive en Douglas y tiene una hija que estudia en una escuela magnet de bellas artes.

Biggs fue una de tres integrantes elegidas en 2024 sin el respaldo de poderosos grupos de interés, entre ellos el CTU e Illinois Network of Charter Schools. Ganó su contienda con alrededor del 45% de los votos a pesar de que sus contrincantes gastaron mucho más. La noche de las elecciones, dijo que sentía que la gente quería miembros independientes en la Junta. “Me siento muy querida”, añadió.

Trabaja para Southwest Organizing Project, organización comunitaria del suroeste de Chicago, en una iniciativa que conecta a las comunidades escolares con diversos servicios.

Biggs fue despedida como directora de una escuela primaria del sur de Chicago en 2018 después de que un informe del inspector general determinara que instruyó al personal para que registrara a estudiantes como impuntuales aunque hubieran faltado gran parte del día escolar y que hizo que miembros del personal recogieran a niños en sus automóviles sin obtener permiso por escrito de sus padres.

Fue incluida en la lista de CPS de personas que “no se deben contratar”. Sin embargo, fue retirada de la lista el año pasado, después de que se rechazaran intentos anteriores de salir de ella. Biggs ha sostenido que su despido tuvo motivaciones políticas.

Durante sus dos años en la Junta, se ha opuesto a algunas de las medidas más importantes impulsadas por miembros nombrados por el alcalde y alineados con el CTU. El año pasado se mantuvo firme contra la propuesta de recurrir a un préstamo para evitar recortes. Este verano votó en contra de una modificación que revirtió despidos bajo el supuesto de que el estado proporcionaría más fondos a CPS.

Desde que se postuló hace dos años, pasó de responder “no” al cierre de escuelas a dejar esa pregunta en blanco en nuestro cuestionario para la Junta de Educación de CPS. Dice que no considera que exista una respuesta de sí o no.

“Creo que esta es una falsa dicotomía”, aseguró Biggs. “Hay lugares en este distrito donde las necesidades de los niños están siendo atendidas por escuelas pequeñas, y hay lugares donde las necesidades de los niños no están siendo atendidas por lo que ofrecemos en una escuela”.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Biggs.

Revuluri, el primero en anunciar su candidatura más de un año antes de las elecciones, dice que dirigiría una Junta completamente enfocada en los resultados de los estudiantes. Nombrado a la Junta durante la administración de Lightfoot, ha hecho énfasis en sus críticas a la Junta actual, argumentando que se ha enfrascado en disputas políticas y ha dejado sin atender asuntos urgentes como la disminución de la matrícula. Actualmente, la Junta está integrada en parte por miembros nombrados y en parte por miembros electos.

“Nuestros estudiantes necesitan una Junta que esté completamente enfocada en su éxito y dispuesta a enfrentar la realidad actual”, dijo Revuluri, padre de dos estudiantes de CPS.

Revuluri fue uno de los maestros fundadores de una escuela secundaria pública en la ciudad de Nueva York. También trabajó en el Departamento de Enseñanza y Aprendizaje de Secundaria de CPS y en University of Illinois Chicago, donde dirigió Suburban Cook County Mathematics Initiative. Ganador en el pasado de Jeopardy! y exintegrante de un Consejo Escolar Local, trabajó en una firma de inversiones y, más recientemente, como consultor educativo.

Reconoce que la Junta de CPS en la que se desempeñó como vicepresidente también terminó absorbida por la política. Revuluri se responsabiliza a sí mismo y a esa Junta por no haber reabierto antes las escuelas para el aprendizaje presencial durante la pandemia de COVID-19, “en perjuicio de nuestros estudiantes”, aunque señala la profunda incertidumbre que enfrentaba el distrito en ese momento.

Revuluri destacó que la Junta debería destinar más dinero a programas que han demostrado ayudar a los estudiantes. Criticó la expansión continua de las Escuelas Comunitarias Sustentables, que Domínguez y otros candidatos respaldados por el CTU han prometido seguir ampliando. El programa, una colaboración entre el sindicato y el distrito que proporciona $500,000 adicionales al año a escuelas con grandes necesidades para asociarse con organizaciones comunitarias sin fines de lucro, ha enfrentado cuestionamientos por la limitada evidencia de que haya mejorado los resultados de los estudiantes.

“Existe una gran diferencia entre la retórica y garantizar resultados reales que importen”, dijo.

También criticó duramente a la Junta por aprobar recientemente un presupuesto que supone que el estado aportará $150 millones adicionales, fondos que no están garantizados.

En nuestro cuestionario para la Junta de Educación de CPS en julio, Revuluri indicó que no cerraría escuelas para equilibrar el presupuesto del distrito. En una entrevista explicó que el distrito debería recurrir a fusiones únicamente para mejorar la experiencia de los estudiantes en escuelas que se han vuelto demasiado pequeñas para satisfacer sus necesidades académicas y sociales. Cualquier plan de este tipo debe comenzar con una participación profunda de la comunidad, aseguró.

“Chicago no es la única ciudad que enfrenta estos cambios, pero sí hemos sido excepcionales en cuánto hemos fingido y negado la realidad”, dijo. “Lo que ese fingimiento les ha dado a nuestros estudiantes es una experiencia educativa empobrecida”.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Revuluri.

Después de meses de especulación sobre qué candidato respaldaría el CTU para el principal cargo de la Junta, el sindicato eligió a uno de los suyos al respaldar a Domínguez, quien dejó su puesto en el sindicato antes de lanzar su campaña. Domínguez dice que no se arrepiente de sus años como firme defensor del sindicato. Es el único candidato a la presidencia que trabajó como maestro de tiempo completo en CPS y también es esposo de una subdirectora escolar del distrito.

Domínguez asegura que su defensa de la educación se remonta a cuando era estudiante de Whitney Young Magnet High School, donde organizó una protesta estudiantil para oponerse a recortes presupuestarios en 2010.

Originario de Pilsen, trabajó como maestro de educación especial en el suroeste de Chicago. Se tomó dos años fuera de la educación para enfocarse en campañas políticas, incluida su propia candidatura fallida al Concejo Municipal. Más adelante ayudó a organizar una huelga de maestros de 11 días en 2019, cuando fue arrestado junto con otros miembros del sindicato durante una protesta sentada en las oficinas del fallido megaproyecto Lincoln Yards. Posteriormente se retiraron los cargos por allanamiento en su contra y contra los demás manifestantes.

Después de comenzar a trabajar de tiempo completo para el CTU en 2022, Domínguez también trabajó en la campaña que llevó a Johnson a la alcaldía y en las candidaturas de miembros de la Junta respaldados por el CTU en 2024. El sindicato gastó considerablemente más que grupos bien financiados que promueven la elección de escuelas en esas contiendas. Ayudó a conseguir victorias en tres de las nueve contiendas disputadas.

Domínguez dijo que a lo largo de los años ha realizado más de 100 viajes a Springfield para hacer cabildeo, “más que todos mis contrincantes juntos”. Sin embargo, hasta ahora los esfuerzos por conseguir un aumento significativo de los fondos estatales para las escuelas no han tenido éxito. Domínguez dice que, como presidente, trabajaría para involucrar a más familias en las labores de cabildeo y movilizar a distritos escolares de todo el estado.

Propone ofrecer preescolar gratuito de día completo a todos los niños de 3 años de la ciudad mediante una colaboración con centros privados de cuidado infantil y guarderías en hogares. Afirma que este cambio impulsaría el desarrollo económico, aumentaría la matrícula del distrito y “haría lo correcto por las familias” al reducir los costos del cuidado infantil.

Las demás prioridades de Domínguez también coinciden estrechamente con las del sindicato. Dijo que impulsará una mejor calidad de la comida en las cafeterías y la expansión continua del programa de Escuelas Comunitarias Sustentables.

Se opone firmemente a cualquier cierre de escuelas y sostiene que el distrito y la ciudad deberían utilizar los espacios vacíos de las “supuestas escuelas subutilizadas” para ampliar servicios como clínicas de salud y sucursales de bibliotecas.

“Cuando hablamos de escuelas con baja matrícula, debemos dejar claro que hablamos principalmente de estudiantes negros y latinos en vecindarios negros y latinos que merecen más inversión y no castigo”, aseguró.

En 2021, Domínguez enfrentó una queja de otro maestro, quien afirmó que Domínguez hizo un saludo nazi, lo llamó Hitler frente a estudiantes y cuestionó la orientación sexual de ese maestro. La queja fue retirada posteriormente. Domínguez calificó la denuncia de “infundada” y dijo que estaba enfrentándose a un colega racista que había faltado al respeto a un estudiante.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Domínguez.

Mila Koumpilova es reportera sénior de Chalkbeat Chicago y cubre las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago. Puedes comunicarte con Mila en mkoumpilova@chalkbeat.org.

Sarah Karp cubre las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago para WBEZ y el Chicago Sun-Times. Puede comunicarse con Sarah en skarp@wbez.org.

Elecciones de la Junta de Educación de Chicago 2026: La carrera en el Distrito 4a

2026-09-28T21:18:46+00:00

Leer en inglés.

En la contienda de este distrito del norte de Chicago, una educadora jubilada nombrada a la actual Junta de Educación se enfrenta a dos contrincantes que dicen que los miembros de la Junta han fallado en materia de responsabilidad fiscal y en establecer metas ambiciosas para las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago.

Karen Zaccor, una veterana maestra y defensora comunitaria de Uptown que fue nombrada a la Junta de Educación por el alcalde en 2024, después de quedar en segundo lugar entre seis candidatos, se enfrentará a Ellen Sherratt, experta en reclutamiento y retención de maestros, y a Ángel Álvarez, investigador de células madre.

La zona a lo largo de la orilla norte del lago alberga 15 escuelas, menos que en casi cualquier otro distrito de la Junta de Educación. Entre ellas hay escuelas de vecindario con alto rendimiento académico, escuelas magnet populares y una escuela secundaria alternativa chárter.

Alrededor del 57% de los estudiantes asiste a la escuela primaria de su vecindario, pero ese porcentaje es mucho menor en la secundaria. Las escuelas del distrito atraen a una población estudiantil diversa: de sus 8,400 estudiantes de CPS el ciclo escolar pasado, alrededor del 37% eran latinos, casi el 26% blancos, el 23% negros y cerca del 8% asiáticos.

En las elecciones de la Junta de Educación de 2024, lo que ahora es el Distrito 4a formaba parte de un Distrito 4 más grande. La miembro de la Junta Ellen Rosenfeld superó a cinco contrincantes, más que en cualquier otra contienda de ese año. Este año, Rosenfeld se postula sin oposición en el vecino Distrito 4b.

Zaccor ha votado de manera constante junto a un bloque mayoritario de miembros de la Junta nombrados por el alcalde Brandon Johnson o elegidos con el respaldo del Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago, el antiguo empleador y aliado cercano de Johnson. Sus prioridades también coinciden con las del sindicato, que ha respaldado a Zaccor. Entre ellas están impulsar un impuesto a los multimillonarios u otras nuevas fuentes progresivas de ingresos estatales para aumentar los fondos destinados a las escuelas y ampliar el programa de Escuelas Comunitarias Sustentables, una colaboración entre CPS y el CTU en la que escuelas con grandes necesidades reciben $500,000 adicionales cada año para asociarse con organizaciones locales sin fines de lucro y ampliar sus servicios.

Sus contrincantes, Sherratt y Álvarez, sostienen que el distrito debe hacer más para enfrentar el creciente déficit que solo presionar al estado para obtener más fondos, entre otras cosas, elaborar el presupuesto de manera más cuidadosa y eliminar gastos innecesarios.

Sherratt ha recibido respaldos y apoyo financiero del Consejo Estatal de SEIU en Illinois, que representa al personal de apoyo y que en los últimos años ha tenido diferencias políticas con el sindicato de maestros, así como de otros grupos que se oponen al CTU. Entre ellos se encuentra Common Ground Collective, un comité de acción política contrario al CTU, financiado en gran medida por el multimillonario Michael Sacks y que afirma tener como objetivo involucrar a los votantes en torno a “políticas progresistas eficaces”. Además, dos grupos que promueven la elección de escuelas y las escuelas charter apoyan su campaña.

Sherratt dijo que aportaría a la Junta su experiencia en la calidad de los maestros e impulsaría el establecimiento de metas ambiciosas para el desempeño académico de los estudiantes.

Álvarez, quien dirige un consejo asesor de familias para la Oficina para Estudiantes con Discapacidades del distrito, dijo que defendería servicios de educación especial que respondan mejor a las necesidades de los estudiantes y protegería a las familias de aumentos en los impuestos a la propiedad.

Sherratt, quien lleva años estudiando el reclutamiento y la retención de maestros, dice que la Junta de Educación necesita más expertos que entiendan las tendencias educativas a nivel nacional. Dijo que sería una voz independiente, sin compromisos con el CTU ni con otros grupos de interés.

“Aporto una amplia y profunda experiencia de distintas partes del país”, comentó.

Sherratt dijo que ha dedicado su carrera a investigar cómo las escuelas pueden contratar y retener a excelentes maestros y a asesorar a distritos escolares, estados y al gobierno federal. Ha trabajado en una iniciativa nacional para aumentar los salarios de los maestros y en esfuerzos en Illinois para abordar la escasez de educadores. Actualmente dirige Common Cents Education, una firma de consultoría sobre la calidad de los maestros que fundó para trabajar con los distritos en asuntos relacionados con su personal. La hija de Sherratt asiste a una escuela privada, algo que ella describió como una “decisión personal que tomamos para nuestra familia”, al tiempo que señaló su trayectoria de apoyo a las escuelas públicas.

Sherratt dijo que quiere que la ciudad y el distrito establezcan una serie de “metas muy ambiciosas” para alcanzar antes del bicentenario de Chicago en 2037, como mejorar significativamente el desempeño en matemáticas. Dijo que buscaría una amplia participación para definir esas metas, incluida la de los estudiantes, para quienes organizaría horarios especiales de atención después de clases.

“Deberíamos ser más ambiciosos y lograr que tanto el proceso como las metas sean algo de lo que la ciudad de Chicago realmente pueda sentirse orgullosa”, dijo Sherratt.

También dijo que la Junta debería abogar por más fondos estatales, pero rechazó lo que describió como tácticas de presión excesiva, como aprobar el presupuesto reciente con “dinero fantasma” que la Junta está presionando al estado para que apruebe.

“Me imagino que para muchos en Springfield se siente como si los estuvieran presionando”, comentó.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Sherratt.

Zaccor representa uno de los distritos más prósperos de la ciudad, donde se encuentran algunas de las escuelas magnet más destacadas. Sin embargo, como miembro de la Junta, se ha enfocado en fortalecer las escuelas de vecindario con altos niveles de pobreza y abordar las desigualdades que persisten.

Zaccor dijo que no ve ninguna contradicción. En su vecindario de Uptown hay escuelas con grandes necesidades, como Uplift Community High School, donde enseñó durante años. Formó parte de un grupo de padres y defensores comunitarios que fundaron Uplift en 2005. Además, Zaccor dijo que familias y estudiantes de toda la ciudad le han expresado muchas de las mismas preocupaciones, entre ellas la disponibilidad de programas después de clases, la cantidad de tiempo frente a las pantallas en las escuelas y la calidad de la comida en las cafeterías.

“Nunca voy a creer que exigir un sistema verdaderamente equitativo sea algo incorrecto”, dijo.

Zaccor ha defendido durante muchos años una Junta de Educación electa y anteriormente, formó parte de un Consejo Escolar Local. Su hija se graduó de Whitney Young Magnet High School, una escuela de admisión selectiva de CPS. Aseguró que se siente orgullosa de su trabajo en la Junta hasta ahora, en particular de sus esfuerzos por establecer un proceso más riguroso para renovar y supervisar las escuelas charter.

Zaccor apoya firmemente la continuación de la expansión del programa de Escuelas Comunitarias Sustentables, que recientemente ha enfrentado cuestionamientos sobre dificultades en su implementación y la limitada evidencia de mejoras en los resultados de los estudiantes. El programa es “un trabajo en proceso”, dijo, pero el distrito ha aprendido lecciones que puede aplicar a las escuelas que lo incorporaron recientemente.

Entre sus otras prioridades están seguir presionando al estado para obtener más fondos, impulsar escuelas más ecológicas y mejorar la comida de las cafeterías. Se opone al cierre de escuelas y sostiene que, en lugar de cerrarlas, el distrito debería invertir más para revitalizar las escuelas con baja matrícula.

“Primero tenemos que invertir y ver qué diferencia puede hacer”, dijo.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Zaccor.

Álvarez conoce de primera mano cómo las decisiones de la Junta de Educación de Chicago pueden afectar la vida de las personas. Hace cuatro años, su hija, quien tiene una discapacidad visual, perdió todo el primer semestre de tercer grado en Decatur Elementary School porque no contaba con transporte. Álvarez pasó largas horas presionando a los funcionarios del distrito encargados de las rutas de los autobuses escolares y hablando ante la Junta de Educación, que tiene la autoridad para aprobar los contratos con las empresas de transporte. Incluso presentó una queja ante el estado y compartió la experiencia de su familia con medios de comunicación nacionales.

Actualmente dirige un consejo asesor de familias para la Oficina para Estudiantes con Discapacidades de CPS, donde ayuda a las familias a resolver problemas relacionados con el transporte, el personal de educación especial y otros servicios.

“En CPS existe una enorme desconexión entre la teoría y la práctica, entre lo que está escrito y lo que las familias realmente viven”, comentó Álvarez, quien anteriormente formó parte de un Consejo Escolar Local. Sobre su experiencia tratando de resolver el problema del transporte, agregó: “Tengo un doctorado y aun así fue un proceso complicado para mí”.

Álvarez es científico y profesor asistente en Northwestern University, además de director del Stem Cell Core. También ha promovido la educación de estudiantes con altas capacidades y ha enseñado ciencias a estudiantes de secundaria a través de Hispanic Math and Science Education Initiative.

Si resulta electo, impulsaría que la ciudad evalúe a todos los niños para detectar discapacidades de aprendizaje y de otro tipo antes de que comiencen la escuela, y que conecte a las familias con los recursos que ya existen.

Álvarez destacó que ha hablado con miembros de la Junta de Educación sobre temas que van desde la disciplina escolar hasta los problemas financieros del distrito. Su principal prioridad es limitar los aumentos de los impuestos a la propiedad de CPS. Considera que el distrito puede hacer más con los fondos que recibe actualmente. Sí cree que debe seguir buscando más ingresos del estado, pero también dijo que CPS debería reducir gastos innecesarios y gastar de manera más eficiente, incluso dando a los Consejos Escolares Locales mayor influencia sobre los presupuestos de sus escuelas.

“Es fácil decir: ‘Le pediré más dinero al estado’”, comentó. “El estado no tiene el dinero”.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Álvarez.

Mila Koumpilova es reportera sénior de Chalkbeat Chicago y cubre las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago. Puedes comunicarte con Mila en mkoumpilova@chalkbeat.org.

Elecciones de la Junta de Educación de Chicago 2026: La carrera en el Distrito 4b

2026-09-28T21:17:23+00:00

Leer en inglés.

Este reportaje se elaboró y publicó en colaboración con WBEZ, el Chicago Sun-Times y Block Club Chicago, redacción sin fines de lucro que cubre los diversos vecindarios de Chicago. Mantente informado a través del boletín de Chalkbeat Chicago, el boletín sobre educación de WBEZ y el Sun-Times, y los boletines de Block Club Chicago.

Ellen Rosenfeld, exmaestra de las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago y exespecialista de participación comunitaria del distrito, se postula sin oposición para conservar el puesto del norte de Chicago que ganó cómodamente en 2024 frente a otros cinco aspirantes a la Junta de Educación, en la contienda con más candidatos de la ciudad.

Grupos que promueven la elección de escuelas gastaron grandes sumas para respaldarla y oponerse a un candidato apoyado por el sindicato de maestros, aunque ella se distanció de esos gastos. Durante los últimos dos años, después de dejar su puesto en el área de Participación Familiar y Comunitaria de CPS, Rosenfeld se ha dedicado a tiempo completo a su labor en la Junta. Forma parte de un bloque de siete miembros electos que se han opuesto a los miembros nombrados por el alcalde y a sus aliados electos en la Junta de Educación, que conforman la mayoría.

La expresidenta de un Consejo Escolar Local y madre de cuatro graduados de CPS sostiene que la Junta actual ha estado demasiado enfrascada en la política y ha sido demasiado susceptible a presiones externas. Sin embargo, considera que la próxima Junta, integrada en su totalidad por miembros electos, podría encabezar un resurgimiento académico, desde un aumento del dominio de la lectura hasta una reducción del ausentismo crónico, una de sus principales preocupaciones. Dijo que la próxima Junta debe unirse en torno a una serie de objetivos para mejorar el distrito.

“Sin una visión compartida, es casi imposible lograr las cosas buenas”, dijo Rosenfeld. “Ni siquiera sabemos hacia dónde intenta ir el barco”.

El Distrito 4b alberga 18 escuelas, entre ellas varias escuelas de vecindario con alto rendimiento académico,escuelas magnet y una popular escuela secundaria de admisión selectiva, Lane Tech College Prep. Las familias de esta zona eligen las escuelas de sus vecindarios en mayor proporción que las familias de muchos otros distritos, especialmente en el nivel de primaria. Algunas escuelas atraen a una población estudiantil diversa, tanto del distrito como de otras partes de la ciudad, pero, en general, esta es más blanca y de mayores ingresos que la de CPS en su conjunto.

Rosenfeld dijo que ha establecido relaciones con el personal de las escuelas y del distrito, las familias y los estudiantes gracias a sus horarios regulares de atención al público y a sus visitas a unas 60 escuelas, incluidas algunas fuera de su distrito. Defiende cada uno de sus votos, incluidos dos relacionados con el presupuesto: uno para aprobar un plan de gastos para 2025-26 sin recurrir a préstamos de alto costo y otro en contra del presupuesto de este año, al que se opuso porque dependía de fondos que el estado aún no ha enviado a CPS para evitar despidos de personal.

Rosenfeld provocó el enojo del CTU y de algunas familias de las escuelas chárter de Acero cuando estuvo entre una pequeña minoría de miembros de la Junta que votaron en contra de incorporar cinco escuelas de esa red al distrito. Ha argumentado que, dados sus propios desafíos financieros y de matrícula, el distrito no debería acudir al rescate de escuelas públicas administradas por entidades privadas que atraviesan dificultades. Desde entonces, algunos operadores de escuelas chárter y por contrato han señalado ese voto para argumentar que CPS podría rescatar también a sus escuelas.

Rosenfeld podría volver a enfrentarse al sindicato por el cierre de escuelas, una medida a la que este se opone firmemente. Sostiene que la Junta debe hacer frente a una década de pérdida de matrícula, una tendencia que, según las proyecciones, se acelerará debido a una fuerte caída de la tasa de natalidad. Destacó que los miembros de la Junta de Educación no deberían simplemente ignorar el creciente número de escuelas con una matrícula muy por debajo de su capacidad, en las que, según ella, los estudiantes reciben una experiencia educativa de menor calidad. El distrito debe aprender de los “terribles” cierres masivos de escuelas de 2013 y comenzar con una participación comunitaria genuina, quizás mediante la creación de un grupo de trabajo que reúna a una muestra representativa de los habitantes de Chicago, dijo.

“Lo que estamos haciendo no está funcionando”, destacó. “Es una locura y un desperdicio”.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Rosenfeld.

Mila Koumpilova es reportera sénior de Chalkbeat Chicago y cubre las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago. Puedes comunicarte con Mila en mkoumpilova@chalkbeat.org.

Elecciones de la Junta de Educación de Chicago 2026: La carrera en el Distrito 5a

2026-09-28T21:16:51+00:00

Leer en inglés.

Este reportaje se elaboró y publicó en colaboración con WBEZ, el Chicago Sun-Times y Block Club Chicago, redacción sin fines de lucro que cubre los diversos vecindarios de Chicago. Mantente informado a través del boletín de Chalkbeat Chicago, el boletín sobre educación de WBEZ y el Sun-Times, y los boletines de Block Club Chicago.

Una agente de bienes raíces respaldada por defensores de la elección de escuelas busca desplazar a un veterano activista educativo con vínculos con el Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago en la contienda para representar al Distrito 5a en el oeste de la ciudad. También participa una maestra de educación especial jubilada que se postula como candidata por escrito. Después de décadas de falta de inversión, muchas escuelas de la zona enfrentan dificultades para estabilizar la matrícula y lograr que los estudiantes alcancen el nivel académico correspondiente a su grado.

El actual miembro de la Junta Aaron “Jitu” Brown, veterano organizador comunitario, quiere asegurar más fondos estatales y reducir los gastos administrativos de las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago. Su contrincante, LaPamela Williams, originaria de Austin y exalumna de Lane Tech College Prep, quiere aumentar la responsabilidad financiera y recortar gastos que no benefician a los estudiantes. Kernetha Jones, quien fue retirada de la boleta electoral, quiere ver mejoras en los resultados de los exámenes antes de destinar más dinero a lo que ella llama un “sistema fallido”.

El distrito se extiende desde Austin, un vecindario de mayoría negra al oeste, a través de los sectores de Garfield Park y Humboldt Park y llega hasta Ukrainian Village al este. Esta amplia franja del oeste de la ciudad abarca 39 escuelas que sirven principalmente a estudiantes negros y latinos.

Los estudiantes que viven en el Distrito 5a tienen menos probabilidades de asistir a la escuela de su vecindario que los estudiantes de la mayoría de las otras zonas de la ciudad, particularmente en la secundaria. Menos del 7% de los estudiantes de secundaria de esta zona eligieron la escuela de su vecindario, según datos de CPS. Una escuela secundaria, Frederick Douglass Academy en Austin, tuvo apenas 27 estudiantes el año pasado y se ha convertido en un punto central del debate sobre cómo CPS debería abordar la disminución de la matrícula.

Los tres candidatos viven en Austin. Sus opiniones difieren respecto de las escuelas chárter públicas administradas de manera independiente: Brown y Jones se oponen a su expansión, mientras que Williams apoya la apertura de más escuelas chárter si cuentan con el respaldo de la comunidad.

Williams decidió postularse por su amor al aprendizaje y a su comunidad. Nació y creció, y sigue viviendo en Austin.

“La educación es para toda la vida, y los niños de mi distrito realmente están sufriendo, especialmente en lo académico”, dijo Williams, citando los altos índices de ausentismo y a los estudiantes que se gradúan sin las habilidades necesarias para tener éxito después de la secundaria.

Williams es relativamente nueva en el activismo educativo y la organización. Sin embargo, comentó que sus años de experiencia en puestos de atención al cliente, incluido su trabajo como auxiliar en un hogar de ancianos, la han preparado.

“Todo en mi trabajo tiene que ver con la satisfacción del cliente”, dijo Williams. “Explicar la información de manera que la gente pueda entenderla (...). Escuchar de verdad lo que las personas dicen y convertirlo en acciones”.

Williams está respaldada por Illinois Network of Charter Schools, que aboga por las escuelas chárter y cuenta con un brazo político con amplio financiamiento, así como por The Urban Center, organización política centrista que apoya las escuelas chárter y promueve la elección de escuelas tanto públicas como privadas. También recibe el apoyo de Common Ground Collective, un comité de acción política favorable a los intereses empresariales y contrario al CTU, financiado en gran medida por el multimillonario Michael Sacks, que afirma tener como objetivo involucrar a los votantes en torno a “políticas progresistas eficaces”.

Sus opiniones sobre las escuelas chárter difieren de las de Brown y Jones.

Brown considera que CPS puede hacerse cargo de la administración de escuelas chárter existentes para prevenir cualquier daño a los estudiantes. Jones apoya ayudar a las escuelas charter existentes si tienen un buen desempeño. Sin embargo, ninguno de los dos considera que haya necesidad de abrir nuevas escuelas chárter.

Williams apoya la apertura de nuevas escuelas chárter en lugares donde exista una necesidad en la comunidad, y únicamente por parte de grupos que cuenten con financiamiento sostenible y un plan claro para mejorar el aprendizaje. Williams también dijo que CPS debería hacer más para apoyar a las escuelas charter existentes si están dando resultados y “cumpliendo con los criterios que deberían cumplir”.

Si es elegida, Williams dijo que examinaría el presupuesto a fondo.

“La solución siempre es más impuestos, más dinero”, dijo Williams. “Pero tenemos que ser más responsables con el presupuesto y su supervisión, y asegurarnos de que cuando paguemos, las personas cumplan con su parte”.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Williams.

Brown, quien creció en el extremo sur de Chicago, desempeñó un papel prominente en las luchas que duraron años contra el cierre de escuelas en Chicago y a favor de una Junta de Educación completamente electa. En particular, participó en una huelga de hambre que ayudó a reabrir Dyett High School en Washington Park. Desde el 2012, dirige una organización sin fines de lucro que lucha contra la expansión de las escuelas chárter y trabaja para apoyar a las escuelas de vecindario.

Brown se postuló sin oposición para su puesto en 2024. Recibió el respaldo del Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago y lidera el Comité para el Logro Académico de los Estudiantes Negros, que trabaja para reducir las disparidades raciales y mejorar las experiencias de los estudiantes negros en las aulas.

“Mi preocupación no es únicamente por los estudiantes negros, pero los estudiantes negros son la población que está en crisis”, dijo Brown.

El trabajo de Brown en el ámbito educativo se remonta a la década de los 90, cuando su grupo de rap visitó una escuela primaria del sur de Chicago. Brown recuerda a un joven sentado y encorvado en su silla que le dijo: “Oye, eres genial, pero no vas a volver”.

“Eso se me quedó grabado”, comentó Brown.

Después de eso, Brown comenzó a trabajar como voluntario con niños a través de la Kenwood Oakland Community Organization. Notó la desigualdad en los recursos mientras trabajaba en diferentes escuelas y comunidades.

“Estos niños de la calle 39 tienen una sola computadora en su aula, y eso es todo”, destacó Brown. “A estos jóvenes no les enseñan historia afroamericana. Me di cuenta de que había un problema de equidad, y eso comenzó mi camino”.

Brown ha sido una de las voces principales que presionan por un aumento en la financiación estatal para abordar la brecha del presupuesto del distrito. Quiere que los legisladores estatales aumenten los impuestos a los ricos y que eliminen los vacíos fiscales que benefician a las corporaciones.

“La voluntad política existe”, dijo Brown, “no solo para ponerle un torniquete” al problema, sino también para “sanar la herida”.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Brown.

Jones creció en el oeste de Chicago y se graduó de la Farragut High School.

Según su currículum, enseñó a estudiantes con discapacidades de aprendizaje y de comportamiento en CPS durante más de cuatro años escolares entre los años 80 y 90.

Jones no respondió a las solicitudes de entrevista, pero en nuestro cuestionario para la Junta de Educación de CPS expresó su apoyo a la elección de escuelas y a proporcionar cupones a los padres, los cuales normalmente se usan para ayudar a cubrir el costo de la matrícula en escuelas privadas.

Jones se opone al programa integral de educación sexual del distrito, y afirmó, sin presentar pruebas, que CPS utiliza lecciones que sexualizan a los niños y que contienen material pornográfico. Hace dos años, cuando Jones hizo afirmaciones similares como candidata por escrito para el Distrito 5, Chalkbeat no encontró pruebas de que el currículo de CPS incluyera contenido de esa naturaleza.

En el 2024, una reportera de Chalkbeat le preguntó a Jones, quien utilizó con frecuencia un lenguaje antitransgénero en su cuestionario para la candidata del 2026, cómo pensaba representar a estudiantes con distintas identidades de género y orientaciones sexuales. En ese momento, Jones dijo que no estaba en contra de los estudiantes que no se identifican como heterosexuales, pero que se oponía a “adoctrinarlos en la escuela sin el conocimiento de los padres. Estoy en contra de que les cambien el nombre a los niños sin el permiso de los padres”.

La política de CPS establece que las escuelas no deben divulgar la identidad de género de un estudiante sin el consentimiento del estudiante o la autorización del departamento legal del distrito. Bajo esa política, los estudiantes también tienen derecho a ser llamados por el nombre y los pronombres que elijan en la escuela.

Jones también quiere limitar el uso de inteligencia artificial en las aulas debido al potencial de sesgo racial y quiere que CPS contrate a más maestros negros para que los estudiantes negros tengan más educadores que se parezcan a ellos. Investigaciones han encontrado que esta estrategia puede fomentar un sentido de pertenencia y contribuir a tasas más bajas de suspensiones y tasas de graduación más altas entre los estudiantes negros. El año pasado, el 34% de los estudiantes de CPS se identificaban como negros, en comparación con el 21% de los maestros.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Jones.

Lisa Kurian Philip es reportera de educación superior para WBEZ Chicago. Puedes comunicarte con Lisa en lphilip@wbez.org.

Elecciones de la Junta de Educación de Chicago 2026: La carrera en el Distrito 5b

2026-09-28T21:16:06+00:00

Leer en inglés.

Este reportaje se elaboró y publicó en colaboración con WBEZ, el Chicago Sun-Times y Block Club Chicago, redacción sin fines de lucro que cubre los diversos vecindarios de Chicago. Mantente informado a través del boletín de Chalkbeat Chicago, el boletín sobre educación de WBEZ y el Sun-Times, y los boletines de Block Club Chicago.

Los dos candidatos que compiten por representar una amplia zona del oeste de Chicago están intentando conseguir un puesto en la Junta de Educación. La miembro titular de la Junta de Educación Michilla, “Kyla” Blaise, inició una campaña en 2024, pero se retiró a último momento, mientras que su contrincante, Anthony Hargrove, no apareció en la boleta electoral hace dos años.

Blaise, una asesora política que fue nombrada para la Junta de Educación por el alcalde Brandon Johnson en 2024, cuenta con el respaldo del Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago. Hargrove, quien dirige programas para ayudar a jóvenes que abandonaron sus estudios a regresar a la escuela, cuenta con el apoyo de defensores de los intereses empresariales y de las escuelas charter.

El Distrito 5b es uno de los distritos de la Junta de Educación con la mayor diversidad económica, extendiéndose desde el próspero West Loop hasta vecindarios que han sufrido falta de inversión, como North Lawndale y Garfield Park. Incluye varias escuelas secundarias del vecindario que enfrentan una disminución de la matrícula, pero también algunas de las escuelas magnet de CPS con mayor demanda. Los estudiantes que asisten a las escuelas de esta zona son en su mayoría negros y latinos.

Los candidatos se han enfocado en temas diferentes. Blaise dice que sus prioridades son aumentar los fondos para CPS, abordar la disminución de la matrícula y mejorar la salud mental de los estudiantes, mientras que Hargrove se centró en mejorar el dominio de la lectura y las matemáticas, fortalecer la educación especial y ampliar la educación vocacional y la preparación para carreras profesionales.

Los dos candidatos coinciden en algunos temas. Ambos apoyan restricciones más estrictas al uso de la inteligencia artificial y de los teléfonos celulares en las aulas, y ambos se oponen al cierre de escuelas por cualquier motivo.

Blaise se enorgullece de ser “chicagoense de toda la vida”. Dice que su familia ha vivido en el oeste de Chicago durante cuatro generaciones.

Sus hijos asistieron a LaSalle Language Academy Elementary School y a la Kenwood Academy High School, lo cual le mostró el valor de las escuelas magnet. Quiere que los padres tengan opciones además de la escuela de su vecindario.

Pero como miembro de la Junta de Educación, dijo que apoya a las escuelas del vecindario y quiere encontrar maneras de revitalizarlas, tomando como ejemplo la Marshall Metropolitan High School en East Garfield Park. La escuela tuvo alrededor de 200 estudiantes inscritos el año pasado. En la década de los 60, cuando la escuela estaba sobrepoblada y el padre de Blaise estudiaba allí, Marshall tenía unos 5,000 estudiantes, comentó.

La escuela cuenta con recursos como una piscina de tamaño olímpico, una cocina comercial y equipos deportivos competitivos. Pero Blaise dijo que la Junta de Educación debería ayudarla a alcanzar todo su potencial, considerando la posibilidad de convertirla en una escuela magnet enfocada en deportes o agregar grados de escuela intermedia.

Blaise suele votar junto con un bloque de la Junta de Educación alineado con el CTU y recibió el respaldo del sindicato. Este año, tuvo un papel destacado al encabezar los esfuerzos para modificar el presupuesto de CPS con el objetivo de revertir algunos recortes previstos y contar con fondos estatales adicionales que podrían no llegar.

“Quiero ser una verdadera defensora para asegurarme de que la gente entienda lo terriblemente insuficiente que es el financiamiento de nuestras escuelas, y también asegurarme de que la gente entienda que existe una oportunidad para realmente cambiar la conversación”, aseguró Blaise.

Blaise dijo que su experiencia viviendo en una variedad de vecindarios —East Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, Lincoln Park y Wicker Park— la ayuda a comprender las distintas necesidades de la ciudad y de su distrito.

“Tengo amigos y familiares de verdad en toda la ciudad que asisten a CPS. Creo que sé lo que está pasando”, dijo. “Espero que todos podamos simplemente conversar sobre los temas que nos afectan”.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Blaise.

Hargrove, quien nació y creció en el oeste de Chicago, destaca por sus numerosos vínculos con CPS. Asistió a escuelas del distrito durante su infancia y se graduó de Orr Academy High School. Dos de sus hijos actualmente estudian en una escuela de CPS y otros dos ya se graduaron. También trabajó para el distrito en varios puestos, incluyendo guardia de seguridad, asistente de trabajador social y trabajador de apoyo para padres en escuelas como Marshall, Phillips Academy High School y Orr Academy High School.

Actualmente dirige programas “que ayudan a los jóvenes a reconectarse con la escuela y a prepararlos para tener éxito más allá de las aulas”, según el sitio web de su campaña.

Hargrove está respaldado por el Common Ground Collective, comité de acción política anti CTU que está financiado en gran medida por el multimillonario Michael Sacks y que afirma tener como objetivo involucrar a los votantes en torno a “políticas progresistas eficaces”. También cuenta con el respaldo de The Urban Center, organización política centrista que apoya a las escuelas chárter y promueve la elección entre escuelas públicas y privadas.

Hargrove, quien no estuvo disponible para una entrevista, dijo en nuestro cuestionario para la Junta de Educación de CPS que su experiencia previa dentro del distrito lo ha preparado de manera única para formar parte de la Junta.

“Me postulo por cada padre y madre de mi distrito que sintió que su voz no fue escuchada, por cada estudiante que sintió que nadie lo veía y por cada familia que simplemente quiere lo mejor para su hijo”, escribió. “Aportaré una voz centrada en la comunidad enfocada en la rendición de cuentas, las oportunidades y en poner a los estudiantes primero”.

Hargrove quiere que CPS considere más alianzas comunitarias para usar los edificios escolares que no se utilizan a toda capacidad.

“La Junta debe tomar decisiones transparentes y basadas en datos que pongan a los estudiantes en primer lugar, fortalecer las escuelas de vecindario y asegurarse que los recursos se utilicen de manera responsable”, escribió al explicar cómo le gustaría que CPS abordara la disminución de la matrícula.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Hargrove.

Mary Norkol es reportera del Chicago Sun-Times. Puedes comunicarte con Mary en mnorkol@suntimes.com.

Elecciones de la Junta de Educación de Chicago 2026: La carrera en el Distrito 6a

2026-09-28T21:15:31+00:00

Leer en inglés.

Este reportaje se elaboró y publicó en colaboración con WBEZ, el Chicago Sun-Times y Block Club Chicago, redacción sin fines de lucro que cubre los diversos vecindarios de Chicago. Mantente informado a través del boletín de Chalkbeat Chicago, el boletín sobre educación de WBEZ y el Sun-Times, y los boletines de Block Club Chicago.

La carrera para representar al centro de Chicago en la Junta de Educación enfrenta a una ex lobbista que dirige una organización estatal de defensa con la ventaja de ser la miembro actual de la Junta, contra dos contrincantes, un asistente de educación especial respaldado por grupos que promueven la elección entre escuelas y une investigadore y consultore educative cuya campaña opera de manera más independiente.

Anusha Thotakura fue nombrada por el alcalde en 2024 después de quedar en segundo lugar entre tres candidatos en las primeras elecciones de la Junta de Educación y espera conservar su puesto con el respaldo del Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago y del Sindicato Internacional de Empleados de Servicios (SEIU), la cual representa a trabajadores de apoyo escolar.

Isaiah White, un trabajador de apoyo escolar, se postula con miles de dólares de parte de The Urban Center, organización política centrista que promueve la elección entre escuelas tanto públicas como privadas, y del brazo político de Illinois Network of Charter Schools. También cuenta con el respaldo de un comité de acción política que favorece a las empresas, anti CTU, financiado en gran medida por el multimillonario Michael Sacks y que dice tener como objetivo involucrar a los votantes en torno a “políticas progresistas eficaces”.

Brenda Lee Anderson, docente de Northwestern University con licencia, no cuenta con el respaldo de mayores grupos de interés.

Debido a que se encuentra en el centro comercial y empresarial de la ciudad, el Distrito 6a tiene apenas 14 escuelas públicas, la menor cantidad de todos los distritos electorales de la Junta de Educación, y ninguna es una escuela secundaria de vecindario. Los estudiantes que asisten a las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago en esta zona son diversos, pero las escuelas tienen una mayor proporción de estudiantes blancos y asiático-americanos que CPS en su conjunto.

Las principales prioridades de Thotakura y White son mejorar los resultados de lectura y matemáticas. La principal meta de Anderson es resolver la persistente crisis presupuestaria de CPS.

Durante sus casi dos años en la Junta de Educación, Thotakura dijo que uno de sus mayores logros fue patrocinar la resolución Healthy Green Schools, que pidió a CPS invertir en más proyectos de energía limpia y utilizar los ahorros en energía para mejorar los edificios escolares, como la eliminación de moho.

La resolución se presentó después de que el distrito llegara a un nuevo acuerdo laboral con el CTU el año pasado para construir escuelas más ecológicas cuando haya fondos disponibles. Hasta agosto, el distrito estaba trabajando en seis proyectos piloto para instalar paneles solares o electrificar los sistemas en las escuelas como respuesta a la resolución, según los memorandos del distrito proporcionados por Thotakura.

La principal prioridad de Thotakura para otro periodo en la Junta es mejorar los resultados académicos de los estudiantes impulsando a CPS a cumplir las metas establecidas en su plan estratégico de cinco años. Dijo que quiere que el distrito publique con mayor frecuencia datos sobre el progreso académico de los estudiantes para que la Junta pueda hacer que los líderes se hagan responsables. También quiere encontrar maneras de hacer que todas las escuelas de su vecindario sean más atractivas para las familias, que con frecuencia le dicen que envían a sus hijos a otras escuelas. Dijo que parte de ese esfuerzo incluye ampliar el acceso al nivel preescolar, diciendo que las familias tienen que esperar a que haya cupo con frecuencia.

El año pasado, Thotakura se separó de uno de sus principales aliados, el CTU, al votar a favor del presupuesto propuesto por CPS, el cual no incluía préstamos de alto costo. Este año, fue una de los 11 miembros de la Junta que votaron junto al sindicato para modificar el presupuesto propuesto por el distrito, bajo el supuesto de que CPS recibirá $150 millones más en fondos estatales de lo previsto. Si ese dinero no llega, las escuelas podrían tener que despedir personal a mitad del año escolar. Thotakura defendió su decisión, en parte porque cree que la ciudad podría aportar más fondos provenientes de zonas fiscales especiales conocidas como distritos de Financiamiento por Incremento de Impuestos, o TIF por siglas en inglés.

“Creo que vale la pena movilizarnos, aprovechar este impulso e ir a Springfield”, destacó Thotakura.

Thotakura ha votado con frecuencia de acuerdo con el sindicato de maestros, pero señaló su voto sobre el presupuesto del año pasado como un ejemplo de su manera independiente de pensar.

“Si ves mi historial de votación, muestra que soy una persona con criterio independiente que, al final, toma en cuenta la información de todas las partes interesadas, pero actúa en base a los mejores intereses para los estudiantes”, enfatizó Thotakura.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Thotakura.

Para cuando White comenzó a asistir a Brooklyn Tech, una de las escuelas secundarias públicas más selectivas del país, su madre había fallecido y su padre había abandonado recientemente el hogar, dijo. Después de pasar varias semanas sin vivienda, se fue a vivir con la familia de un amigo en Brooklyn.

Un consejero escolar se mantenía al pendiente de él y se aseguraba de que pudiera pagar las cuotas de los exámenes AP y recibir almuerzo gratuito, dijo White. Esa experiencia influyó en su decisión de postularse para la Junta de Educación.

“Soy un ejemplo de lo que puede suceder cuando las escuelas hacen un muy, muy buen trabajo al apoyar a un niño que es consciente de lo poco que tiene y ayudarle a crecer y entrar al mundo como una persona capaz de vivir una vida bonita y feliz y contribuir al resto de la sociedad”, dijo White. “Quiero que eso esté disponible para la próxima generación”.

White se mudó a Chicago hace tres años con su pareja y comenzó a trabajar como maestro sustituto en CPS en 2024. También trabajó en la campaña de 2024 de Jessica Biggs, una de las representante del Distrito 6a en la Junta Educativa, quien ahora se está postulando para la presidencia de la Junta. El año pasado, White se postuló sin éxito para comisionado del Condado de Cook.

White ha modificado sus referencias en el sitio web de su campaña con algunas de sus experiencias anteriores. Su sitio web decía anteriormente que había sido presidente de servicios para familias de la Asociación de Residentes de River North, pero el presidente de la asociación dijo a Chalkbeat que White era un coordinador voluntario que trabajó en dos eventos, incluyendo una celebración de regreso a clases. White dijo que consideraba que sus responsabilidades se parecían a las de un presidente, pero después de que el presidente de la asociación le informara cuál era su título correcto, dijo que había sido “simplemente un descuido” y corrigió su sitio web. Para mediados de septiembre, la referencia a la asociación ya no aparecía.

El sitio web también había indicado que White dirigió varias campañas, incluida la de Biggs. Biggs le dijo a Chalkbeat que White supervisó las operaciones de campo y de voluntarios. La referencia a la campaña de Biggs fue eliminada para mediados de agosto, pero White sostuvo que sí dirigió su campaña y dijo que no tenía la intención de eliminar esa referencia de su sitio web. Al momento de la publicación, la referencia a Biggs seguía sin aparecer.

Si resulta elegido para la Junta de Educación, la principal prioridad de White sería mejorar los resultados de lectura y matemáticas, en parte aumentando el salario de los asistentes de maestros y buscando maneras de contratar a líderes escolares más eficaces.

La campaña de White ha recibido fondos de comités políticos de The Urban Center, Illinois Network of Charter Schools y Common Ground Collective, grupos que generalmente se oponen a las posturas políticas del CTU.

White dijo que no ha hablado con estas organizaciones sobre sus prioridades, pero considera que “reconocen correctamente que el CTU no está actuando en beneficio de los niños”.

“Pero voy a hacer lo que sea mejor para mi comunidad y… si eso significa que no me apoyan para la reelección, está bien”, dijo White.

Lee el cuestionario completo de White.

Anderson quiere usar su experiencia como investigadore de políticas educativas y sociales para abordar las desigualdades y aumentar los fondos de las escuelas.

Las escuelas fueron algunos de los “espacios seguros” para Anderson durante su infancia en Ohio y Tennessee mientras entraba y salía del sistema de cuidado de crianza temporal y su madre enfrentaba problemas de adicción. Anderson dijo que esa experiencia le enseñó la importancia de contar con entornos escolares estables y vecinos que brinden apoyo, y lo que finalmente le llevó a obtener un doctorado.

Anderson se mudó a Chicago hace unos años. La página de LinkedIn de Anderson y nuestro cuestionario para la Junta de Educación de CPS indican que dan clases en la Escuela de Educación y Políticas Sociales en Northwestern University, pero un portavoz de la universidad dijo que su empleo terminó a mediados de julio. Anderson dijo que planea regresar durante los trimestres de invierno y primavera de la universidad, después de las elecciones, y que mientras tanto está realizando otros trabajos de consultoría relacionados con la educación.

La principal prioridad de Anderson es resolver el problema presupuestario de CPS buscando fondos federales adicionales que aún no se han aprovechado, los cuales representan alrededor del 9% del presupuesto del distrito, e impulsando un aumento de los fondos estatales.

Si resulta elegide, Anderson dijo que recurriría a políticas respaldadas por evidencia, en lugar de intereses especiales, para orientar sus decisiones. También dijo que trabajaría para establecer relaciones y formar coaliciones integradas por personas con distintas perspectivas políticas, desde otros funcionarios electos locales y personas de clase trabajadora y bajos ingresos hasta multimillonarios.

“Cuando todos estos activistas y organizadores pensaban en una Junta de Educación, creo que tenían en mente a alguien como yo: una persona que quiere poner a los estudiantes en el centro, que quiere mantener la educación pública lo más pública posible y que está dispuesta a hablar con todos”, dijo Anderson. “La primera regla de la organización es que hay que organizar a personas que no siempre están de acuerdo contigo, ¿verdad?”

A diferencia de sus contrincantes, Anderson no ha recibido el respaldo de sindicatos importantes ni de grandes grupos de interés.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Anderson.

Reema Amin es reportera que cubre las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago. Puedes comunicarte con Reema en ramin@chalkbeat.org.

Elecciones de la Junta de Educación de Chicago 2026: La carrera en el Distrito 6b

2026-09-28T21:14:34+00:00

Leer en inglés.

Este reportaje se elaboró y publicó en colaboración con WBEZ, el Chicago Sun-Times y Block Club Chicago, redacción sin fines de lucro que cubre los diversos vecindarios de Chicago. Mantente informado a través del boletín de Chalkbeat Chicago, el boletín sobre educación de WBEZ y el Sun-Times, y los boletines de Block Club Chicago.

Michael Neal, originario del sur de Chicago y pastor de muchos años, se enfrenta a Brittany Kimble, abogada y madre de una estudiante de las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago, para representar al Distrito 6b, el cual se extiende desde el próspero vecindario de Lakeshore East en el centro de la ciudad, hasta el South Loop y Greater Grand Crossing.

Los dos candidatos, que se postulan por primera vez, compiten en una de las dos contiendas de la Junta de Educación en las que ningún candidato ha recibido el respaldo de los principales sindicatos del distrito: el Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago o el Sindicato Internacional de Empleados de Servicios (SEIU), que representan al personal de apoyo escolar.

Jessica Biggs, quien actualmente representa a este distrito, se postula a la presidencia de la Junta de Educación.

El Distrito 6b incluye 37 escuelas, muchas de las cuales sirven principalmente a estudiantes negros y han experimentado algunas de las mayores disminuciones de matrícula de la ciudad, mientras que otras más cercanas al centro han aumentado su matrícula durante la última década. Según los candidatos, las preocupaciones de las familias van desde querer escuelas públicas de calidad y con suficientes recursos en todos los vecindarios hasta sentirse bienvenidas en las escuelas de sus hijos.

Neal nació y creció en el sur de Chicago, se graduó de CPS y actualmente dirige una organización sin fines de lucro. Kimble creció en distintas ciudades de Illinois y actualmente su hija asiste a Ida B. Wells Preparatory Elementary Academy.

Las dos principales prioridades de Kimble son mejorar el dominio de la lectura y las matemáticas y resolver los problemas presupuestarios de CPS. Neal quiere mejorar la educación de la primera infancia.

Los candidatos cuentan con respaldo o han recibido apoyo financiero de grupos que con frecuencia difieren del Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago y de la oficina del alcalde.

Neal recibió el respaldo de Common Ground Collective, un nuevo comité de acción política anti-CTU, financiado en gran medida por el multimillonario Michael Sacks y que afirma tener como objetivo involucrar a los votantes en torno a “políticas progresistas eficaces”. La campaña de Kimble cuenta con el respaldo de The Urban Center, una organización política centrista que promueve la elección entre escuelas públicas y privadas, y ha recibido algunas contribuciones de ese grupo, aunque Kimble insiste en que la organización no le ha pedido nada a cambio.

Neal, pastor de Glorious Light Church en el vecindario de Oakland, dijo que siempre ha querido ayudar a su comunidad más allá de los sermones dominicales. Hace más de una docena de años, comenzó a leerles a niños en una escuela primaria local y después empezó a reclutar a más hombres negros para hacer lo mismo a través de una organización sin fines de lucro que fundó.

Su interés en la educación creció y comenzó a servir en el Greater Bronzeville Community Action Council, que se enfoca en elaborar un plan para mejorarla.

Postularse para la Junta de Educación, “simplemente me pareció algo muy natural porque esto es lo que he hecho prácticamente toda mi vida adulta, especialmente desde que me convertí en padre”, dijo Neal, cuyas hijas, ahora adultas, asistieron a escuelas de CPS.

La organización sin fines de lucro de Neal, Timothy Community Corporation, operaba en una escuela de CPS que había estado cerrada hasta hace unos meses, dijo. La organización se enfoca en ampliar el acceso a servicios de salud y bienestar, así como en la alfabetización y el desarrollo de habilidades de liderazgo.

Neal dijo que su programa voluntario de lectura ahora dona libros a las escuelas. Ese trabajo despertó su interés en mejorar la educación de la primera infancia, la cual sería su principal prioridad si resulta elegido. Dijo que quiere que haya más programas de lectura en voz alta en las escuelas de toda la ciudad y reclutar a más organizaciones filantrópicas y empresas para que proporcionen voluntarios y otros tipos de apoyo.

Neal dijo que su campaña “no tiene mucho dinero”, pero que algunas personas han contribuido con ayuda similar o se han ofrecido como voluntarias, por ejemplo, recolectando firmas para que pudiera aparecer en la boleta electoral. Se describió como un “novato en campañas” y señaló que su esposa creó su sitio web, que una de sus hijas le da consejos de vez en cuando y que un amigo lo está ayudando a dirigir la campaña.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Neal.

Kimble dijo que ha intentado repetidamente, sin éxito, conseguir apoyo adicional en la escuela para su hija, tanto para dificultades del habla como para enfrentar el acoso escolar. Esa experiencia la llevó, en un momento dado, a educar a su hija en casa. Ahora también está impulsando a Kimble, quien es madre soltera, a postularse para la Junta de Educación.

Aunque ha buscado apoyo adicional para su hija fuera de la escuela, Kimble dijo que no “todos los padres deberían tener que hacer eso”.

Kimble dijo que creció y asistió a escuelas públicas en varios suburbios de Chicago y en Carbondale antes de estudiar derecho.

Kimble dirigió su propio despacho de abogados durante casi una década antes de declararse en bancarrota en febrero. Enfatizó que sus problemas financieros surgieron tras años de dificultades para mantener su negocio a flote después de la pandemia. Al momento de presentar la solicitud de bancarrota, Kimble debía $825,210 en distintas deudas, incluidas tarjetas de crédito, préstamos estudiantiles y deudas con la Administración de Pequeñas Empresas de Estados Unidos, mientras que solo tenía $227,873 en bienes personales y propiedades, incluida su vivienda, según documentos judiciales.

“He aprendido de mi situación… pude salir adelante al declararme en bancarrota”, dijo Kimble. “CPS no puede declararse en bancarrota, pero tampoco puede seguir gastando de la misma manera sin que entren más fondos”.

Sigue con licencia para ejercer como abogada y espera algún día volver a abrir un despacho. Por ahora, dijo, se ha vuelto “contraria a las deudas” y ha reducido sus gastos, como, por ejemplo, deshaciéndose de su automóvil y llevando a su hija a la escuela en un autobús de la Autoridad de Tránsito de Chicago (CTA).

Como miembro de la Junta, Kimble dijo que primero abordaría el persistente déficit estructural del distrito, en parte mediante la exploración de recortes fuera del salón de clases o la reducción de las obligaciones de deuda. Su otra prioridad sería mejorar el dominio de las matemáticas y la lectura.

“Para mí, los niveles de matemáticas y alfabetización de las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago son vergonzosos, pero no creo que podamos mejorarlos hasta que resolvamos todo lo demás”, dijo Kimble sobre el presupuesto.

La campaña de Kimble recibió miles de dólares en servicios de consultoría y de recolección de firmas de The Urban Center, que se opone al Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago. En su cuestionario, Kimble dijo que “rechazaría dinero que pudiera comprometer mi independencia”. Dijo a Chalkbeat que los fondos de The Urban Center la ayudaron a aparecer en la boleta electoral y que el grupo “no le ha pedido nada” a ella.

Kimble considera que el grupo la apoya porque educó a su hija en casa, pero enfatizó que es “una defensora de las escuelas públicas por naturaleza”.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Kimble.

Reema Amin es reportera que cubre las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago. Puedes comunicarte con Reema en ramin@chalkbeat.org.

Elecciones de la Junta de Educación de Chicago 2026: La carrera en el Distrito 7a

2026-09-28T21:12:57+00:00

Leer en inglés.

Este reportaje se elaboró y publicó en colaboración con WBEZ, el Chicago Sun-Times y Block Club Chicago, redacción sin fines de lucro que cubre los diversos vecindarios de Chicago. Mantente informado a través del boletín de Chalkbeat Chicago, el boletín sobre educación de WBEZ y el Sun-Times, y los boletines de Block Club Chicago.

En este distrito de mayoría latina, una pastora y activista de muchos años que luchó contra la sobrepoblación en las escuelas de Pilsen y fue nombrada para la Junta de Educación por el alcalde en 2024 se enfrenta a un joven candidato y graduado de CPS que trabajó durante los últimos seis años en un programa extracurricular de una organización sin fines de lucro.

La miembro actual de la Junta Emma Lozano está respaldada por el Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago (CTU), mientras que Jesús Ayala Jr. tiene el apoyo de defensores de las escuelas charter, grupos a favor de las empresas y el Consejo Estatal de Empleados Internacionales de Servicios en Illinois, el cual representa a miles de empleados de apoyo de las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago y que en los últimos años ha tenido diferencias políticas con el sindicato de maestros. Ayala intentó postularse en 2024, pero su nombre fue retirado de la boleta electoral tras una exitosa impugnación de sus documentos de nominación.

Este distrito del suroeste de Chicago alberga 48 escuelas públicas. El año pasado, alrededor del 64% recibió la segunda mejor clasificación del estado, “encomiable”, mientras que el 4.5% fueron calificadas con “apoyo intensivo”, lo que indica que se encuentran entre el 5% inferior de las escuelas de bajos ingresos o que tienen una tasa de graduación del 67% o menos.

Los estudiantes que asisten a las escuelas del Distrito 7a son principalmente latinos y la mayoría proviene de familias de bajos ingresos. Casi la mitad de los estudiantes están aprendiendo inglés.

Tanto Lozano como Ayala Jr. señalaron que proteger a las comunidades de inmigrantes y conseguir nuevas fuentes progresivas de ingresos están entre sus prioridades, pero quieren tomar caminos diferentes para lograrlo.

Por ejemplo, Lozano votó a favor de aprobar un presupuesto de CPS que contemplaba ingresos adicionales del estado. Ayala dice que depender de fondos que no están garantizados es un error. Estas diferencias han ocasionado un duelo de apoyo en la carrera de parte de los sindicatos que antes eran aliados, pero ahora compiten por tener influencia en la Junta de Educación.

Emma Lozano es conocida desde hace mucho tiempo como activista y defensora de los derechos de los inmigrantes. Ha apoyado esfuerzos para garantizar que los estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés tengan acceso a la misma educación que los estudiantes cuyo primer idioma es el inglés y respaldo políticas que limitan la cooperación de CPS con las autoridades federales de inmigración.

Lozano es pastora de la Iglesia Lincoln United Methodist en Pilsen. En 2006, la iglesia de Humboldt Park donde era pastora en ese momento dio refugio a una mujer indocumentada que enfrentaba la deportación, convirtiéndola en un símbolo de un movimiento nacional de iglesias que ofrecen santuario a inmigrantes.

Lozano estudió en escuelas de CPS, al igual que sus hijos, quienes asistieron o se graduaron de distintas escuelas, entre ellas las secundarias Juárez y Wells Community Academy, y Lozano Bilingual Elementary, una escuela que lleva el nombre del hermano de Lozano.

Lozano, una miembro actual de la Junta por nombramiento y apoyada por el CTU, dijo que quiere conservar su puesto porque es una de las pocas integrantes que entiende lo que significa vivir como inmigrante en la ciudad. Esa perspectiva es importante, dijo, mientras la administración de Trump siga con sus medidas agresivas de control migratorio.

Una de sus prioridades es mejorar el apoyo para los estudiantes de familias inmigrantes. Cuando los operativos migratorios alcanzaron su punto máximo en la ciudad el otoño pasado, Lozano instó a CPS a considerar ofrecer clases virtuales a los estudiantes que tenían miedo de ir a la escuela.

“Si yo no estoy ahí, entonces sí me preocupa mucho porque no tienen voz”, comentó Lozano.

También quiere trabajar para conseguir más fondos estatales mediante la promoción de políticas como aumentar los impuestos a los ricos. Fue uno de los 11 miembros de la Junta que votaron a principios de este año a favor de incluir en un presupuesto modificado de CPS la expectativa de que el estado aportaría más fondos.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Lozano.

Jesús Ayala Jr. trabajó en MetroSquash desde 2020 hasta agosto, cuando dejó el puesto para concentrarse en su campaña para la Junta de Educación. La organización sin fines de lucro enseña squash competitivo y brinda apoyo académico a estudiantes del sur de Chicago y de Evanston.

Ayala creció en Bucktown y asistió a escuelas de las CPS durante su infancia. Dijo que una escuela de CPS ayudó a su padre a adaptarse a la vida en Estados Unidos. Esa experiencia influyó en la convicción de Ayala de que las escuelas deben ser pilares de sus comunidades.

“Me encanta que mi papá haya encontrado apoyo en una escuela de vecindario mientras aprendía inglés y se adaptaba a un nuevo país”, comentó Ayala.

Ayala destacó que su trabajo voluntario con organizaciones que trabajan con estudiantes de CPS, como Mikva Challenge, lo motivó a buscar un puesto en la Junta. Destacó que observó una “desconexión entre aquello en lo que se enfocaba la Junta y lo que nuestros estudiantes necesitan”. Considera que la Junta dedica demasiado tiempo a discutir asuntos que afectan a una sola escuela y que debería concentrarse en problemas a nivel del distrito.

Ayala quiere enfocarse en mejorar los resultados académicos de los estudiantes y en evaluar la eficacia de los materiales educativos, como el currículo Skyline del distrito, que incluye un conjunto de lecciones de matemáticas, lectura, ciencias, estudios sociales y otras materias.

“¿Los estudiantes están logrando los avances que queremos y cuando no es así, podemos averiguar por qué?”, dijo Ayala.

Ayala también quiere abordar los altos índices de ausentismo y cree que mejorar la experiencia de los estudiantes puede ayudar. Por ejemplo, quiere prestar más atención a combatir el acoso escolar.

La mayor parte de los fondos de Ayala proviene de un comité de acción política afiliado a SEIU y de Common Ground Collective, un comité de acción política anti CTU que está financiado en gran medida por el multimillonario Michael Sacks y que afirma tener como objetivo involucrar a los votantes en torno a “políticas progresistas eficaces”.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Ayala Jr.

Emmanuel Camarillo es reportero de educación del Chicago Sun-Times. Puedes comunicarte con Emmanuel en ecamarillo@suntimes.com.

Elecciones de la Junta de Educación de Chicago 2026: La carrera en el Distrito 7b

2026-09-28T21:12:26+00:00

Leer en inglés.

Este reportaje se elaboró y publicó en colaboración con WBEZ, el Chicago Sun-Times y Block Club Chicago, redacción sin fines de lucro que cubre los diversos vecindarios de Chicago. Mantente informado a través del boletín de Chalkbeat Chicago, el boletín sobre educación de WBEZ y el Sun-Times, y los boletines de Block Club Chicago.

Dos latinas con experiencia en el servicio público compiten por representar una parte del suroeste de Chicago que tiene uno de los porcentajes más altos de escuelas con las dos mejores clasificaciones de desempeño del estado.

La miembro titular de la Junta Yesenia López fue elegida en 2024 con el respaldo del Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago y del entonces representante federal Jesús “Chuy” García. Esta vez, sin el apoyo poderoso del CTU, se enfrenta a un desafío de parte de Erika Díaz Chávez, gerente de proyectos del Distrito de Parques de Chicago, quien asistió a escuelas privadas durante su infancia. Díaz Chávez cuenta con el apoyo del brazo político de Illinois Network of Charter Schools y de The Urban Center, organización política centrista que promueve las escuelas chárter y la elección entre escuelas tanto públicas como privadas.

López cuenta con el respaldo del Consejo Estatal de Empleados Internacionales de Servicios en Illinois, que representa a miles de empleados de apoyo de CPS y que, en los últimos años, ha tenido diferencias políticas con el sindicato de maestros.

Hay 34 escuelas en el Distrito 7b, y el 13% se encuentra entre el 10% de las escuelas con mejor desempeño en Illinois.

Las escuelas del Distrito 7b sirven al porcentaje más alto de estudiantes latinos en CPS, pero algunas escuelas también atienden principalmente a estudiantes asiático-americanos. Alrededor del 84% de los estudiantes provienen de familias de bajos ingresos y cerca de la mitad son estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés.

Ambas candidatas dicen que quieren ofrecer más recursos de educación especial a los estudiantes en respuesta a las preocupaciones de los padres. También quieren asegurarse de que CPS esté haciendo lo suficiente para proteger a las familias inmigrantes ante el aumento de las medidas de control migratorio en la ciudad.

Sin embargo, tienen opiniones diferentes sobre las Escuelas Comunitarias Sustentables, un programa favorecido por el CTU que proporciona fondos adicionales a decenas de escuelas para colaborar con organizaciones comunitarias y ofrecer más servicios a las familias. El CTU representa a unos 30,000 maestros y otros empleados de CPS y es conocido por su fuerte enfoque en temas de justicia social.

Díaz Chávez no está segura de que el modelo, el cual ahora está plasmado en el contrato del CTU, esté dando resultados y quiere evaluar el programa antes de gastar más dinero en él. López considera que el modelo beneficia a las familias y lo apoya, aunque coincide en que el distrito debe dar seguimiento a sus resultados.

Yesenia López se graduó de la Juárez Community Academy High School en Pilsen. Ha trabajado y ha sido voluntaria en varias escuelas del suroeste de Chicago. También se desempeñó como directora de alcance comunitario latino para la campaña de JB Pritzker para gobernador en el 2022. Más recientemente, fue subdirectora de campaña de Patty García, quien se postula para ocupar el antiguo escaño de Jesús “Chuy” García en el 4.º Distrito del Congreso.

Las prioridades de López incluyen proteger a las familias inmigrantes y aumentar los servicios de apoyo de salud mental de los estudiantes. Recientemente pidió a la oficina del alcalde que avance con la creación de un panel asesor de la Junta de Educación enfocado en las necesidades de estudiantes y familias que no son ciudadanos estadounidenses, ya que es requerido por la ley estatal.

SEIU, que ha respaldado a López, es uno de los principales contribuyentes a su campaña, al igual que en 2024.

Pero esta vez no cuenta con el apoyo del CTU. Ganó con el respaldo del sindicato hace dos años, pero en ocasiones sus votos se han apartado de los de los miembros de la Junta alineados con el CTU.

López dijo que le sorprendió no contar con su apoyo esta vez porque, según ella: “Soy la candidata que apoya la educación pública; yo misma asistí a escuelas públicas y he expresado claramente mi apoyo a nuestras escuelas de vecindario”.

Más recientemente, López se abstuvo de votar sobre una modificación al presupuesto de CPS impulsada por miembros respaldados por el sindicato.

“He demostrado que soy verdaderamente independiente”, dijo López.

López no respondió a nuestro cuestionario.

Erika Díaz Chávez, quien ha trabajado para el Distrito de Parques de Chicago durante más de 20 años, supervisa el sendero The 606 en una zona cercana al noroeste de la ciudad y administra datos para el departamento de cultura y recursos naturales de la agencia.

Decidió entrar en la carrera porque considera que la Junta debería hacer más para mejorar los resultados de los estudiantes.

“Creo que, de cierta manera, les estamos fallando a nuestros niños”, dijo Díaz Chávez. “Ese tiene que ser nuestro enfoque, al 100%. ¿Cómo podemos hacer todo lo posible para que a estos niños les vaya bien académicamente?”.

Díaz Chávez creció en la zona de Pilsen y asistió a escuelas católicas en Chicago y en el suburbio de Oak Park.

Cuenta con el respaldo de The Urban Center, grupo político que promueve la elección entre escuelas y que también ha apoyado económicamente su campaña. Díaz Chávez asegura que sería una voz independiente en la Junta.

“Quiero asegurarme de que podamos trabajar con todos, no solamente con las personas que piensan igual que yo o que forman parte de una lista de candidatos”, comentó.

Díaz Chávez dijo que sería más fácil tomar decisiones que sean las mejores para el distrito a largo plazo si hubiera más voces independientes. Eso incluye analizar qué hacer cuando la moratoria sobre el cierre de escuelas venza el próximo verano.

“Nadie quiere ver que cierren escuelas”, dijo. Pero luego agregó: “Tenemos que tener una conversación muy honesta sobre cómo podemos ser sostenibles para las futuras generaciones”.

La campaña de Díaz Chávez no ha recaudado mucho dinero, pero ha recibido contribuciones de Illinois Network of Charter Schools y The Urban Center, dos organizaciones que apoyan a las escuelas chárter.

Díaz-Chávez no respondió a nuestro cuestionario.

Emmanuel Camarillo es reportero de educación del Chicago Sun-Times. Puedes comunicarte con Emmanuel en ecamarillo@suntimes.com.

Elecciones de la Junta de Educación de Chicago 2026: La carrera en el Distrito 8b

2026-09-28T21:11:44+00:00

Leer en inglés.

Este reportaje se elaboró y publicó en colaboración con WBEZ, el Chicago Sun-Times y Block Club Chicago, redacción sin fines de lucro que cubre los diversos vecindarios de Chicago. Mantente informado a través del boletín de Chalkbeat Chicago, el boletín sobre educación de WBEZ y el Sun-Times, y los boletines de Block Club Chicago.

Juan Ignacio González, detective veterano del Departamento de Policía de Chicago (CPD) y dueño de una cafetería local, se postula sin oposición para representar al Distrito 8b, una franja larga y estrecha que se extiende desde el Loop hasta Chicago Lawn, en el suroeste de la ciudad.

A principios de este verano, la autoridad electoral de Chicago retiró de la boleta electoral a la miembro actual de la Junta y persona nombrada por el alcalde Brandon Johnson, Cydney Wallace, debido a impugnaciones a las firmas de sus peticiones, lo que dejó a González como el único candidato.

González, residente de Back of the Yards, dijo que lo que lo motivó a postularse para la Junta de Educación fue escuchar a padres preocupados porque los estudiantes estaban siendo utilizados como “peones políticos” durante el Día Internacional de los Trabajadores. El Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago (CTU) y las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago (CPS) llegaron a un acuerdo para mantener las escuelas abiertas el 1 de mayo y al mismo tiempo permitir actividades cívicas, después de algunas diferencias sobre si se debían cancelar las clases para realizar manifestaciones.

“Los padres hablaban de algunos de los desafíos y los bajos estándares académicos que enfrentamos… y son temas con los que estoy de acuerdo”, dijo. “Siento que en mi comunidad no hay una voz para las personas que, muchas veces, no pueden votar o no forman parte del sistema político. Me pidieron que considerara postularme, analicé la situación y sentí que podía ayudar a los niños de la comunidad”.

González forma parte del Departamento de Policía de Chicago desde 1999. Durante ese tiempo, miembros del público han presentado 25 denuncias de conducta indebida en su contra, todas las cuales fueron consideradas infundadas, según los registros públicos recopilados por Civic Police Data Project, o CPDP por sus siglas en inglés.

En 2013, Hernan Barron, quien entonces tenía 21 años, acusó a González de haberlo inmovilizado contra la pared de una planta empacadora de carne con su vehículo policial durante un arresto. Barron sufrió una pequeña herida punzante en una pierna y fue llevado a un hospital para recibir atención médica. Una investigación interna de la policía determinó, con base en evidencia de video, que González no había cometido ninguna falta, según muestran los registros.

Más tarde ese mismo año, Barron presentó una demanda federal contra González y la ciudad, solicitando una indemnización por su lesión y por el dolor y sufrimiento emocional. La Ciudad llegó a un acuerdo por $98,000, según el CPDP.

“Durante casi 27 años en el Departamento de Policía de Chicago, he participado en miles de investigaciones relacionadas con algunos de los delitos más graves que afectan a Chicago, desde homicidios y tiroteos hasta agresiones sexuales y otros delitos violentos”, dijo González en una declaración enviada por correo electrónico. “Mi trayectoria en materia de seguridad pública y servicio comunitario no es algo que pueda entenderse por completo a través de una base de datos en internet. Proviene de casi 27 años de servir a Chicago y de seguir viviendo, trabajando, invirtiendo y sirviendo en la comunidad que considero mi hogar”.

“Vivo aquí. Camino por estas calles. Soy dueño de un negocio y lo administro”, destacó González. “Conozco a las familias, los residentes y los dueños de negocios de aquí, y la gente sabe que puede acercarse a mí cuando necesita ayuda u orientación”.

“El lugar donde ocurrió ese incidente también es importante para entender quién soy”, agregó. “Ocurrió aproximadamente a cuatro cuadras de donde vivo actualmente y a seis cuadras de mi cafetería. Esta no es simplemente una zona a la que me asignaron para trabajar. Es mi comunidad”.

En 2025, González abrió DreamCatcher Café, una cafetería de Back of the Yards ubicada en West 47th Street.

Además de la cafetería, González es propietario de más de una docena de propiedades en el suroeste de Chicago, según registros públicos. En una entrevista de 2023 con un pódcast sobre bienes raíces, González dijo que desde joven participó con su familia en la renovación de edificios, y que más adelante comenzó a comprar y rehabilitar propiedades por su cuenta.

“Existen riesgos tanto físicos como financieros que vienen con servir e invertir en una comunidad que ha vivido violencia grave”, destacó González en su declaración. “He decidido asumir esos riesgos porque creo en esta comunidad y seguiré haciéndolo”.

González es veterano del Cuerpo de Marines de Estados Unidos e hijo de padres inmigrantes de México. Asistió a la Universidad de Illinois en Chicago. Dijo que quiere que las escuelas del distrito tengan estándares académicos altos que desafíen a los estudiantes, muchos de los cuales también provienen de familias inmigrantes.

“Queremos competir, queremos que nos exijan”, dijo. “Como estadounidense de primera generación, no quiero que piensen que valgo menos simplemente porque vengo de cierto código postal”.

González también quiere mejorar la enseñanza de matemáticas y lectura y considera que las escuelas podrían ampliar sus programas de educación técnica y preparación profesional. Dijo que ofrecer vías hacia carreras en la construcción podría beneficiar a los jóvenes inmigrantes recién llegados que se han establecido en el suroeste de Chicago y que “quieren crear cosas con sus propias manos”.

“Tenemos una increíble mentalidad creativa en nuestra comunidad: en las artes, en la manera en que arreglamos propiedades”, agregó.

González también quiere analizar cómo las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago utilizan su presupuesto y cómo podrían utilizarselos recursos para mejorar la calidad de la educación.

“¿Por qué estamos perdiendo estudiantes y contribuyentes que se van a los suburbios?”, preguntó. “Somos una ciudad de clase mundial y esperamos una educación de clase mundial”.

González ha recibido contribuciones de The Urban Center, organización política centrista que promueve la elección de escuelas, y del brazo político de Illinois Network of Charter Schools, que aboga por las escuelas charter financiadas con fondos públicos y administradas de manera independiente. También cuenta con el apoyo de Common Ground Collective, un comité de acción política anti CTU, financiado en gran medida por el multimillonario Michael Sacks que afirma tener como objetivo involucrar a los votantes en torno a “políticas progresistas eficaces”.

Lee el cuestionario completo de González.

Francia García Hernández cubre Pilsen, La Villita y Back of the Yards para Block Club Chicago. Puedes comunicarte con Francia en francia@blockclubchi.org.

Elecciones de la Junta de Educación de Chicago 2026: La carrera en el Distrito 8a

2026-09-28T21:11:23+00:00

Leer en inglés.

Este reportaje se elaboró y publicó en colaboración con WBEZ, el Chicago Sun-Times y Block Club Chicago, redacción sin fines de lucro que cubre los diversos vecindarios de Chicago. Mantente informado a través del boletín de Chalkbeat Chicago, el boletín sobre educación de WBEZ y el Sun-Times, y los boletines de Block Club Chicago.

Con una campaña bien financiada y el respaldo de grupos con grandes recursos económicos que apoyan la elección entre escuelas, el miembro actual de la Junta de Educación, Ángel Gutiérrez, tiene asegurado conservar su puesto después de que nadie presentara los documentos para competir contra él.

Gutiérrez, líder de una organización sin fines de lucro y residente de Garfield Ridge, se postula sin oposición para representar al Distrito 8a en el suroeste de Chicago, donde el 60% de la población es latina, aproximadamente el doble del porcentaje de residentes latinos en toda la ciudad.

Esta zona se ha inclinado más hacia candidatos conservadores que otras partes de la ciudad y tiene más hogares con familias que hogares de una sola persona. En 2023, los votantes de esta zona favorecieron ampliamente al candidato a la alcaldía Paul Vallas, exdirector ejecutivo de las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago, sobre el alcalde Brandon Johnson, exorganizador del Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago. En 2024, la mayoría de los distritos favorecieron a Donald Trump para presidente.

Gutiérrez quiere mejorar la educación especial, aumentar las oportunidades para aprender oficios especializados y garantizar el acceso a transporte confiable, incluidos los autobuses escolares. Las propuestas beneficiarían a los estudiantes que asisten a las escuelas de sus vecindarios. Muchas familias de este distrito eligen la escuela primaria de su vecindario, pero optan por otras escuelas para la secundaria.

Gutiérrez apoya que CPS continúe con su estrategia de permitir que las familias elijan entre una variedad de escuelas fuera de su vecindario. También es el único miembro de la Junta que le ha pedido al estado participar en el programa federal de becas con crédito fiscal de la administración Trump, que ofrece un crédito fiscal por donaciones a organizaciones que otorgan becas para que los estudiantes asistan a escuelas privadas o para cubrir otras necesidades educativas. Illinois no ha aceptado participar.

Los hijos de Gutiérrez asisten a una escuela católica.

Gutiérrez tendrá un mandato de cuatro años después de ganar un mandato de dos años para representar al Distrito 8, el cual está dividido en 8a y 8b en el 2024. En esa elección derrotó a Félix Ponce, candidato respaldado por el Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago, con el 63% de los votos. Su amplia victoria y el apoyo financiero de donantes con grandes recursos, como el multimillonario Michael Sacks, podrían haber disuadido a otros candidatos.

Gutiérrez se presenta como un defensor de la responsabilidad fiscal, buscando que el distrito se recupere y tenga una situación financiera sólida mientras que mejora la calidad de la educación.

En 2024, Gutiérrez dijo que se postulaba para lograr un presupuesto de CPS más equilibrado. Dos años después, considera que también puede mejorar la manera en que funciona la Junta de Educación.

“Si prestas atención y observas algunas de las ridiculeces que hacen algunos miembros de la Junta, yo aporto la experiencia de saber cómo comportarme con decoro, con respeto por la institución y con respeto por los estudiantes, los padres y los contribuyentes”, dijo.

A principios de este año, se unió a otros miembros electos de la Junta de Educación para rechazar el presupuesto propuesto de $10 mil millones de CPS. El presupuesto, el cual asume que el distrito recibirá $150 millones más en fondos estatales de lo proyectado, fue aprobado por un margen estrecho.

Las finanzas del distrito siguen siendo una prioridad, dijo. Las familias “están sintiendo la presión de los impuestos por todos lados”, ya sean impuestos a la propiedad o impuestos sobre las ventas, dijo. Agregó que planea encabezar conversaciones sobre cómo ajustar el distrito.

“Estamos enseñando para el mundo de hoy y no para el de mañana, así que creo que tenemos que reimaginar cómo se ve nuestro impacto”, destacó.

CPS ha perdido 45,000 estudiantes en los últimos siete años, pero ha contratado a 10,000 empleados adicionales.

Para equilibrar el presupuesto, Gutiérrez dijo que la Junta necesita analizar cuántas escuelas están siendo utilizadas por debajo de su capacidad, cuántos estudiantes se han perdido y cuántos empleados fueron contratados con fondos de la época de la pandemia que ya no están disponibles.

“Tenemos recursos limitados”, destacó.

Cuenta con el respaldo del Consejo Estatal de SEIU en Illinois, que representa a miles de empleados de apoyo de CPS y que en los últimos años ha tenido diferencias políticas con el Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago. También recibe apoyo financiero del brazo político de Illinois Network of Charter Schools y cuenta con el respaldo de otros dos grupos cuyas posturas también suelen estar en contra del sindicato de maestros.

Gutiérrez dirige la estrategia de recaudación de fondos y comunicaciones de Enlace Chicago, una organización sin fines de lucro de La Villita. Anteriormente dirigió actividades de recaudación de fondos y desarrolló programas para Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago y la Chicago Hope Academy, una escuela secundaria cristiana. Forma parte del consejo asesor de Puerto Rican Arts Alliance y del comité directivo de Nuestro Futuro, un fondo dedicado a la filantropía latina, además de colaborar con otras organizaciones locales sin fines de lucro.

Dijo que sus décadas de experiencia como líder de organizaciones sin fines de lucro y consultor de servicio público lo ponen en una posición para tomar “decisiones reales” sobre el liderazgo, las contrataciones, el personal y el tamaño de CPS.

“Como líder ejecutivo, soy alguien que ya ha estado en esa posición, ha tomado decisiones difíciles, ha tenido que hacer despidos y ha contratado a personas para puestos de alto rango”, dijo.

Hasta mediados de septiembre, entre los contribuyentes a su campaña se encontraban donantes con grandes recursos económicos, como el multimillonario local Michael Sacks y Jim Frank, el presidente ejecutivo de la junta directiva de Wheels Inc. Estos donantes han canalizado decenas de miles de dólares para apoyar a candidatos que favorecen la elección de escuelas.

También ha recibido donaciones de comités vinculados a funcionarios del suroeste de Chicago, entre ellos la concejal Silvana Tabares (Distrito 23) y el concejal Marty Quinn (Distrito 13). Gracias a contribuciones de miles de dólares de algunos de estos donantes, el fondo de campaña de Gutiérrez creció considerablemente durante el último año.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Gutiérrez.

Francia García Hernández cubre Pilsen, La Villita y Back of the Yards para Block Club Chicago. Puedes comunicarte con Francia en francia@blockclubchi.org.

Elecciones de la Junta de Educación de Chicago 2026: La carrera en el Distrito 9a

2026-09-28T21:10:23+00:00

Leer en inglés.

Este reportaje se elaboró y publicó en colaboración con WBEZ, el Chicago Sun-Times y Block Club Chicago, redacción sin fines de lucro que cubre los diversos vecindarios de Chicago. Mantente informado a través del boletín de Chalkbeat Chicago, el boletín sobre educación de WBEZ y el Sun-Times, y los boletines de Block Club Chicago.

Los votantes de este distrito del sur de Chicago tendrán una nueva representante —con un apellido conocido— en la Junta de Educación de Chicago, porque el actual miembro, nombrado por el alcalde, fue retirado de la boleta electoral en julio.

Brittany Bailey Preston, esposa del senador estatal Willie Preston, cuyo distrito abarca parte de la misma zona del sur de Chicago, tiene prácticamente asegurado el puesto porque es la única candidata en la contienda.

Ángel Vélez, nombrado por el alcalde Brandon Johnson para representar al Distrito 9a, presentó su candidatura para las elecciones, pero fue retirado de la boleta después de que se impugnara e invalidara un gran porcentaje de las firmas que había presentado.

El distrito, de mayoría negra, incluye una combinación de 47 escuelas de vecindario, chárter y magnet que atienden principalmente a estudiantes negros y latinos. El distrito también tiene uno de los porcentajes más bajos de escuelas de la ciudad que reciben las clasificaciones estatales de ejemplar o elogiable. Varias escuelas del distrito han experimentado una disminución de la matrícula en los últimos 15 años.

Therese Boyle ganó las elecciones de 2024 para representar al Distrito 9. Posteriormente, el distrito se dividió en dos subdistritos.

Boyle representó al Distrito 9b y Johnson nombró a Frank Thomas para representar al 9a. Thomas fue nombrado inicialmente después de que la primera Junta designada por el alcalde renunciara en masa durante una disputa entre Johnson y el entonces director ejecutivo de las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago (CPS), Pedro Martínez.

Thomas renunció en junio de 2025 y posteriormente fue reemplazado por Vélez. Después de ser retirado de la boleta electoral, Vélez declaró a Block Club que no postularía como candidato por escrito.

Preston no respondió al cuestionario para candidatos ni aceptó una entrevista.

Preston, residente de Auburn Gresham, anteriormente dirigía una empresa de construcción junto con su esposo. Willie Preston fue elegido al Senado de Illinois en 2022 para representar al Distrito 16.

Después de que Vélez fuera retirado de la boleta electoral, Preston publicó en redes sociales una declaración en la que celebró lo que parecía ser su triunfo.

“Estoy profundamente agradecida de haber conseguido un lugar en la boleta y me siento honrada de postularme sin oposición”, comentó Preston.

En la misma publicación, Preston destacó que se enfocaría en tres prioridades: mejorar la alfabetización, ampliar las vías hacia carreras profesionales y oficios, y convertir a CPS en “el distrito escolar más favorable para las familias de Estados Unidos”.

“Como madre negra de seis hijos, la educación siempre ha sido mi máxima prioridad”, escribió Preston. “Los niños y las familias de Chicago merecen una mamá osa comprometida con su éxito y que luche todos los días para garantizar que cada niño tenga la oportunidad de prosperar”.

En 2014, los Preston demandaron a Chicago State University ante una corte federal, alegando que los dirigentes de la universidad habían tomado represalias contra ellos al interferir en las elecciones del gobierno estudiantil y al expulsar a Willie Preston después de que la pareja se convirtiera en activista en el campus y criticara al presidente de la universidad y a otros administradores. La universidad negó las acusaciones y un juez federal desestimó la demanda al año siguiente.

Preston también se postuló para la Junta de Educación en 2024, pero fue retirada de la boleta antes de las elecciones. El Consejo Estatal de SEIU en Illinois, que representa al personal de apoyo de las escuelas de Chicago, ha respaldado a Preston. También cuenta con el respaldo de The Urban Center, organización política centrista que promueve la elección de escuelas tanto públicas como privadas, y de Common Ground Collective, un comité de acción política contrario al Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago (CTU), financiado en gran medida por el multimillonario Michael Sacks y que afirma tener como objetivo involucrar a los votantes en torno a “políticas progresistas eficaces”.

Según la base de datos Illinois Sunshine, hasta mediados de septiembre Preston no había recaudado dinero para su comité de campaña.

Preston no respondió a nuestro cuestionario.

Jim Lynch cubre Beverly, Morgan Park, Mount Greenwood y Washington Heights para Block Club Chicago. Puedes comunicarte con Jim en jim@blockclubchi.org.

Elecciones de la Junta de Educación de Chicago 2026: La carrera en el Distrito 9b

2026-09-28T21:10:08+00:00

Leer en inglés.

Este reportaje se elaboró y publicó en colaboración con WBEZ, el Chicago Sun-Times y Block Club Chicago, redacción sin fines de lucro que cubre los diversos vecindarios de Chicago. Mantente informado a través del boletín de Chalkbeat Chicago, el boletín sobre educación de WBEZ y el Sun-Times, y los boletines de Block Club Chicago.

Dos candidatas — una psicóloga jubilada de las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago (CPS) que actualmente forma parte de la Junta de Educación y una exmadre de CPS y patóloga del habla y del lenguaje — compiten para representar al extremo sur de Chicago, zona con 46 escuelas públicas. La mayoría son escuelas de vecindario, con pocas escuelas cháárter administradas por entidades privadas y escuelas magnet a las que se ingresa mediante sorteo.

La actual miembro de la Junta Therese Boyle trabajó para el distrito durante 35 años, mientras que su contrincante Katherine Dunneback es actualmente profesora clínica adjunta en Saint Xavier University.

La matrícula es un problema en gran parte del distrito, donde solo un pequeño porcentaje de estudiantes elige asistir a las escuelas secundarias públicas asignadas a sus vecindarios.

Tanto Dunneback como Boyle tuvieron hijos que asistieron durante un tiempo a las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago. Los hijos de Dunneback asistieron a una escuela primaria pública de vecindario en Morgan Park antes de ir a escuelas secundarias privadas. Boyle dijo que una de sus hijas asistió al preescolar en una escuela pública de Beverly. Sus dos hijas asistieron a escuelas privadas de primaria y secundariaprivadas de primaria y secundaria.

Boyle dijo que los residentes están enfocados en asegurarse de que el distrito esté “gastando el dinero de manera responsable”, mientras que Dunneback dijo que sus vecinos están preocupados por la sobrepoblación y el cierre de escuelas.

Las dos candidatas coinciden en algunos temas académicos, entre ellos, imponer límites estrictos al uso de la inteligencia artificial y de los dispositivos electrónicos, pero tienen posturas diferentes sobre las escuelas chárter y el cierre de escuelas.Las dos candidatas coinciden en algunos temas académicos, entre ellos, en imponer límites estrictos al uso de la inteligencia artificial y de los dispositivos electrónicos, pero tienen posturas diferentes sobre las escuelas chárter y el cierre de escuelas. Boyle apoya las escuelas cháárter y la consolidación de escuelas cuando sea equitativa y rentable. Dunneback se opone a las escuelas cháárter y ha hablado de ampliar la iniciativa de Escuelas Comunitarias Sustentables como alternativa a los cierres.

El programa, impulsado por el distrito junto con el Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago (CTU) (CTU), convierte las escuelas de vecindario en centros comunitarios. Las escuelas con grandes necesidades y las organizaciones sin fines de lucro reciben $500,000 al año para ampliar el alcance a las familias, los servicios integrales de apoyo y los programas después de clases. El programa también ha enfrentado recientemente cuestionamientos por dificultades en su implementación y por la limitada evidencia de mejoras en los resultados de los estudiantes.El programa también ha enfrentado recientemente cuestionamientos por dificultades en su implementación y por la limitada evidencia de mejoras en los resultados de los estudiantes.

Según nuestro cuestionario para la Junta de Educación de CPS, ninguna de las candidatas quiere aumentar los impuestos a la propiedad hasta el máximo permitido para financiar las escuelas. Sin embargo, Dunneback sostienesostiene que los miembros de la Junta deberían trabajar con otros funcionarios electos para financiar las escuelas mediante otras políticas fiscales, mientras que Boyle sostiene que CPS no está gastando sus recursos de manera responsable.

La actual miembro de la Junta de Educación, Therese Boyle, trabajó en varias escuelas del Distrito 9b durante sus 35 años como psicóloga escolar y maestra.

En 2024, la residente de Mount Greenwood ganó con el 33% de los votos, superando a otros tres candidatos. El 51% de los votos que recibió provinieron de su Distrito 19, que ahora forma parte del 9b.

Boyle comparó su puesto con un trabajo de tiempo completo, lo que la ha llevado de regreso al salón de clases.

“A pesar del profundo conocimiento que tenía sobre el funcionamiento de las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago, no conocía con la misma profundidad todos los engranajes que hacen funcionar la educación en Chicago”, comentó Boyle.

La campaña de Boyle para 2026 cuenta con el respaldo del Consejo Estatal de SEIU en Illinois, que representa al personal de apoyo escolar de CPS y que, en los últimos años, ha tenido diferencias políticas con el sindicato de maestros. También cuenta con el apoyo de donantes vinculados a grupos que promueven las escuelas públicas chárter y la elección de escuelas, así como de grupos que se oponen al CTU.

Boyle dijo que está enfocada en la estabilidad financiera a largo plazo del distrito. Una de las principales preocupaciones que escucha de los residentes es los altos impuestos a la propiedad y la necesidad de asegurarse de que CPS administre su presupuesto de manera responsable. El distrito tiene tasas de propiedad de vivienda más altas que en gran parte de la ciudad.

El año pasado, la Junta de Educación rechazó la propuesta presupuestaria preferida por el alcalde Brandon Johnson, que habría incluido un préstamo con una alta tasa de interés para cubrir gastos. La medida habría cubierto gastos a corto plazo, pero habría aumentado la deuda del distrito.

“No queremos cargar al distrito con más deuda porque la deuda que ya tenemos está consumiendo dinero que podría utilizarse para apoyar a los niños en el salón de clases”, dijo Boyle.

Boyle dijo que su primer periodo estuvo lleno de tareas importantes, en particular, la búsqueda de un nuevo superintendente tras el despido del anterior por parte de la Junta previa. Macquline King fue nombrada superintendente y directora ejecutiva en marzo. Boyle dijo que ahora está lista para enfocarse en los resultados de los estudiantes, así como en la seguridad y la protección en las escuelas.

“Quiero asegurarme de que tengamos buenos planes para enfrentar no solo las grandes crisis… sino también las cosas del día a día”, enfatizó Boyle.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Boyle.

Katherine Dunneback, residente de Morgan Park, ha trabajado durante los últimos tres años en Saint Xavier University como profesora clínica adjunta. Sin embargo, fueron los años que pasó trabajando en escuelas con altos porcentajes de estudiantes de familias de bajos ingresos y su experiencia como madre de estudiantes de CPS los que influyeron en su decisión de postularse a la Junta de Educación.

“He visto el impacto de la distribución desigual de los recursos en los niños de familias de bajos ingresos”, dijo.

Los hijos de Dunneback se graduaron de Clissold Elementary School en Morgan Park en 2022. Decidió postularse tras hablar con vecinos y residentes sobre lo que esperan de la Junta de Educación.

“Me di cuenta de que hacía falta alguien en la Junta de Educación que… alzara la voz para defender a nuestros padres, nuestras familias y nuestras comunidades, y que apoyara a los maestros y la idea de las Escuelas Comunitarias Sustentables”, dijo Dunneback.

Estas últimas prioridades también coinciden con las del Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago, que ha respaldado a Dunneback y está apoyando económicamente su campaña, según la base de datos Illinois Sunshine.

Si resulta electa, dijo que se enfocaría en reducir el uso de tecnología en las aulas, ampliar el acceso a la educación de la primera infancia y reducir el tamaño de las clases. Según Dunneback, las clases numerosas contribuyen a que los padres sientan una menor conexión con los maestros y se pregunten si sus hijos podrían estar quedando rezagados académicamente.

“Me gustaría reducir la proporción de estudiantes por maestro, porque la ciencia nos dice que esa es la mejor manera de apoyar a nuestros niños”, agregó Dunneback.

Dunneback participa activamente en la política. Ha recorrido vecindarios y participado en campañas telefónicas para candidatos políticos, más recientemente para la campaña presidencial de Kamala Harris, y participa en Politics and Coffee, un grupo comunitario de participación cívica en Beverly y Morgan Park.

Como miembro de la Junta de Educación, planea apoyarse en su experiencia en la comunidad y en el activismo. Espera trabajar con legisladores estatales y funcionarios locales para financiar las escuelas mediante políticas fiscales progresivas.

“Quiero que los funcionarios del distrito trabajen con los legisladores estatales para financiar nuestras escuelas lo más rápido posible de acuerdo con la fórmula estatal”, aseguró Dunneback. “Esta necesidad debe tener prioridad sobre el financiamiento de estadios u otras opciones que no sean esenciales”.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Dunneback.

Jim Lynch cubre Beverly, Morgan Park, Mount Greenwood y Washington Heights para Block Club Chicago. Puedes comunicarte con Jim en jim@blockclubchi.org.

Elecciones de la Junta de Educación de Chicago 2026: La carrera en el Distrito 10a

2026-09-28T21:09:17+00:00

Leer en inglés.

Este reportaje se elaboró y publicó en colaboración con WBEZ, el Chicago Sun-Times y Block Club Chicago, redacción sin fines de lucro que cubre los diversos vecindarios de Chicago. Mantente informado a través del boletín de Chalkbeat Chicago, el boletín sobre educación de WBEZ y el Sun-Times, y los boletines de Block Club Chicago.

Cuando Che “Rhymefest” Smith ganó hace dos años un asiento en la Junta de Educación, se identificó con orgullo como independiente tras imponerse a candidatos respaldados por el Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago (CTU) y por el brazo político de Illinois Network of Charter Schools.

“Les diré que mis conexiones con la comunidad me trajeron hasta aquí; mi trabajo me trajo hasta aquí”, dijo el artista de hip-hop ganador de un Grammy, quien se convirtió en activista y político. “El dinero no me trajo hasta aquí”.

Esta vez es diferente. Smith será el único nombre que aparecerá en la boleta para representar al Distrito 10a. El distrito, que se extiende desde Bronzeville hasta South Shore, incluye algunas de las escuelas más solicitadas del sur de Chicago, entre ellas Kenwood Academy High School y Murray Language Academy Elementary School, así como varias escuelas de vecindario consideradas de bajo rendimiento y que han perdido matrícula en los últimos años.

A diferencia de 2024, Smith ahora es una figura conocida que se ha convertido en un voto firme en contra de las posturas del CTU en la Junta y, por ello, ha recibido el respaldo y las donaciones de grupos que se oponen al sindicato.

Su única contrincante, Tameka Walton, líder de una organización sin fines de lucro, se postula como candidata por escrito después de que su nombre fue retirado de la boleta electoral.

Walton, exintegrante de un Consejo Escolar Local y madre de estudiantes de las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago (CPS), dijo que reunió más de 500 firmas requeridas, pero estas fueron impugnadas. Walton dijo que intentó preguntar a quienes impugnaron sus firmas por qué la habían señalado a ella.

“Literalmente les decía: ‘Que alguien hable conmigo, conózcanme’”, comentó. “No supongan que soy la candidata de alguien ni que represento los intereses de alguien. Primero que nada, soy mamá y esa es mi brújula moral”.

Walton recibió el respaldo del CTU, pero hasta mediados de septiembre ni el sindicato ni ninguna otra persona u organización habían contribuido a su campaña.

Fuera de Chicago, Smith es más conocido por su trabajo como compositor para la película “Selma” y por haber ganado un Grammy. Pero en la ciudad, el expadre de familia de CPS suele destacar lo que considera sus logros en la Junta de Educación.

Smith dice con orgullo que ha visitado todas las escuelas de su distrito y que ha organizado eventos comunitarios mensuales para padres sobre temas como el ausentismo y el Plan para el Éxito de los Estudiantes Negros.

Señala como el mayor logro de su primer año una resolución que redactó y que exige que la persona que dirija CPS tenga las credenciales necesarias para ser superintendente. Dijo que durante su segundo año se ha enfocado en “organizar y ser transparente con la información”.

Smith se ha convertido en un crítico abierto de las Escuelas Comunitarias Sustentables, programa en el que cada escuela recibe $500,000 para incorporar organizaciones que ofrecen servicios de salud mental, bancos de alimentos y clases para estudiantes y familias. El contrato del CTU con CPS contempla el programa, que se ha convertido en blanco de críticas por parte de grupos conservadores que regularmente se oponen al sindicato.

Smith destacó que su frustración con el programa se debe a que es costoso y nadie está dando seguimiento a sus resultados.

“Dejemos de hacer que las Escuelas Comunitarias Sustentables parezcan una farsa. No son una farsa, pero las están convirtiendo en una”, aseguró. “Porque lo que yo veo es algo que podría ser maravilloso para los estudiantes, la comunidad y los resultados académicos. Pero cada vez que uno pide datos sobre su eficacia, no recibe nada”.

Smith cuenta con el respaldo del Consejo Estatal de SEIU en Illinois, que representa a miles de empleados de apoyo de CPS y que en los últimos años ha tenido diferencias políticas con el sindicato de maestros, y de Common Ground Collective, un comité de acción política contrario al CTU, financiado en gran medida por el multimillonario Michael Sacks y que afirma tener como objetivo involucrar a los votantes en torno a “políticas progresistas eficaces”. El brazo político de Illinois Network of Charter Schools también apoya económicamente su campaña. SEIU ha incluido a Smith entre sus candidatos respaldados para las elecciones de 2026.

Smith defiende su decisión de aceptar este dinero.

“Nunca me pidieron que votara de cierta manera”, dijo. “Nunca me dieron una política y me dijeron que la impulsara”.

Smith no respondió nuestro cuestionario.

Walton dijo que representa a dos grupos importantes que Smith no representa. Primero, es una madre que tuvo que abogar para que sus hijos pudieran ingresar a escuelas de CPS donde tuvieran la oportunidad de prosperar. También es directora ejecutiva y fundadora de una organización sin fines de lucro que trabaja con niños que han vivido experiencias traumáticas en el ámbito escolar.

“Estoy viendo más allá de lo difícil que fue para mí navegar [el sistema de CPS], pero también estoy pensando, como madre, en lo que quiero que se haga”, aseguró. “La escuela debe ser un espacio seguro y acogedor tanto para los estudiantes como para los padres”.

Los hijos de Walton asistieron o actualmente asisten a escuelas secundarias privadas, principalmente porque juegan fútbol y porque pocas escuelas de CPS cuentan con programas de fútbol de calidad, dijo. Pero cuando una de esas escuelas privadas no resultó adecuada, tuvo dificultades para encontrar una escuela para su hijo, quien, según ella, presentaba algunos problemas. Terminó educándolo en casa durante un tiempo antes de que finalmente asistiera a una escuela pública y se graduara.

“Eso exigió que yo estuviera presente en la escuela, al frente de todo, y que aprendiera las políticas que existen para apoyar a estudiantes como él en las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago”, dijo.

Ahora quiere que haya una mejor conexión entre CPS y la comunidad de familias que educan a sus hijos en casa.

Walton dijo que se alegró de recibir el respaldo del CTU, especialmente después de que su nombre fuera retirado de la boleta. Dijo que coincide con el sindicato en que se debe evitar el cierre de escuelas y los despidos de maestros como forma de cubrir los déficits presupuestarios. Y dijo que “son luchadores”, como ella.

“Estoy luchando por mi lugar. Estoy luchando para que mi voz sea escuchada”, aseguró Walton. “Quieren ver las mismas cosas que yo quiero ver, primero como madre y después como candidata”.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Walton.

Sarah Karp cubre las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago para WBEZ y el Chicago Sun-Times. Puede comunicarse con Sarah en skarp@wbez.org.

Elecciones de la Junta de Educación de Chicago 2026: La carrera en el Distrito 10b

2026-09-28T21:09:06+00:00

Leer en inglés.

Este reportaje se elaboró y publicó en colaboración con WBEZ, el Chicago Sun-Times y Block Club Chicago, redacción sin fines de lucro que cubre los diversos vecindarios de Chicago. Mantente informado a través del boletín de Chalkbeat Chicago, el boletín sobre educación de WBEZ y el Sun-Times, y los boletines de Block Club Chicago.

A primera vista, los candidatos que compiten por representar al sureste de Chicago parecen ser simplemente dos mamás y un papá con hijos adultos que estudiaron en las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago (CPS) y que ahora quieren mejorar el sistema para la próxima generación.

Pero detrás de esta contienda hay disputas políticas más amplias entre el alcalde y uno de sus adversarios.

Connie Anderson, asistente legal y madre de gemelas que asistieron a CPS, obtuvo una ventaja cuando, en julio, el alcalde Brandon Johnson la nombró para ocupar el puesto vacante, después de que ella presentara en junio los documentos para postularse.

Patrick Watson trabaja como principal asistente legislativo en la oficina del concejal del Distrito 9, Anthony Beale, uno de los críticos más duros de Johnson.

También está Rosita Chatonda, candidata por escrito y exmaestra que pasó años impugnando su despido de CPS, lo que la colocó en la lista del distrito de personas que “no se deben contratar”.

El Distrito 10b incluye zonas del extremo sur de Chicago que han mantenido una relación larga y complicada con la industria. Las acerías que alguna vez operaron allí proporcionaban empleos, pero también contaminaban la zona y, cuando cerraron, dejaron a muchos residentes sin trabajo.

Este distrito electoral de la Junta de Educación tiene la segunda mayor cantidad de escuelas públicas y de estudiantes. Dos tercios de sus estudiantes son negros y el 31% son latinos.

Watson dijo que el reciente nombramiento de Anderson es “una muestra de los juegos políticos que se están llevando a cabo”. Cuenta con el respaldo del Sindicato de Maestros de Chicago (CTU), estrechamente alineado con el alcalde. Watson cuenta con el respaldo de Common Ground Collective, un comité de acción política contrario al CTU, financiado en gran medida por el multimillonario Michael Sacks y que afirma tener como objetivo involucrar a los votantes en torno a “políticas progresistas eficaces”.

“Simplemente no creo que la política tenga lugar en la educación”, comentó Watson. “Creo que la educación debe centrarse en la educación”.

Los tres candidatos de esta contienda tienen opiniones diferentes sobre el Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park, el enorme centro de investigación y tecnología que se está construyendo en su distrito. Anderson duda de que tenga un impacto positivo en las escuelas y señala como motivo las críticas en torno a un acuerdo contractual.

Chatonda, en cambio, ve posibilidades y Watson dijo que representa “una excelente oportunidad para CPS”.

“Esta es la ola del futuro, así que es el momento perfecto para involucrarnos desde el principio y asociarnos con ellos para ver cómo podemos incorporarlo al currículo de nuestros estudiantes”, aseguró.

Si resulta electa, la primera prioridad de Anderson sería garantizar que la educación especial cuente con financiamiento completo y que los estudiantes con discapacidades reciban el apoyo que necesitan para prosperar.

Es madre de gemelas, una de las cuales necesitó servicios de educación especial. Dijo que tuvo que luchar para asegurarse de que su hija aprendiera junto a sus compañeros de la escuela primaria tanto como fuera posible, como establece la ley federal, en lugar de estar en clases separadas.

Anderson recuerda haberle dicho a la escuela que sentía que su hija, al igual que muchos otros estudiantes, estaba “siendo dejada de lado”. Después de que Anderson obtuvo una evaluación externa, la escuela primaria le asignó una asistente a su hija y la mantuvo en clases regulares. Ahora tiene 28 años y cursa una maestría en arquitectura.

Otra experiencia decisiva para Anderson ocurrió cuando sus hijas asistieron a Ogden International para la secundaria.

En ese momento, la escuela primaria de Ogden, ubicada en una de las zonas más prósperas de la ciudad, en el norte, se fusionó con Jenner Academy, que atendía principalmente a niños negros de bajos ingresos, muchos de los cuales vivían en viviendas subsidiadas cercanas.

Anderson ayudó a recaudar fondos con Friends of Ogden y luchó para que parte de esos recursos se destinara a los antiguos estudiantes de Jenner y a los estudiantes de secundaria, dos tercios de los cuales eran de bajos ingresos y de negros o latinos.

Vio cómo esos recursos adicionales permitieron ofrecer programas, como uno de robótica, que encaminaron a muchos estudiantes hacia carreras de ingeniería. Quiere que más niños tengan esas oportunidades.

“Se abrió todo un mundo de posibilidades para esos niños que no creían que fuera posible”, comentó Anderson.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Anderson.

Watson vive en Pullman, no muy lejos de la casa de Roseland donde creció. Asistió a la escuela primaria de su vecindario, donde “todos vivían cerca unos de otros” y “había un sentido de compañerismo”, y después estudió en la Chicago Vocational Career Academy.

Cuando llegó el momento de elegir escuelas para su hijo, Watson dijo que él y su esposa decidieron enviarlo primero a un centro regional para estudiantes con altas capacidades y, después, a Jones College Prep, una escuela secundaria de admisión selectiva.

Comentó que una de las razones por las que se postula es que no le gusta que algunas escuelas carezcan de los recursos y las instalaciones que tienen otras.

“Eso realmente es una lástima porque creo que cualquier niño debe poder recibir una educación de calidad, sin importar en qué código postal viva ni qué aspecto tenga”,aseguró. “Una de las primeras cosas que quisiera analizar es: ¿Cómo podemos distribuir los recursos de manera equitativa?”.

Pero Watson destacó que su primera tarea sería equilibrar el presupuesto. Le molesta que el distrito enfrente un déficit cada año.

“Antes de salir a pedir más dinero, tenemos que mirar hacia adentro y decir: ‘Bueno, ¿qué no estamos haciendo bien? (...). ¿Qué podemos hacer para apretarnos el cinturón?’”, analizó Watson, quien trabajó como contador durante 25 años antes de convertirse en asistente legislativo. “En este momento es como un agujero negro”.

Anderson y Chatonda se oponen al cierre de escuelas, pero Watson destacó que no está “completamente en contra” de los cierres si estos ayudan a reducir el déficit presupuestario.

“No quiero cerrar escuelas simplemente por cerrarlas”, dijo, “sino cerrarlas si eso nos permite aprovechar mejor nuestros recursos”.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Watson.

Chatonda cuenta con una variedad de experiencias que podría aprovechar si resulta elegida. Se graduó de Senn High School y sus cuatro hijos se graduaron de Kenwood Academy después de asistir a una combinación de escuelas de CPS y privadas.

Chatonda dio clases en una escuela que cerró debido a los bajos resultados en los exámenes, algo que dijo que nunca volvería a suceder. Dijo que trabajó “hasta el cansancio” desarrollando estrategias para enseñar a leer y escribir a estudiantes cuyo desempeño estaba por debajo del nivel correspondiente a su grado. Escribió un libro titulado “The Literacy Gap” sobre lo que aprendió”.

“Promuevo la alfabetización para los niños que son descendientes de personas esclavizadas y, en realidad, para todos los niños estadounidenses”, aseguró.

Chatonda comentó que ha vivido de primera mano los cierres y las reestructuraciones de escuelas. Las reestructuraciones son una estrategia controvertida de reforma escolar que implica despedir y reemplazar a todo el personal de una escuela con bajo rendimiento. La última reestructuración de este tipo en CPS se anunció en 2014.

Más adelante, tras ser contratada nuevamente después de una reestructuración, Chatonda dijo que fue despedida tras ser acusada de “pellizcar a un estudiante” y de decirle una grosería a otro. Niega ambas acusaciones.

En 2022, presentó una demanda federal contra CPS, en la que alegó que había sido despedida injustamente y colocada en la lista del distrito de personas que “no se deben contratar”, lo que le impide volver a trabajar para CPS. El caso fue desestimado.

“Ha sido un camino horrible”, compartió. Pero agregó que esa experiencia la llevó a convertirse en defensora de los maestros negros, de lo cual se siente orgullosa.

Chatonda dijo que está decepcionada de que el CTU no la haya respaldado, pero que, si resulta elegida, defenderá a los maestros negros y tratará de hacer que los procesos de contratación y despido sean más justos.

Lee el cuestionario completo de Chatonda.

Sarah Karp cubre las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago para WBEZ y el Chicago Sun-Times. Puedes comunicarte con Sarah en skarp@wbez.org.

How Chicago school board incumbents voted on key issues

2026-09-28T11:00:01+00:00

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One-third of the candidates running for Chicago’s school board elections this fall have an advantage over their competitors: They’re already in the seat they want to keep.

Sixteen of those incumbents have spent more than 20 months getting to know the mechanics of Chicago Public Schools and the people who run it.

They also have a documented history of how they voted on issues that impact students and staff, including the board’s major responsibilities of adopting a budget, hiring a leader, and setting policy for the city’s some 600 public schools. The 17th incumbent, District 10b candidate Connie Anderson, was appointed in August and has not cast the votes covered here.

There aren’t clear findings that voters consider an incumbent’s past votes when choosing a candidate, typically because they aren’t aware of specific votes unless it received a lot of media attention or was highlighted during election campaigning, said Vladimir Kogan, professor of political science at Ohio State University who has studied education policy.

However, financial issues, such as the board’s divided budget vote this summer, can lead voters to punish or reward an incumbent, Kogan said.

The board voted on a lot more than just the budget since being seated in January 2025. Chalkbeat is revisiting how the incumbents voted, including whether they abstained or were absent, on 17 key issues.

For each item, we’ve linked to our past coverage so you can read more about why board members voted the way they did.

Board members are required to abstain from voting if they have a conflict of interest or an economic stake, such as an investment in an education technology platform. Board members have also abstained for other reasons, often without explaining their decisions in public.

We have excluded new board member Anderson from this analysis since she has not voted on the issues highlighted.

Reema Amin is a reporter covering Chicago Public Schools. Contact Reema at ramin@chalkbeat.org.

Here’s what DPSCD board candidates would do to replace literacy money that’s about to run out

2026-09-25T15:45:02+00:00

Ten years ago, an explosive lawsuit against the state was filed on behalf of Detroit students, alleging such poor learning conditions that it sent shockwaves across the country and drew attention to a literacy crisis in city schools.

A $94.4 million settlement gave the Detroit Public Schools Community District the resources it needed to hire hundreds of academic interventionists to work with struggling students. Other changes have included reducing class sizes in early grades, tutoring, and merit pay for teachers whose schools or classrooms reached ambitious literacy goals. Steady improvement on state exams have followed these interventions.

But the settlement money will run out after this school year, and the election of five people to the DPSCD board Nov. 3 will help decide how the district responds. Their big decision will be how and whether to maintain the interventionists, as well as other strategies the settlement funded.

Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said earlier this year that he wants the district to prioritize keeping the interventionists. But doing so could be costly, and it’s unclear where the money would come from.

Chalkbeat asked the 34 board candidates what the district should prioritize. Nineteen of the candidates responded. Here’s the full list of candidates. Also, if you’re voting in the election, remember that there are two types of school board races for DPSCD on the ballot: one for four four-year terms and the other for a partial two-year term.

Here’s what they told us:

Lori Higgins is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat Detroit. You can reach her at lhiggins@chalkbeat.org.

Detroiters to vote on two-year, four-year terms for DPSCD school board

2026-09-24T21:44:57+00:00

When voters open their absentee ballots or head to the polls on Election Day, they may notice something different when selecting candidates for Detroit’s school board.

Instead of one race for the Detroit Public Schools Community District board, there are two: 31 candidates are running for four seats with 4-year terms and another three are seeking one seat with a partial term that will end in 2028. Those three candidates are home health aide Ijazz Jackson, education advocate Aliya Moore, and By Any Means Necessary (BAMN) organizer Shawn Vaughn.

The partial term is for a seat formerly held by Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, who left the board last year to become the ombudsman for the city of Detroit, superintendent Nikolai Vitti told BridgeDetroit. The former teacher and state lawmaker was reelected to the board in 2024, which leaves two more years of her term, he said.

While retired special education teacher and principal Bessie Harris filled Gay-Dagnogo’s seat last October, she is only allowed to serve through the end of 2026 instead of completing the entire term. A Michigan Association of School Boards policy requires appointed board members to run if there is already a set board election the following November.

Longtime board member Angelique Peterson-Mayberry also resigned from the board last year after being appointed to the Wayne County Commission. Her term does not appear on the ballot because it expires at the end of the year. Pastor Steven Bland was appointed in July 2025 to take Peterson-Mayberry’s place.

Daniel Baxter, chief of operations for the Detroit Department of Elections, said candidates were able to select whether they wanted to run for the two-year or four-year terms.

The 34 total candidates running are the largest slate since 2016, the year DPSCD was created, and when more than 60 people ran to serve on the new district’s board.

This race could be consequential because only two incumbents — Harris and Bland — are running for reelection. Voters will elect a new majority to the board in an election that could shape the future of Michigan’s largest district for years to come.

The board’s current leaders — Board President LaTrice McClendon and Board Vice President Corletta Vaughn — are not running for reelection. The fifth open seat belonged to Iris Taylor, who died in July {the board appointed Jeremiah Steen to fill her seat until the end of 2026, after which those elected in November will take over}.

Sheila Cockrel, CEO of civic nonprofit CitizenDetroit, shared concerns that the two board races could confuse voters.

“We have to let Detroit voters know that if you want to learn about who the candidates are, you have to learn about them in the context of which race they’re in,” she said. “I’m afraid that people are going to find the five folks they like out of the four-year term group and not look at the two-year term group and hurt themselves by voting for five as opposed to four.”

To educate voters on the school board races, CitizenDetroit has released a YouTube series with 25 of the candidates. The organization will also host a sold-out, speed-dating-style event on Oct. 1, in which 16 of the school board candidates will participate, Cockrel said.

“There are a set of six questions that we’re going to share with the candidates in advance that they might be asked at one of the tables,” she said. “The people who are at the table will review the questions and select which questions they want to ask on each of the rotations.”

Additionally, Cockrel plans to publish posts on CitizenDetroit’s social media pages to talk about the differences between the four-year and two-year terms.

View your sample ballot by inputting your information at the Michigan Voter Information Center. Get more information on this race and all of the issues at bridgedetroit.com and chalkbeat.org/detroit.

More election resources

Meet the candidates: Unsure of who is running for school board and what they stand for? Chalkbeat sent surveys to all of the candidates, and CitizenDetroit recorded many on video to talk about their platforms.
Why it matters: Here’s what’s at stake in the Detroit school board race.
Chronic absenteeism: How candidates plan to tackle it.
Election page: All of BridgeDetroit’s election-related coverage in one place.
Complete voter guide: How to register, vote absentee, vote early, vote in person, learn about candidates, and more.
What’s on the ballot: Everything you need to know about statewide races.
Fact checks: Bridge Michigan fact-checks and debunks misinformation in the gubernatorial and Senate campaigns.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about elections in Detroit.
Be an informed voter: A guide to identifying misinformation and disinformation.
A ballot’s journey: What happens to your ballot after you vote.
Upcoming debate: Secretary of State candidates will gather for a one-hour debate Oct. 8 at the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, with Bridge Michigan serving as the lead media and editorial partner.

Micah Walker is a reporter for BridgeDetroit. You can reach her at mwalker@bridgedetroit.com.

Illinois Answers Project: Track who’s donating to whom in the 2026 Chicago School Board elections

2026-09-24T15:45:42+00:00

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2026 Chicago School Board Election Resources

2026-09-24T12:05:58+00:00

Sign up for Chalkbeat Chicago’s free daily newsletter to keep up with the latest news on Chicago Public Schools.

Interactive Map: 2026 Chicago School Board Districts

2026-09-24T11:50:04+00:00

Sign up for Chalkbeat Chicago’s free daily newsletter to keep up with the latest news on Chicago Public Schools.

Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 10b, South Side

2026-09-24T10:20:00+00:00

This story was reported and published in collaboration with WBEZ, the Chicago Sun-Times, and Block Club Chicago, a nonprofit newsroom covering Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods. Stay informed with Chalkbeat Chicago’s newsletter, WBEZ and the Sun-Times’ education newsletter, and Block Club Chicago’s newsletters.

At first glance, the candidates vying to represent Chicago’s Southeast Side seem like two moms and a dad with grown children who went through Chicago Public Schools and now want to make it better for the next generation.

But under the surface are bigger political fights between the mayor and an adversary.

Connie Anderson, a paralegal and mom of twins who attended CPS, got a leg up when Mayor Brandon Johnson appointed her to fill the vacant seat in July after she filed her paperwork to run in May.

Patrick Watson works as the lead legislative aide in the office of 9th Ward Ald. Anthony Beale, one of Johnson’s harshest critics.

Then there’s write-in candidate Rosita Chatonda, a former teacher who spent years challenging her CPS firing that landed her on the district’s “do not hire” list.

District 10b includes Far South Side areas with a long, uneasy relationship with industry. The steel mills that once operated there provided jobs but also polluted the area and, once gone, left many residents without work.

This school board electoral district has the second-most public schools and students. Two-thirds of its students are Black and 31% are Latino.

Watson said Anderson’s recent appointment is “indicative of the games being played.” She has the endorsement of the Chicago Teachers Union, which is closely aligned with the mayor. He is endorsed by the Common Ground Collective, an anti-CTU political action committee that is heavily funded by billionaire Michael Sacks and says it aims to engage voters around “effective progressive policies.”

“I just don’t think politics belongs in education,” Watson said. “I think education belongs in education.”

The three candidates in this race disagree on the Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park, the massive research and technology facility being built in their district. Anderson doubts it will have a positive impact on schools, citing pushback over a contractual agreement.

But Chatonda sees possibilities and Watson said it is “an excellent opportunity for CPS.”

“This is the wave of the future, so it’s the perfect time to get in on the ground floor and partner with them to see how we can incorporate this into the curriculum for our students,” he said.

If elected, Anderson’s first priority would be to make sure that special education is fully funded and that students with disabilities get the support they need to thrive.

She’s the mother of twins, one of whom needed special education services. She said she had to battle to make sure her daughter learned alongside her elementary school peers as much as possible, as federal law calls for, instead of in separate classes.

Anderson remembers telling the school it felt like her child, like many others, was “being thrown to the wayside.” After Anderson got an outside evaluation, the elementary school gave her daughter an aide and kept her in traditional classes. She’s now 28 and in a master’s program in architecture.

Another pivotal experience for Anderson was when her daughters went to Ogden International for high school.

At the time, Ogden’s elementary school, located in one of the city’s wealthiest areas on the Near North Side, merged with Jenner Academy, which served mostly low-income Black children, many of whom lived in nearby subsidized housing.

Anderson helped fundraise with Friends of Ogden and fought for funds to go to former Jenner students and high schoolers, two-thirds of whom were low-income and Black or Latino.

She saw how those extra resources allowed for things like a robotics program that put many students on an engineering path. She wants more kids to have those opportunities.

“The ceiling opened for those kids that did not think it was possible,” Anderson said.

Read Anderson’s full questionnaire.

Watson lives in Pullman, not far from the Roseland home where he grew up. He went to the neighborhood elementary school, where “everyone lived close to each other” and “there was camaraderie,” and then attended Chicago Vocational Career Academy for high school.

When it came to his son, Watson said he and his wife decided to send him to a regional gifted center and Jones College Prep, a selective enrollment high school.

He said he’s running partly because he doesn’t like that some schools lack the resources and facilities that others have.

“That’s really a shame because I believe that any kid should be able to get a quality education, no matter what ZIP code you live in, or what you look like,” he said. “One of my first things I would want to look at is: How can we equally allocate resources?”

But Watson said his first order of business would be to balance the budget. It annoys him that every year the district faces a deficit.

“Before we go out asking for more money, we need to look internally and say, ‘OK, what are we not doing right? ... What can we do to tighten up our belts?’” said Watson, who spent 25 years as an accountant before becoming a legislative aide. “Right now it’s just like a black hole.”

Anderson and Chatonda both oppose closing schools, but Watson said he’s not “dead set against them” if closures would help shore up the budget deficit.

“I don’t want to close schools just to close them,” he said, “but close them just so we can better use our resources.”

Read Watson’s full questionnaire.

Chatonda has a variety of experiences to draw on if elected. She graduated from Senn High School, and her four children graduated from Kenwood Academy after attending a mix of CPS and private schools.

Chatonda taught at a school that closed because of low test scores, something she said she would never let happen again. She said she worked her “fingers to the bone” developing strategies to teach reading and writing to students who were performing below grade level. She wrote a book about what she learned called “The Literacy Gap.”

“I promote the literacy piece for children who are descendants of slavery, and really for all American children,” she said.

Chatonda said she’s experienced school closings and turnarounds firsthand. Turnarounds are a controversial school reform strategy that lays off and replaces all the staff of a low-performing school. The last CPS turnaround was announced in 2014.

Later, after getting rehired following a turnaround, Chatonda said she was fired after being accused of “pinching a student” and cursing at another student. She denies both allegations.

She filed a federal lawsuit against CPS in 2022 alleging she was wrongfully fired and put on the district’s “do not hire” list, which bars her from CPS employment. The case was dismissed.

“It’s been a horrible journey,” she said. But she said it has led to her becoming an advocate for Black teachers, which she is proud of.

Chatonda said she’s disappointed the CTU didn’t endorse her, but if elected, she said she will stand up for Black teachers and try to make the hiring and firing process more fair.

Read Chatonda’s full questionnaire.

Sarah Karp covers Chicago Public Schools for WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times. Contact Sarah at skarp@wbez.org.

Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 10a, South Side

2026-09-24T10:19:00+00:00

When Che “Rhymefest” Smith won a seat on the school board two years ago, he proudly wore the moniker of an independent after triumphing over candidates with support from the Chicago Teachers Union and the political arm of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools.

“I will tell you that my connections in the community got me here, my work got me here,” said the Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist turned activist and politician. “Money didn’t get me here.”

This time is different. Smith will be the lone name on the ballot to represent District 10a. Stretching from Bronzeville to South Shore, the district includes some of the South Side’s most sought-after schools, including Kenwood Academy High School and Murray Language Academy Elementary School, as well as several neighborhood schools that are considered low-performing and have lost enrollment in recent years.

Unlike in 2024, Smith is now a known entity who has consistently voted against items pushed by the CTU and, for that, has received endorsements and donations from groups that oppose the union. Still, Smith says he would welcome the union’s support and counsel.

His only opponent, nonprofit leader Tameka Walton, is running as a write-in candidate after her name was booted off the ballot.

The former Local School Council member and CPS parent said she collected more than the required 500 signatures, but they were challenged. Walton said she tried to ask the challengers why they targeted her.

“I literally was just like, ‘Someone have a conversation with me, get to know me,’” she said. “Don’t assume that I’m anybody’s candidate or that I’m anybody’s anything. I am a mom first, and that’s my moral compass.”

Walton picked up the CTU’s endorsement, but neither the union nor anyone else had donated to her campaign as of mid-September.

Smith is best known outside Chicago for his songwriting work on the film “Selma” and his Grammy win. But in the city, the former CPS parent is more likely to list what he sees as his accomplishments on the school board.

Smith proudly says that he has visited every school in his district, and that he has held monthly community events for parents about issues such as absenteeism and the Black Student Success Plan.

He points to a resolution he wrote that requires the leader of CPS to have superintendent credentials as the biggest achievement of his first year. His second year, he said, has focused on “organizing and being transparent about information.”

Smith has become a vocal critic of Sustainable Community Schools, a program in which schools get $500,000 each to bring in organizations that provide mental health services, food banks, and classes for students and families. The CTU’s contract with CPS calls for the program, which has become a target of conservative groups that regularly criticize the union.

Smith said his frustration with the program is that it is expensive and no one is tracking how it is doing.

“Let’s stop making a sham of Sustainable Community Schools. It’s not a sham, but it’s being made to be one,” he said. “Because what I see is something that could be so wonderful for students, community, and student outcomes. But every time you ask for data on its effectiveness, you get nothing.”

Smith is endorsed by the Service Employees International Union Illinois State Council, which represents thousands of CPS support staff and has split politically with the teachers union in recent years, and the Common Ground Collective, an anti-CTU political action committee that is heavily funded by billionaire Michael Sacks and says it aims to engage voters around “effective progressive policies.” The political arm of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools also backs him financially.

Smith defends taking this money.

“They never asked me to vote a certain way,” he said. “They never gave me a policy and said push that through.”

Smith did not respond to our questionnaire.

Walton said she represents two important constituencies that Smith doesn’t. One, she’s a mom who had to advocate to get her children into CPS schools where they could thrive. She is also the executive director and founder of a nonprofit that works in schools with children who have experienced trauma.

“I’m looking beyond how much trouble it was for me to navigate (CPS), but I’m also looking at, as a parent, the things that I want to see done,” she said. “The school should be a safe and welcoming space for both the students and the parents.”

Walton’s children attended or are enrolled in private high schools, primarily because they play soccer and few CPS schools have quality soccer programs, she said. But when one of those private schools didn’t work out, she struggled to find a place for her son, who she said was having some challenges. She wound up homeschooling him for a time before he eventually attended and graduated from a public school.

“It required for me to be at the school front and center, and it required me to learn the policies in place to support students like him within Chicago Public Schools,” she said.

Now she wants to see better connections between CPS and the homeschool community.

Walton was glad to get the endorsement of the CTU, especially after being kicked off the ballot. She said she’s aligned with the union on wanting to ward off school closures and teacher layoffs to plug budget holes. And “they’re fighters,” like her, she said.

“I’m fighting for my place. I’m fighting for my voice,” Walton said. “They want to see the things that I want to see, first as a parent, and then secondly as a candidate.”

Read Walton’s full questionnaire.

Sarah Karp covers Chicago Public Schools for WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times. Contact Sarah at skarp@wbez.org.

Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 9b, South Side

2026-09-24T10:18:00+00:00

Two candidates — a retired Chicago Public Schools psychologist currently on the school board and a former CPS mom and speech-language pathologist — are running to represent the far South Side, an area with 46 public schools, most of which are neighborhood schools, with few privately run charters and lottery-based magnets.

Incumbent Therese Boyle spent 35 years working for the district, while challenger Katherine Dunneback is currently an adjunct clinical professor at Saint Xavier University.

Enrollment is an issue across much of the district, with just a small percentage of students choosing to attend zoned public high schools.

Both Dunneback and Boyle had children attend CPS for a time. Dunneback’s children attended a Morgan Park neighborhood public elementary school before attending private high school. Boyle said one of her daughters attended a Beverly public school for preschool. Both of her daughters attended private elementary and high schools.

Boyle said residents are focused on making sure the district is “spending money wisely,” while Dunneback said her neighbors are concerned about school overcrowding and closures.

The two candidates agree on academics, including imposing strict limits on AI and electronic devices, but disagree on charter schools and school closures. Boyle favors charter schools and school consolidation when equitable and cost-effective. Dunneback opposes charter schools and spoke of expanding the Sustainable Community Schools initiative as an alternative to closures.

The program, spearheaded by the district with the Chicago Teachers Union, turns neighborhood schools into community hubs. High-needs campuses and nonprofits receive $500,000 a year to expand family outreach, wraparound services, and after-school programs. The program has also faced recent questions about implementation hurdles and thin evidence of improved student outcomes.

Neither candidate wants to raise property taxes to the maximum to fund schools, according to our CPS School Board questionnaire, but Dunneback says board members should work with other elected officials to fund schools through other tax policies, whereas Boyle says CPS is not spending wisely.

Incumbent school board member Therese Boyle served at several schools across District 9b during her 35 years as a school psychologist and teacher.

In 2024, the Mount Greenwood resident won with 33% of the vote, beating three other candidates. She received 51% of her votes from her home 19th Ward, which is now part of 9b.

Boyle compared the position to a full-time job — one that has brought her back to the classroom.

“As deep a knowledge as I had about the workings of Chicago Public Schools, I did not have as deep a knowledge about all of the cogs in the wheels that make education work in Chicago,” Boyle said.

Boyle’s 2026 campaign is backed by Service Employees International Union Illinois State Council, which represents CPS school support staff and has split politically with the teachers union in recent years, as well as donors linked to pro-charter public schools and school choice groups and anti-CTU groups.

Boyle said she is focused on the district’s long-term financial stability. A top concern she hears from residents is high property taxes and making sure CPS budgets wisely. The district has higher homeownership rates compared to much of the city.

Last year the school board voted down Mayor Brandon Johnson’s preferred budget proposal that would have included a high interest loan to cover expenses. The decision would have covered short-term spending while putting the district in deeper debt.

“We do not want to saddle the district with any more debt because the debt that we currently have is eating away at the money that could be used to support the kids in the classroom,” Boyle said.

Boyle said her first term was filled with heavy lifts, in particular, a search for a new superintendent after the former was fired by the previous board. Macquline King was appointed in March as Superintendent and CEO; Boyle said she is now ready to focus on student outcomes as well as school security and safety.

“I want to make sure that we have good plans in place for addressing not only the major crises … but the day-to-day things,” Boyle said.

Read Boyle’s full questionnaire.

Dunneback, a Morgan Park resident, has spent the past three years at Saint Xavier University as an adjunct clinical professor. But it’s the years she spent working in schools with high percentages of students from low-income families and her time as a CPS parent that shaped her decision to run for school board.

“I have seen the impact of inequitable distribution of resources on lower-income kids,” she said.

Dunneback’s children graduated from Clissold Elementary School in Morgan Park in 2022. She decided to run after talking with neighbors and residents about their hopes for the school board.

“I realized that there was a need for someone on the school board who … would be vocal about standing up for our parents and our families and our communities, and would support teachers and the idea of Sustainable Community Schools,” Dunneback said.

The latter priorities are also those of the CTU, which has endorsed Dunneback and is backing her financially, according to the Illinois Sunshine Database.

If elected, she said she would focus on less technology in the classroom, expanding access to early childhood education, and reducing large class sizes, which she said contributes to parents feeling a lack of connection with teachers and questioning if their children may be falling behind academically.

“I would like to reduce the student-to-teacher ratios, because science tells us that’s the best way to support our kids,” Dunneback said.

Dunneback is politically active, having canvassed and worked phone banks for politicians, most recently with the Kamala Harris campaign for president, and is involved in Politics and Coffee, the grassroots civic engagement group in Beverly and Morgan Park.

She plans to lean on her background in the community and activism as a school board member. She hopes to work with legislators on the state and local level to fund schools through progressive tax policies.

“I want district officials to work with state legislators to fund our schools as quickly as possible according to the state’s formula,” Dunneback said. “This need should be prioritized over funding for stadiums or other optional choices.”

Read Dunneback’s full questionnaire.

Jim Lynch covers Beverly, Morgan Park, Mount Greenwood, and Washington Heights for Block Club Chicago. Contact Jim at jim@blockclubchi.org.

Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 9a, Auburn Gresham, Englewood

2026-09-24T10:17:00+00:00

Voters in this South Side district will have a new representative — with a familiar last name — on Chicago’s school board because the current member, who was appointed by the mayor, was removed from the ballot in July.

Brittany Bailey Preston, the wife of state Sen. Willie Preston, whose district covers part of the same South Side territory, is effectively guaranteed the seat because she is the sole candidate in the race.

Angel Velez, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s appointee to District 9a, filed to run for election, but was removed from the ballot after a large percentage of his signatures were challenged and invalidated.

The majority-Black district includes a mix of 47 neighborhood, charter, and magnet schools serving mostly Black and Hispanic students. The district also has one of the lowest percentages of schools earning either exemplary or commendable designations from the state across the city. A number of schools in the district have struggled with declining enrollment over the past 15 years.

Therese Boyle won the 2024 election to represent District 9. The district was later split into two subdistricts.

Boyle represented District 9b, and Johnson appointed Frank Thomas to represent 9a. Thomas was initially appointed after the mayor’s first-appointed board resigned en masse during a dispute between Johnson and then-CPS CEO Pedro Martinez.

Thomas resigned in June 2025 and was later replaced by Velez. After being removed from the ballot, Velez told Block Club he would not pursue a write-in candidacy.

Preston did not return a candidate questionnaire or agree to an interview.

A resident of Auburn Gresham, Preston previously ran a construction company with her husband. Willie Preston was elected to the Illinois Senate in 2022, representing the 16th District.

After Velez was removed from the ballot, Preston took to social media with a statement celebrating her apparent success.

“I am deeply grateful to have earned a place on the ballot and humbled to be running unopposed,” Preston said.

In the same post, Preston said she would focus on three priorities: improving literacy, expanding trade and career pathways, and making CPS “the most family-friendly school district in America.”

“As a Black mother of six, education has always been my highest priority,” Preston wrote. “Chicago’s children and families deserve a Momma Bear who is committed to their success and will fight every day to ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive.”

In 2014, the Prestons sued Chicago State University in federal court, alleging university leaders had retaliated against them by interfering in student government elections and expelling Willie Preston after the couple became campus activists critical of the university president and other administrators. The university denied the allegations, and a federal judge dismissed the suit the following year.

Preston also ran for the school board in 2024, but was removed from the ballot before the election. The Service Employees International Union Illinois State Council, which represents Chicago school support staff, has endorsed Preston. She is also endorsed by The Urban Center, a centrist political organization that advocates for school choice across public and private schools, and the Common Ground Collective, an anti-Chicago Teachers Union political action committee that is heavily funded by billionaire Michael Sacks and says it aims to engage voters around “effective progressive policies.”

According to the Illinois Sunshine Database, Preston has not raised any money for her campaign committee as of mid-September.

Preston did not respond to our questionnaire.

Jim Lynch covers Beverly, Morgan Park, Mount Greenwood and Washington Heights for Block Club Chicago. Contact Jim at jim@blockclubchi.org.

Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 8b, the Loop, Brighton Park

2026-09-24T10:16:00+00:00

Juan Ignacio Gonzalez, a veteran Chicago Police Department detective and local coffee shop owner, is running uncontested to represent District 8b, a long, narrow swath that stretches from the Loop all the way southwest to Chicago Lawn.

Earlier this summer, Chicago’s election authority kicked incumbent and Mayor Brandon Johnson appointee Cydney Wallace off the ballot due to challenges to her petition signatures, leaving Gonzalez as the lone candidate.

Gonzalez, a Back of the Yards resident, said he was motivated to run for school board after hearing from parents who were concerned about students being used as “political pawns” on May Day. The Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools reached an agreement to keep schools open on May 1 while allowing civic actions after some back-and-forth over whether to call off school for demonstrations.

“Parents were speaking about some of the challenges and low academic standards we’re facing … and those are issues that I agree with,” he said. “I feel like in my community, there’s no voice for individuals that oftentimes cannot vote or aren’t part of the political system. I was asked to consider it, I looked at the layout, and felt I can help kids in the community.”

Gonzalez has served on Chicago’s police force since 1999. In that time, members of the public have filed 25 allegations of misconduct against him, all of which were deemed unfounded, according to public records compiled by the Civic Police Data Project, or CPDP.

In 2013, then-21-year-old Hernan Barron accused Gonzalez of pinning him against the wall of a meat packing plant with his police SUV during an arrest. Barron suffered a small puncture wound to his leg and was taken to a hospital for medical treatment. An internal police investigation cleared Gonzalez of any wrongdoing based on video evidence, records show.

Later that year, Barron filed a federal lawsuit against Gonzalez and the city, seeking damages for his injury and emotional pain and suffering. The city later settled the suit for $98,000, according to the CPDP.

“For nearly 27 years with the Chicago Police Department, I have been part of thousands of investigations involving some of the most serious crimes affecting Chicago — from murders and shootings to sexual assaults and other violent crimes,” Gonzalez said in an emailed statement. “My record of public safety and community service is not something that can be fully understood through an internet database. It comes from nearly 27 years of serving Chicago and continuing to live, work, invest, and serve in the community I call home.”

“I live here. I walk these streets. I own and operate a business here,” Gonzalez said. “I know families, residents, and business owners here, and people know they can approach me when they need assistance or guidance.”

“The location of that incident is also important to understanding who I am,” he added. “It occurred approximately four blocks from where I live today and six blocks from my café. This is not simply an area where I was assigned to work. It is my community.”

In 2025, Gonzalez opened DreamCatcher Café, a Back of the Yards coffee shop on West 47th Street.

Besides the coffee shop, Gonzalez owns more than a dozen properties on the Southwest Side, according to public records. In a 2023 interview with a real estate podcast, Gonzalez said he had been involved in renovating buildings with his family from a young age, later buying and rehabbing buildings on his own.

“There are both physical and financial risks that come with serving and investing in a community that has experienced serious violence,” Gonzalez said in his statement. “I have chosen to take those risks because I believe in this community, and I will continue to do so.”

A U.S. Marine Corps veteran and son of immigrant parents from Mexico, Gonzalez attended the University of Illinois Chicago. He said he wants schools in the district to have high academic standards that challenge students, many of whom also have immigrant backgrounds.

“We wanna compete, we wanna be challenged,” he said. “As a first-generation American, I don’t wanna be thought less of just because I’m from a certain ZIP code.”

Gonzalez also wants to improve math and reading instruction, and believes schools could increase their career and technical education programs. Offering pathways to careers in construction could benefit new young immigrant students who have settled on the Southwest Side and “want to create things with their hands,” he said.

“We have an incredible creative mindset in our community — in the arts, in the way we fix properties,” he said.

Gonzalez also wants to look into how Chicago Public Schools uses its budget and how resources could be spent to better the quality of education.

“Why are we losing students and taxpayers to the suburbs?” he asked. “We’re a world-class city and we expect a world-class education.”

Gonzalez has received contributions from the pro-school choice, politically centrist organization The Urban Center and the political arm of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, which advocates for publicly funded, independently run charter schools. He is also supported by the Common Ground Collective, an anti-CTU political action committee that is heavily funded by billionaire Michael Sacks and says it aims to engage voters around “effective progressive policies.”

Read Gonzalez’ full questionnaire.

Francia Garcia Hernandez covers Pilsen, Little Village and Back of the Yards for Block Club Chicago. Contact Francia at francia@blockclubchi.org.

Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 8a, Southwest Side

2026-09-24T10:15:00+00:00

With full campaign coffers and support from deep-pocketed school choice groups, incumbent school board member Angel Gutierrez is guaranteed to keep his seat after nobody filed paperwork to run against him.

Gutierrez, a nonprofit leader and Garfield Ridge resident, is running unopposed to represent District 8a on the Southwest Side, where 60% of the population is Hispanic — roughly double the city’s overall percentage of Hispanic residents.

The area has leaned more conservative than other parts of the city and is home to more families than single-person households. In 2023, voters here heavily favored mayoral candidate Paul Vallas, a former Chicago Public Schools CEO, over Mayor Brandon Johnson, a former Chicago Teachers Union organizer. In 2024, most precincts favored Donald Trump for president.

Gutierrez wants to improve special education, increase opportunities to learn skilled trades, and ensure access to reliable transportation, including school buses — proposals he said would benefit students attending their neighborhood schools. Many families in this district choose their neighborhood elementary schools but make other choices for high school.

Gutierrez supports continuing CPS’ strategy of allowing families to choose from a range of schools outside their neighborhood. He is also the only board member calling for the state to opt into the Trump administration’s federal tax-credit scholarship program, which offers a tax credit for donations made to organizations that grant scholarships for students to attend private schools or to pay for other education needs. Illinois has not agreed to participate.

Gutierrez sends his children to a Catholic school.

Gutierrez will serve a four-year term after he won a two-year term in 2024 to represent District 8, which is now split into 8a and 8b. He previously beat Chicago Teachers Union-endorsed candidate Felix Ponce with 63% of the vote. The sweeping victory and financial support from deep-pocketed donors such as billionaire Michael Sacks could have deterred other candidates.

Gutierrez is a champion of fiscal responsibility, pushing to get the district back on solid financial footing while improving the quality of education, he said.

In 2024, Gutierrez said he was running to create a more balanced CPS budget. Two years later, he believes he can also improve school board governance.

“If you pay attention and watch some of the ridiculousness that some of the board members bring, I bring that experience of knowing how to act with decorum, with respect to the institution, respect for the students, parents, and taxpayers,” he said.

Earlier this year, he sided with other elected school board members to reject CPS’ proposed $10 billion budget. The budget, which assumes the district will receive $150 million more in state funding than projected, narrowly passed.

The district’s finances remain a priority, he said. Families “are getting pinched with taxes everywhere you look,” whether it’s property taxes or sales taxes, he said, adding he plans to lead conversations about how to rightsize the district.

“We’re teaching in a world of now and not tomorrow, so I think we have to reimagine what our footprint looks like,” he said.

CPS has lost 45,000 students in the last seven years but has hired 10,000 more staffers.

To balance the budget, Gutierrez said the board needs to look at how many schools are underutilized, how many students have been lost, and how many employees were hired with pandemic-era funds that are no longer available.

“We have finite money,” he said.

He is endorsed by the Service Employees International Union Illinois State Council, which represents thousands of CPS support staff and has split politically with the Chicago Teachers Union in recent years. He is also backed financially by the political arm of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools and endorsed by two other groups whose policies also generally oppose the teachers union.

Gutierrez leads fundraising and communications strategy for Enlace Chicago, a Little Village nonprofit. He previously led fundraising activities and developed programs for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago and Chicago Hope Academy, a Christian high school. He serves on the advisory board of the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance and as a member of the steering committee for Nuestro Futuro, a fund dedicated to Latino philanthropy, among other local nonprofits.

He said his decades of experience as a nonprofit leader and public service consultant put him in a position to make “real decisions” about CPS’ leadership, hiring, staffing, and size.

“As an executive leader, I’m someone who’s been there, made hard decisions, has had to do layoffs, has hired in a C-suite,” he said.

His campaign contributors as of mid-September include big-pocketed donors such as local billionaire Michael Sacks and Jim Frank, executive chairman of the board of Wheels Inc. They have funneled tens of thousands of dollars to support candidates who support school choice.

He has also received donations from committees for Southwest Side officials including Ald. Silvana Tabares (23rd) and Ald. Marty Quinn (13th). Thanks to thousand-dollar contributions from some of these donors, Gutierrez’s campaign fund grew exponentially over the past year.

Read Gutierrez’ full questionnaire.

Francia Garcia Hernandez covers Pilsen, Little Village and Back of the Yards for Block Club Chicago. Contact Francia at francia@blockclubchi.org.

Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 7b, Southwest Side

2026-09-24T10:14:00+00:00

Two Latinas with backgrounds in public service are vying to represent a slice of the Southwest Side that has one of the highest shares of schools with the state’s top two performance designations.

Incumbent Yesenia Lopez was elected to the school board in 2024 with the backing of the Chicago Teachers Union and then-U.S. Rep Jesus “Chuy” Garcia. Without the CTU’s backing this time, she faces a challenge from Erika Diaz-Chavez, a project manager at the Chicago Park District who attended private schools growing up. She is supported by the Illinois Network of Charter Schools’ political arm and The Urban Center, a centrist political organization that advocates for charter schools and school choice across public and private schools.

Lopez is endorsed by the Service Employees International Union Illinois State Council, which represents thousands of CPS support staff and has split politically with the teachers union in recent years.

There are 34 schools in District 7b, 13% of which rank among the top 10% in Illinois.

District 7b schools serve the highest percentage of Hispanic students in CPS, but a few schools also serve predominantly Asian American students. About 84% of students come from families with low incomes, and around half are English learners.

Both candidates say they want to provide more special education resources for students in response to parents’ concerns that their children aren’t getting the help they need. They also want to ensure CPS is doing enough to protect immigrant families amid increased immigration enforcement in the city.

But their views diverge on Sustainable Community Schools, a program favored by the CTU that gives dozens of schools additional funds to partner with community organizations and provide extra services for families. The CTU represents roughly 30,000 teachers and other CPS staff and is known for its strong focus on social justice issues.

Diaz-Chavez isn’t sure the model, which is now enshrined in CTU’s contract, is delivering results and wants to evaluate the program before spending more money on it. Lopez sees the model as a boon to families and supports it, though she agrees the district should track its progress.

Lopez is a graduate of Juárez Community Academy High School in Pilsen. She’s worked and volunteered with several Southwest Side schools. She also served as the Latino outreach director for JB Pritzker’s gubernatorial campaign in 2022. Most recently, she was deputy campaign manager for Patty Garcia, who is running for Garcia’s old seat in the 4th Congressional District.

Lopez’s priorities include protecting immigrant families and increasing services to support student mental health. She recently called on the mayor’s office to move forward with creating a school board advisory panel focused on the needs of noncitizen students and families, as required by state law.

SEIU, which endorsed Lopez, is a top contributor to her campaign, as it was in 2024.

This time, however, she is not supported by the CTU. She won with their support two years ago, but her votes have sometimes veered away from those of CTU-aligned board members.

Lopez said she was surprised not to have the CTU’s support this time: “I’m the candidate that is pro-public education, have attended public schools myself, and have been very vocal in supporting our neighborhood schools.”

Most recently, Lopez abstained from voting on an amendment to the CPS budget championed by union-backed members.

“I’ve shown that I’m truly independent,” Lopez said.

Lopez did not respond to our questionnaire.

A Chicago Park District employee for more than 20 years, Diaz-Chavez oversees The 606 trail on the city’s near Northwest Side and manages data for the agency’s culture and natural resources department.

She decided to enter the race because she thinks the board should be doing more to improve student outcomes.

“I think we are kind of failing our kids,” Diaz-Chavez said. “That needs to be our focus, 100%. How do we do the best we can for these kids academically?”

Diaz-Chavez grew up in the Pilsen area and attended Catholic schools in Chicago and suburban Oak Park. She is a parent but does not send her children to CPS.

She is endorsed and financially backed by The Urban Center, the pro-school choice political group. Diaz-Chavez says she would be an independent voice on the board.

“I want to make sure that we can work with everybody, not just people who align the same way I do or are part of a slate,” she said.

Diaz-Chavez said it would be easier to make decisions that are best for the district in the long term if there were more independent voices. That includes analyzing what to do when a school closure moratorium expires next summer.

“Nobody wants to see schools close,” she said. But, she added, “we have to have a very honest conversation about how we can be sustainable for future generations.”

Diaz-Chavez’s campaign has raised little money so far but has received contributions from the Illinois Network of Charter Schools and The Urban Center, both of which support charter schools.

Diaz-Chavez did not respond to our questionnaire.

Emmanuel Camarillo is an education reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times. Contact Emmanuel at ecamarillo@suntimes.com.

Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 7a, Southwest Side

2026-09-24T10:13:00+00:00

In this majority Latino district, a longtime pastor and activist who fought against overcrowded schools in Pilsen and was appointed to the school board by the mayor in 2024 is facing a younger challenger and Chicago Public Schools graduate who worked for a nonprofit after-school program for the past six years.

Incumbent board member Emma Lozano is endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union, while Jesus Ayala Jr. has the backing of charter school advocates, pro-business groups, and the Service Employees International Union Illinois State Council, which represents thousands of support staff in CPS and has split politically with the teachers union in recent years. Ayala tried to run in 2024, but his name was removed from the ballot after a successful challenge to the signatures on his nomination paperwork.

This Southwest Side district is home to 48 public schools. Last year, 64% received the state’s second-highest designation, “commendable,” while 4.5% received an “intensive” designation, indicating they are among the bottom 5% of low-income schools in the state or have a graduation rate of 67% or below.

The students who attend District 7a schools are primarily Latino, and most come from families with low incomes. Nearly half are English learners.

Both Lozano and Ayala identified protecting immigrant communities and securing progressive revenue among their priorities, but they want to take different paths to get there.

For example, Lozano voted to pass a CPS budget that assumed additional revenue from the state. Ayala said relying on unsecured funds is a mistake. These differences have led to dueling endorsements in the race from the CTU and SEIU, labor unions that were once close allies, but are now fighting for influence on the school board.

Lozano has long been known as an activist and advocate for immigrant rights. She’s supported efforts to ensure English learners have access to the same education as native speakers and backed policies limiting CPS cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

She is also the pastor at Lincoln United Methodist Church in Pilsen. In 2006, a Humboldt Park church where Lozano served as pastor famously sheltered an undocumented woman facing deportation, becoming a symbol for a national movement of churches offering immigrants sanctuary.

Lozano and her children attended or graduated from various CPS schools, including Juárez and Wells Community Academy high schools and Lozano Bilingual Elementary, a school named for Lozano’s brother.

As a current appointed board member endorsed by the CTU, Lozano said she wants to keep her seat because she’s one of the few members who understands what it’s like to live as an immigrant in the city. That perspective is important, she said, as the Trump administration continues its aggressive immigration enforcement.

One of her priorities is improving support for students from immigrant families. When enforcement operations peaked in the city last fall, Lozano urged CPS to consider offering remote learning to students who feared going to school.

“If I’m not there, then I’m really worried because they have no voice,” Lozano said.

She also wants to secure more state funding by advocating for policies such as increasing taxes on the wealthy. She was one of 11 board members who voted earlier this year for an amended CPS budget that assumed the district would receive an additional $150 million in state funding that had not been committed.

Read Lozano’s full questionnaire.

Ayala worked at MetroSquash from 2020 until August, when he left to focus on running for the school board. The nonprofit teaches competitive squash and provides academic support to students on the South Side and in Evanston.

Ayala grew up in Bucktown and attended CPS as a child. He credited a CPS school with helping his dad acclimate to the U.S. That experience shaped Ayala’s belief that schools should be community anchors, he said.

“I love that my dad found support at a neighborhood school while learning English and navigating a new country,” Ayala said.

Ayala said volunteering with organizations that work with CPS students, such as Mikva Challenge, motivated him to seek a board seat. He saw a “disconnect between what the board was focused on and what our students need,” Ayala said. He thinks the board spends too much time discussing matters that involve a single school and should be tackling districtwide issues.

Ayala wants to focus on improving students’ academic outcomes and evaluating the effectiveness of learning materials, such as the district’s Skyline curriculum, a set of lessons in math, reading, science, social studies, and other subjects.

“Are students making the gains we want them to make and when they’re not, can we figure out why?” Ayala said.

Ayala also wants to address high rates of absenteeism and thinks improving the student experience can help. For example, he wants the district to pay more attention to addressing bullying.

The bulk of Ayala’s fundraising has come from a PAC affiliated with SEIU and the Common Ground Collective, an anti-CTU political action committee that is heavily funded by billionaire Michael Sacks and says it aims to engage voters around “effective progressive policies.”

Read Ayala Jr.’s full questionnaire.

Emmanuel Camarillo is an education reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times. Contact Emmanuel at ecamarillo@suntimes.com.

Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 6b, South Side

2026-09-24T10:12:00+00:00

Michael Neal, a South Side native and longtime pastor, is facing off against Brittany Kimble, a lawyer and Chicago Public Schools mom, to represent District 6b, which stretches from the wealthy Lakeshore East neighborhood downtown through the South Loop and Greater Grand Crossing.

The two newcomer candidates are running in one of two school board races where no candidate has been endorsed by the district’s major labor unions, Chicago Teachers Union or the Service Employees International Union, which represents school support staff.

Jessica Biggs, who currently represents this district, is running for school board president.

District 6b includes 37 schools, many of which serve mostly Black students and have experienced some of the city’s biggest enrollment declines, while others closer to downtown have enrolled more students over the past decade. Families’ concerns range from wanting quality, well-resourced public schools in all neighborhoods to feeling welcome on their children’s campuses, according to the candidates.

Neal was born and raised on the South Side and graduated from CPS and now runs a nonprofit. Kimble grew up in towns throughout Illinois and now sends her daughter to a CPS school.

Improving reading and math proficiency and fixing CPS’ budget are Kimble’s dual top priorities. Neal wants to improve early childhood education.

The candidates are either endorsed by or have received financial support from groups that are often at odds with the Chicago Teachers Union and the mayor’s office.

Neal was endorsed by Common Ground Collective, a new anti-CTU political action committee that is heavily funded by billionaire Michael Sacks and says it aims to engage voters around “effective progressive policies.” Kimble’s campaign is endorsed by The Urban Center, a centrist political organization that advocates for school choice across public and private schools, and has received some contributions, though she insists the group has asked nothing of her.

Neal, a pastor at Glorious Light Church in the Oakland neighborhood, said he’s always wanted to help his community beyond Sunday sermons. More than a dozen years ago, he began reading to children at a local elementary school, then started recruiting more Black men to do the same through a nonprofit he founded.

His interest in education grew and he began serving on the Greater Bronzeville Community Action Council, which focuses on creating a plan to improve education.

Running for school board “just seemed like it was just so natural because this is what I’ve been doing pretty much all of my adult life, especially since I became a father,” said Neal, whose grown daughters attended CPS schools.

Neal’s nonprofit, Timothy Community Corporation, operated inside a closed CPS school until a few months ago, he said. It focuses on increasing access to health and wellness, literacy, and leadership skills, he said.

Neal’s volunteer reading program now donates books to schools, Neal said. That work got him interested in improving early childhood education, which would be his main focus if elected. He said he wants to see more read-aloud programs at schools citywide and recruit more philanthropic organizations and corporations to provide volunteers and other support.

Neal said his campaign is “not heavy on cash,” but people have provided in-kind help or volunteered, such as gathering signatures to get on the ballot. He called himself a “campaign novice,” noting that his wife created his website, one of his daughters offers advice occasionally, and a friend is helping to run the campaign.

Read Neal’s full questionnaire.

Kimble said she has tried repeatedly and unsuccessfully to secure extra support in school for her daughter, including for speech-related issues and to combat bullying. The experience pushed her to homeschool her daughter at one point. Now, it’s pushing Kimble, a single mother, to run for school board.

While she has tried to find extra support for her daughter outside of school, Kimble said not “every parent should have to do that.”

Kimble said she grew up and attended public schools in several Chicago suburbs and Carbondale before pursuing law school.

Kimble ran her own law practice for more than a decade before filing for bankruptcy in February. Kimble said her financial problems followed years of struggling to keep her business afloat after the pandemic. At the time of the bankruptcy filing, Kimble owed $825,210 in various debts including for credit cards, student loans, and to the U.S. Small Business Administration, but she owned just $227,873 in personal property and real estate, including her home, according to court filings.

“I have learned from my situation … I was able to come out of it with being able to file bankruptcy,” Kimble said. “CPS cannot file for bankruptcy, but CPS also cannot continue to spend the same way without more money coming in.”

She remains a licensed attorney and hopes to one day reopen a law firm. For now, she said, she has become “anti-debt” and has cut expenses, such as getting rid of her car and taking her daughter to school on a CTA bus.

As a board member, Kimble said she would first tackle the district’s persistent structural deficit in part by exploring cuts outside the classroom or reducing debt obligations. Her other priority would be improving math and reading proficiency.

“To me, the math and the literacy rates of Chicago Public Schools (are) embarrassing, but I don’t think we can fix them until we fix everything else,” Kimble said of the budget.

Kimble’s campaign received thousands of dollars in consulting and signature-gathering services from The Urban Center, which opposes the Chicago Teachers Union. In her questionnaire, Kimble said she’d “refuse money that would compromise my independence.” She told Chalkbeat The Urban Center funds helped her get on the ballot and that the group has “not asked anything” of her.

She believes the group supports her because she homeschooled her child, but she emphasized that she is “inherently pro-public school.”

Read Kimble’s full questionnaire.

Reema Amin is a reporter covering Chicago Public Schools. Contact Reema at ramin@chalkbeat.org.

Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 6a, downtown Chicago

2026-09-24T10:11:00+00:00

The race to represent downtown Chicago on the school board pits a former lobbyist who leads a statewide advocacy organization with an incumbent advantage against two challengers — a special education classroom assistant backed by pro-school choice groups and another who is an education researcher and consultant whose campaign is operating more independently.

Anusha Thotakura was appointed by the mayor in 2024 after coming in second among three candidates in the first school board election and is hoping to keep her seat with support from the Chicago Teachers Union and the Service Employees International Union, which represents school support workers.

Isaiah White, a school support worker, is running with thousands of dollars from The Urban Center, a centrist political organization that advocates for school choice across public and private schools, and the political arm of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools. He also is endorsed by an anti-CTU political action committee that is heavily funded by billionaire Michael Sacks and says it aims to engage voters around “effective progressive policies.”

Brenda Lee Anderson, a Northwestern University lecturer on leave, is not backed by major special interest groups.

Given its location as part of the commercial and business epicenter of the city, District 6a has just 14 public schools — the fewest of any school board electoral districts — and none are neighborhood high schools. The students who attend Chicago Public Schools here are diverse, but the schools have more white and Asian American students than CPS as a whole.

Thotakura’s and White’s main priorities are to boost reading and math scores. Anderson’s main goal is to fix CPS’ chronic budget crisis.

In her nearly two years on the school board, Thotakura said one of her biggest accomplishments was sponsoring the Healthy Green Schools resolution that called on CPS to invest in more clean energy projects and use energy savings toward building improvements, such as mold remediation.

The resolution came after the district’s new labor agreement last year with the CTU to build more environmentally friendly schools when funding is available. As of August, the district was working on six pilot projects to add solar panels or electrify HVAC systems at schools in response to the resolution, according to district memos Thotakura provided.

Thotakura’s top priority for another board term is to boost academic outcomes for students by pushing CPS to meet goals outlined in its five-year strategic plan. She said she wants the district to publicly share data more often about students’ academic progress so the board can hold leadership accountable. She also wants to find ways to make all of her district’s neighborhood schools more enticing for families, who often tell her that they’re sending their kids elsewhere. She said part of that effort includes expanding access to pre-K seats, saying families are often waiting for spots to open.

Thotakura broke with one of her biggest backers, the CTU, last year by voting for CPS’ proposed budget, which did not include high-cost borrowing. This year, she was one of 11 board members who voted in line with the union to amend the district’s proposed budget based on the assumption that CPS will get $150 million more in state funding than anticipated. If that money doesn’t come through, schools may need to lay off staff midyear. Thotakura defended her decision in part because she believes more funding from the city could come through in the form of dollars from special taxing areas, known as Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, districts.

“I think it is worth it for us to mobilize, to use this momentum, to go down to Springfield,” Thotakura said.

Thotakura has often voted in alignment with the teachers union, but she pointed to her budget vote last year as an example of thinking independently.

“If you look at my vote record, it shows that I am an independent minded person that ultimately takes some information from all stakeholders but acts on behalf of the best interests of students,” Thotakura said.

Read Thotakura’s full questionnaire.

By the time White began attending Brooklyn Tech, one of the nation’s most selective public high schools, his mother had died and his father had recently left home, he said. After a weekslong period of homelessness, he moved in with his friend’s family in Brooklyn, he said.

A guidance counselor checked in on him and made sure he could pay AP exam fees and get free lunch, White said. That experience informed his run for school board, he said.

“I am a case of what can happen when the schools really do a very, very good job taking a child, who is humbled with what they have, and helping him or her or them grow and enter the world as an individual able to live a lovely, happy life and contribute to the rest of society,” White said. “I want that to be available to the next generation.”

White moved to Chicago three years ago with his spouse and began substitute teaching at CPS in 2024. He also worked on the 2024 campaign of the current school board representative for District 6a Jessica Biggs, who is now running for board president. Last year, White unsuccessfully ran for Cook County commissioner.

White has amended his campaign website’s references to some past experiences. His website previously stated that he was the chair of family services for the River North Residents Association, but the association’s president told Chalkbeat that White was a volunteer coordinator who worked on two events, including a back-to-school bash. White said his role felt like that of a chair, but after the association president brought the correct title to his attention, he said it was “fairly an oversight” and corrected his website. The reference to the association was gone as of mid-September.

The website had also said White managed multiple campaigns, including Biggs’. Biggs told Chalkbeat that White oversaw field and volunteer operations. The reference to Biggs’ campaign was removed as of mid-August, but White maintained that he managed her campaign and said he didn’t mean to remove the reference on his website. As of publication, the Biggs reference is still gone.

If elected to the school board, White’s main priority would be improving reading and math scores, in part by boosting pay for teaching assistants and finding ways to hire more effective school leaders.

White’s campaign has received funding from political committees for The Urban Center, the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, and the Common Ground Collective, all groups that generally oppose CTU’s policy directions.

White said he hasn’t spoken to these organizations about their priorities, but he believes they “properly recognize that CTU is not acting in the best interest of children.”

“But I’m going to do what is in the interest of my community, and … if that means they don’t support me in reelection, that’s fine,” White said.

Read White’s full questionnaire.

Anderson wants to use their experience as an education and social policy researcher to address inequities and increase school funding.

Schools were among Anderson’s “safe spaces” growing up in Ohio and Tennessee as they lived in and out of foster care while their mother struggled with addiction. The experience taught them why stable school environments and supportive neighbors are important, eventually leading them to earn a doctorate degree, Anderson said.

Anderson moved to Chicago a few years ago. Anderson’s LinkedIn page and our CPS School Board questionnaire said they teach at Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy, but a university spokesperson said Anderson’s employment ended in mid-July. Anderson said they plan to return for the university’s winter and spring quarters, after the election, and are taking on other education-related consulting work.

Anderson’s top priority is to fix the CPS budget by seeking additional untapped federal funding, which currently makes up about 9% of the district’s budget, and pushing for more state funding.

If elected, Anderson said they would look to evidence-backed policies, rather than special interests, to inform their decisions. They also said they would work to build relationships and coalitions made up of people with varying political beliefs, from other local elected officials to working class and low-income people to billionaires.

“When all of these activists and these organizers were thinking about a school board, I believe that I was in their vision: Someone that wanted to be centered on students, that wants to keep public education as public as possible, and someone that is willing to talk to everyone,” Anderson said. “The first rule in organizing is that you have to organize people that don’t always agree with you, right?”

Unlike their opponents, Anderson has not been endorsed by major unions or special interest groups.

Read Anderson’s full questionnaire.

Reema Amin is a reporter covering Chicago Public Schools. Contact Reema at ramin@chalkbeat.org.

Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 5b, West Side

2026-09-24T10:10:00+00:00

The two candidates battling to represent a large swath of the West Side are taking a second stab at securing a school board seat. Incumbent school board member Michilla “Kyla” Blaise started a campaign in 2024 but withdrew at the last minute, while her challenger, Anthony Hargrove, failed to make the ballot two years ago.

Blaise, a political aide who was appointed to the school board by Mayor Brandon Johnson in 2024, is backed by the Chicago Teachers Union. Hargrove, who runs programs to help dropouts get back in school, has support from business and charter school advocates.

District 5b is one of the school board’s most economically diverse, stretching from the wealthy West Loop to historically disinvested neighborhoods such as North Lawndale and Garfield Park. It has the most public schools of any school board district with a total of 63. There are several neighborhood high schools struggling with declining enrollment, as well as some of CPS’ most in-demand magnet schools. Students who attend school here are mostly Black and Hispanic.

The candidates have homed in on different issues. Blaise said she is focused on increasing funding for CPS, addressing declining enrollment, and improving student mental health, while Hargrove has zeroed in on improving reading and math proficiency, refining special education, and expanding vocational and career education.

The two candidates align on some issues. They both support stronger restrictions on the use of artificial intelligence and cellphones in the classroom, and both oppose closing schools for any reason.

Blaise is proud of her status as a “lifelong Chicagoan.” She said her family has lived on the West Side for four generations.

She sent her kids to LaSalle Language Academy Elementary School and Kenwood Academy High School, which showed her the value of magnet schools, she said. She wants parents to have choices beyond their neighborhood schools.

As a school board member, she said she also supports neighborhood schools and wants to find ways to revitalize them, pointing to Marshall Metropolitan High School in East Garfield Park as an example. The school enrolled around 200 students last year. In the 1960s, when the school was overcrowded and Blaise’s father was a student there, Marshall enrolled some 5,000 students, she said.

The school has assets including an Olympic-size swimming pool, a commercial kitchen, and competitive sports teams. Blaise said the school board should help it reach its full potential by considering turning it into a sports magnet school or adding middle school grades.

Blaise typically votes with a school board bloc aligned with the CTU and got the union’s endorsement. She notably spearheaded the effort to change CPS’ budget this year, introducing an amendment that reversed some planned cuts by assuming CPS would receive an additional $150 million in state funding that had not been committed.

“I want to be a real advocate for making sure people understand how woefully underfunded our schools are, and also making sure that folks understand there’s an opportunity to really change the conversation here,” Blaise said.

Blaise said her experience living in a range of neighborhoods — East Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, Lincoln Park, and Wicker Park — helps her understand the city and the differing needs of her district.

“I have real friends and family that are across the city that attend CPS. I think I have a finger on the pulse,” she said. “I’m hoping that we can all just have the conversation in terms of the issues.”

Read Blaise’s full questionnaire.

Born and raised on the West Side, Hargrove touts his many connections to CPS. He attended CPS schools as a child and graduated from Orr Academy High School. Two of his children are current CPS students, and two others have graduated. He’s also worked for the district in several capacities, including as a security officer, social worker assistant, and parent worker at schools including Marshall, Phillips Academy High School, and Orr Academy High School.

Currently, he leads programs “that help reconnect young people to school and prepare them for success beyond the classroom,” according to his campaign website.

Hargrove has been endorsed by the Common Ground Collective, an anti-CTU political action committee that is heavily funded by billionaire Michael Sacks and says it aims to engage voters around “effective progressive policies.” He also has the backing of The Urban Center, a centrist political organization that supports charter schools and advocates for school choice across public and private schools.

Hargrove, who didn’t make himself available for an interview, said in our CPS school board questionnaire that his past experience in the district has uniquely prepared him to serve on the school board.

“I’m running for every parent in my district who felt their voice wasn’t heard, for every student who felt unseen, and for every family that simply wants the best for their child,” he wrote. “I’ll bring a community-centered voice focused on accountability, opportunity and putting students first.”

Hargrove wants CPS to consider more community partnerships to make use of underutilized school buildings.

“The board should make transparent, data-driven decisions that put students first, strengthen neighborhood schools and ensure resources are used wisely,” he wrote of how he’d like to see CPS address declining enrollment.

Read Hargrove’s full questionnaire.

Mary Norkol is a reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times. Contact Mary at mnorkol@suntimes.com.

Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 5a, West Side

2026-09-24T10:09:00+00:00

A realtor backed by school choice advocates is looking to unseat a longtime education activist with ties to the Chicago Teachers Union in the race to represent District 5a on the city’s West Side. Also in the mix: a retired special education teacher running as a write-in candidate. After decades of disinvestment, many schools there are struggling to stabilize enrollment and bring students up to grade level.

Incumbent Aaron “Jitu” Brown, a veteran community organizer, wants to secure more state funding and trim administrative overhead in Chicago Public Schools. His challenger, LaPamela Williams, an Austin native who attended Lane Tech College Prep, wants to increase financial accountability and cut expenses that aren’t benefiting students. Kernetha Jones, who was removed from the ballot, wants to see test scores improve before putting more money into what she calls a “failed system.”

The district stretches from the majority-Black Austin neighborhood to the west, through sections of Garfield Park and Humboldt Park, ending with Ukrainian Village to the east. The wide swath of the West Side encompasses 39 schools serving mostly Black and Latino students.

Students who live in District 5a are less likely to attend their neighborhood school than students in most other parts of the city, particularly for high school. Less than 7% of high schoolers in this area chose their neighborhood option, according to CPS data. One high school, Frederick Douglass Academy in Austin, had just 27 students last year, and has become a focal point in debates over how CPS should address declining enrollment.

All three candidates live in Austin. Their views diverge when it comes to independently run public charter schools, with Brown and Jones opposing their expansion, while Williams supports opening more if there is community support.

Williams was driven to run for the board by her love for learning and for her community. She was born, raised, and still lives in Austin.

“Education is forever, and the kids in my district are really suffering, especially academically,” Williams said, citing high rates of absenteeism and students graduating without the skills they need to succeed after high school.

Williams is a relative newcomer to education advocacy and organizing. But she said years of experience in customer service roles, including as a nursing home aide, have prepared her.

“Everything about my work is customer satisfaction,” Williams said. “Breaking information down so people can understand it … Actually listening to what people are saying and putting that action into it.”

Williams is backed by the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, which advocates on behalf of charters and has a well-financed political arm, as well as The Urban Center, a centrist political organization that supports charters and advocates for school choice across public and private schools. She is also supported by the Common Ground Collective, a pro-business, anti-CTU political action committee that is heavily funded by billionaire Michael Sacks and says it aims to engage voters around “effective progressive policies.”

She differs from Brown and Jones in her views on charter schools.

Brown believes CPS can take over management of existing charters to prevent harm to students. Jones supports helping existing charters if they are performing well. But neither believes there’s a need for new charter schools.

Williams supports opening new charter schools where there is community need, but only when the groups operating them have sustainable funding and a clear plan to improve learning. Williams also said CPS should do more to support existing charter schools if they are producing results and “meeting the criteria that they should be meeting.”

If elected, Williams said she would take a deep dive into the budget.

“The solution is constantly more taxes, more money,” Williams said. “But we need to be more responsible with the budget and overseeing it and making sure that when you are paying, that people are delivering.”

Read Williams’ full questionnaire.

Brown, who grew up on the city’s Far South Side, played a prominent role in the yearslong fights against school closings in Chicago and for a fully elected school board. Notably, he participated in a hunger strike that helped reopen Dyett High School in Washington Park. Since 2012, he has led a nonprofit that fights charter school expansion and works to support neighborhood schools.

Brown ran unopposed for his seat in 2024. He was endorsed by the CTU and leads the board’s Black Student Achievement Committee, which is working to close racial disparities and improve Black students’ classroom experiences.

“My concern is not just for Black students, but Black students are the population that’s in crisis,” Brown said.

Brown’s work in education stretches back to the 1990s, when his rap group visited a South Side elementary school. Brown remembers a young man sitting slumped in his chair saying, “Man, you cool, but you ain’t coming back.”

“That kind of stuck with me,” Brown said.

After that, Brown started volunteering with kids through the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization. He noticed resource disparities as he worked in different schools and communities.

“These children on 39th Street have one computer in their class, and that’s it,” Brown said. “There’s no Black history being taught to these young people. I realized that there’s an equity issue, and that began my path.”

Brown has been a key voice pushing for more state funding to address the district’s budget gap. He wants state lawmakers to increase taxes for the wealthy and close tax loopholes for corporations.

“The political will is there,” Brown said, to “not only tie a tourniquet” but also “heal the wound.”

Read Brown’s full questionnaire.

Jones grew up on the West Side of Chicago and graduated from Farragut High School.

According to her resume, she taught students with learning and behavioral disabilities in CPS over four school years in the 1980s and ‘90s.

Jones did not respond to requests for an interview, but in our CPS school board questionnaire, she expressed support for school choice and providing parents with vouchers, which are typically used to offset the cost of private school tuition.

Jones opposes the district’s comprehensive sex education and claimed, without evidence, that CPS uses lessons that sexualize children and are pornographic. Two years ago, when Jones made similar claims as a District 5 write-in candidate, Chalkbeat found no evidence that CPS curriculum covers anything of that nature.

In 2024, a Chalkbeat reporter asked Jones, who frequently used anti-transgender language in her 2026 candidate questionnaire, how she planned to represent students of varying gender and sexual identities. At the time, Jones said she isn’t against students who do not identify as heterosexual, but she’s against “grooming them in school without the parents’ knowledge. I’m against you changing the children’s names without the parents permission.”

CPS policy says schools should not share a student’s gender identity without the student’s consent or authorization from the district’s law department. Under the policy, students have the right to be addressed at school by the names and pronouns they choose.

Jones also wants to limit the use of artificial intelligence in classrooms due to the potential for racial bias in AI teaching tools. She wants CPS to hire more Black teachers so Black students see more educators who look like them. Research has found this strategy can foster a sense of belonging and lead to lower suspension rates and higher graduation rates for Black students. In 2025, 34% of CPS students identified as Black, compared with 21% of teachers.

Read Jones’ full questionnaire.

Lisa Kurian Phillip is a higher education reporter for WBEZ Chicago. Contact Lisa at lphilip@wbez.org.

Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 4b, North Side

2026-09-24T10:08:00+00:00

Ellen Rosenfeld, a former Chicago Public Schools teacher and district engagement specialist, is running unopposed to keep the North Side seat she won handily in 2024 against five other would-be school board members in the city’s most crowded race.

Pro-school choice groups spent heavily to back her and oppose a teachers union-backed candidate. She’s made serving on the board her full-time role the past two years after leaving her position with CPS Family and Community Engagement. Rosenfeld is part of a bloc of seven elected members who have opposed the mayor’s appointees and elected allies on the school board, who make up a majority. She has backing from the Service Employees International Union Illinois State Council, which represents CPS support staff, and other groups that oppose the Chicago Teachers Union, the mayor’s former employer and key ally.

The former Local School Council chair and mother of four CPS graduates argues the current board has been too mired in politics and susceptible to outside pressure. But she feels the incoming fully elected board could preside over an academic resurgence, from a rise in reading proficiency to a decrease in chronic absenteeism, one of her key concerns. She said the next board must rally around a set of goals for improving the district.

“Without a shared vision, it’s almost impossible to get the good stuff done,” Rosenfeld said. “We don’t even know where the ship is trying to go.”

District 4b is home to 18 schools, including several high-performing neighborhood campuses, coveted magnet schools, and one popular selective enrollment high school, Lane Tech College Prep. Families here choose their neighborhood schools at higher rates than in many other districts, especially at the elementary level. Some campuses draw diverse student bodies from both inside the district and across the city, but overall, the student population is whiter and higher-income than CPS overall.

Rosenfeld said she has forged relationships with school and district staff, families, and students thanks to regular office hours and visits to about 60 campuses, including some outside her area. She stands by each of her votes, including two on the budget: one to approve a 2025-26 spending plan without high-cost borrowing and a vote against this year’s budget, which she opposed for relying on money that the state hasn’t yet sent to CPS to ward off staff layoffs.

Rosenfeld angered the CTU and some Acero charter school families when she was among a small minority of board members who voted against absorbing five of the network’s schools into the district. She has argued that given its own enrollment and financial challenges, the district should not come to the rescue of troubled privately run public schools. Some charter and contract operators have since pointed to that vote to argue CPS could bail out their campuses.

Rosenfeld is poised to clash with the union again over the issue of school closures, which it staunchly opposes. She says the board has to reckon with decade-long enrollment losses projected to accelerate amid a plummeting birth rate. She said school board members shouldn’t simply look away from a growing number of severely underenrolled schools, where she said students get a subpar experience. The district needs to learn from the “awful” mass school closures of 2013 and start with genuine community engagement, perhaps by assembling a task force with a cross section of Chicagoans, she said.

“What we’re doing it’s not working,” she said. “It’s insanity and it’s wasteful.”

Read Rosenfeld’s full questionnaire.

Mila Koumpilova is Chalkbeat Chicago’s senior reporter covering Chicago Public Schools. Contact Mila at mkoumpilova@chalkbeat.org.

Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 4a, North Side

2026-09-24T10:07:00+00:00

The race in this North Side district pits a retired educator appointed to the current school board against two challengers who say board members have faltered on fiscal responsibility and setting ambitious goals for Chicago Public Schools.

Karen Zaccor, a longtime Uptown teacher and advocate appointed to the school board by the mayor in 2024 after coming in second among six candidates, will face teacher recruitment and retention expert Ellen Sherratt and stem cell researcher Angel Alvarez.

The area along the north lakefront is home to 15 schools, less than almost any other school board district. They include high-performing neighborhood campuses, popular magnet schools, and a charter alternative high school. About 57% of students attend their neighborhood elementary schools, but that share is much lower at the high school level. The district’s campuses draw a diverse group of students: Of its 8,400 CPS students last school year, about 37% are Latino, almost 26% are white, 23% are Black, and nearly 8% are Asian.

In the 2024 school board race, what is now District 4a was part of a larger District 4. Board member Ellen Rosenfeld bested five opponents, the most of any race that year. Rosenfeld is running unopposed this year in neighboring district 4b.

Zaccor has voted consistently with a majority bloc of board members appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson or elected with backing from the Chicago Teachers Union, Johnson’s former employer and close ally. Her priorities also echo those of the union, which has endorsed Zaccor. They include pushing for a billionaires tax or other new progressive state revenue to boost school funding and growing the Sustainable Community Schools program, a partnership between CPS and the CTU in which high-needs schools receive an additional $500,000 each year to partner with local nonprofits and expand services.

Her opponents Sherratt and Alvarez argue that the district must do more to address mounting deficits than lobby the state, including budgeting more thoughtfully and eliminating waste.

Sherratt has drawn endorsements and financial support from the Service Employees International Union Illinois State Council, which represents support staff and has split politically with the teachers union in recent years, and other groups that oppose the CTU. Those include the Common Ground Collective, an anti-CTU political action committee that is heavily funded by billionaire Michael Sacks and says it aims to engage voters around “effective progressive policies,” while two groups that advocate for school choice and charter schools support her campaign.

Sherratt said she would bring her expertise on teacher quality to the board and push for setting ambitious student achievement goals.

Alvarez, who leads a family advisory board for the district’s Office for Students with Disabilities, said he would champion more responsive special education services and protect families from higher property taxes.

Sherratt, who has long studied teacher recruitment and retention, says the school board needs more experts who understand national education trends. She said she would be an independent voice, unbeholden to the CTU or other special interests.

“I bring a breadth and depth of experience from around the country,” she said.

Sherratt said she has spent her career researching how schools can hire and retain excellent teachers and consulting with districts, states, and the federal government. She has worked on a national initiative to boost teacher pay and on Illinois efforts to address educator shortages. She now leads Common Cents Education, a teacher quality consulting firm she launched to work with districts on workforce issues. Sherratt’s daughter attends a private school — which she said was a “personal decision made for our family,” noting a track record of supporting public schools.

Sherratt said she wants the city and district to set a series of “moonshot goals” to reach by Chicago’s bicentennial in 2037, such as significantly improving math achievement. She would seek broad input on those goals, including from students, for whom she would host special after-school office hours, she said.

“We should be more ambitious and make the process and the goals something the city of Chicago can really be proud of,” Sherratt said.

She also said the board should advocate for more state funding but rejected what she described as heavy-handed tactics, such as passing the recent budget with “phantom money” that the board is pressuring the state to approve.

“I imagine to many in Springfield it feels like they are being bullied,” she said.

Read Sherratt’s full questionnaire.

Zaccor represents one of the city’s wealthier districts, home to some premier magnet campuses. Her focus as a board member, though, has been strengthening high-poverty neighborhood schools and addressing lingering inequities.

Zaccor said she doesn’t see a conflict. There are high-needs schools in her Uptown neighborhood, such as Uplift Community High School where she taught for years. She was part of a group of parents and advocates who founded Uplift in 2005. And Zaccor said families and students across the city have shared with her many of the same concerns, including the availability of after-school programs, amount of screen time in schools, and quality of cafeteria food.

“I’ll never believe that making a demand for a truly equitable system is the wrong thing to do,” she said.

She is a longtime advocate for an elected school board and former Local School Council member. Her daughter graduated from Whitney Young Magnet High School, a CPS selective enrollment campus. She said she prides herself on her board service so far, particularly her push for a more stringent process for renewing and monitoring charter schools.

Zaccor strongly supports the continued growth of the Sustainable Community Schools program, which has faced recent questions about implementation hurdles and thin evidence of improved student outcomes. The program is “a work in progress,” she said, but the district has learned lessons it can apply to newly added schools.

Her other priorities include continuing to push the state for more funding, embracing green schools, and improving cafeteria food. She opposes school closures, arguing that the district instead should spend more to revitalize schools with low enrollment.

“We need to invest first and see what kind of difference that can make,” she said.

Read Zaccor’s full questionnaire.

Alvarez is no stranger to how Chicago’s school board can impact people’s lives. Four years ago, his daughter, who is visually impaired, missed the entire first semester of third grade at Decatur Elementary School because she did not have transportation. He spent long hours pressing district officials in charge of yellow bus routes and speaking to the school board, which has the authority to approve bus vendor contracts. He even filed a state complaint and shared his family’s experience through national media outlets.

Alvarez now leads a family advisory board for the CPS Office for Students with Disabilities, helping troubleshoot families’ issues with transportation, special education staffing, and other services.

“In CPS, there is a huge disconnect between theory and practice — what’s on paper and what families actually experience,” Alvarez, a former Local School Council member, said. He added about navigating the transportation issue, “I have a doctorate, and it was a complicated process for me.”

Alvarez is a scientist and assistant professor at Northwestern University and is director of the Stem Cell Core. He also has advocated for gifted education and taught science to high school students through the Hispanic Math and Science Education Initiative.

If elected, he would push the city to screen all children for learning and other disabilities before they start school and connect families with existing resources.

Alvarez said he has spoken with school board members about issues ranging from school discipline to the district’s financial woes. Limiting CPS property tax increases is his top priority. He believes the district can do more with the dollars it now receives. Yes, it should continue to seek more revenue from the state, but Alvarez also said it should reduce waste and spend smarter, including by giving Local School Councils more sway over school budgets.

“It’s easy to say, ‘I’ll ask the state for more money,’” he said. “The state doesn’t have the money.”

Read Alvarez’ full questionnaire.

Mila Koumpilova is Chalkbeat Chicago’s senior reporter covering Chicago Public Schools. Contact Mila at mkoumpilova@chalkbeat.org.

Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 3b, Humboldt Park, Hermosa

2026-09-24T10:06:00+00:00

Two men who both grew up in Humboldt Park, graduated from selective enrollment Chicago public high schools, and became teachers through Teach for America are facing off — again — in the race to represent a district that spans from West Town to Belmont Cragin.

Both candidates identify as progressives. Incumbent board member Carlos Rivas Jr. won in 2024 with 54% of the vote compared to Jason Dónes’ 46%. Rivas has taken a more fiscally conservative approach to the school budget than his opponent.

Rivas has support from the Service Employees International Union Illinois State Council, which represents thousands of CPS school support staff and has split politically with the teachers union in recent years, charter school advocates, and some Northwest Side local and county officials. He is also endorsed by the Common Ground Collective, an anti-CTU political action committee that is heavily funded by billionaire Michael Sacks and says it aims to engage voters around “effective progressive policies.”

Dónes is backed by the Chicago Teachers Union and several Northwest Side elected officials, including local and state officials and one member of Congress. Both men have the support of individual donors.

Schools in District 3b are struggling with teacher and counselor shortages, higher property taxes, and low enrollment amid rapid gentrification and neighborhood changes. The district includes a mix of 32 dual-language, charter, and alternative schools serving mostly Latino students.

Rivas and Dónes both care about protecting immigrant students from federal immigration agents, supporting more affordable housing, and securing more resources and community partnerships for CPS families. Rivas says he wants to see less interference from the mayor on the board and to move away from using loans that will increase CPS’ budget deficit. Instead, he wants to leverage partnerships with social service organizations that can offer resources to children, such as therapy or counselor access.

Dónes, a CPS parent, is looking to increase budget transparency, push for creative solutions within the existing budget framework, and said on our CPS School Board questionnaire that he won’t accept donations from corporations or “private interest groups funded by billionaires and millionaires.”

To try to avoid a repeat of his loss in 2024, Dónes is aiming to be more visible in district areas that didn’t vote for him in 2024 and has more volunteers from his ties to the progressive neighborhood group United Neighbors of the 26th Ward, he said.

Dónes has taught and trained teachers in various CPS schools, worked on CPS’ Instructional Equity Working Group, and helped draft Illinois’ first set of culturally responsive teaching standards. Since 2023, Dónes has worked for Beyond 100K, a national nonprofit addressing the STEM teacher shortage, with a focus on attracting more teachers of color.

His two children attend Moos Elementary, where he has served on the Local School Council since 2020.

Dónes is the co-chair of United Neighbors of the 26th Ward group where he has advocated for more affordable housing. He has volunteered with the Northwest Side Rapid Response Team to keep families safe from federal immigration officers and organized with Northwest Side elected officials seeking reelection since last year.

Dónes faced two challenges to his candidacy, but the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners ruled in his favor.

Dónes said his organizing background, experience as a CPS parent, and LSC background distinguish him from Rivas, as do the endorsements and donations he’s received from neighbors and local community groups.

If elected, Dónes said he would work to increase budget resources for district schools, push for budget transparency, and work to protect CPS jobs that support immigrant students facing threats from immigration agents.

“Readers want to understand how our advocates are being radical and creative in how we (search for) revenue while also being smart and diligent about spending,” he said. “You don’t have to choose fiscal responsibility or radical advocacy — there’s a way to navigate both.”

Read Dónes’ full questionnaire responses.

Going into his reelection campaign, Rivas said “it’s not ideal” to face Dónes again. He said his voting record shows him to be the voice for working-class families, especially those worried about property tax increases amid gentrification and school changes.

He was one of six school board members who voted against the amended CPS budget, which narrowly passed this summer and counted on state revenue that was not guaranteed, a vote that “ruffled a few feathers” with area elected officials, he said.

His priorities include increasing support for neighborhood schools and improving support for students from immigrant families, according to our CPS School Board questionnaire. He also highlighted budget accountability.

“I think we have such a big structural deficit in CPS that we absolutely cannot keep relying on loans to get us out of the difficulties that we’re in,” Rivas said. “We need to continue thinking about the long-term success of the district, while still advocating for more money from Springfield.”

Rivas has worked for the city’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability, a police oversight agency that investigates allegations of police misconduct, as the director of public affairs since 2022. He’s taught at CPS schools and UIC College Prep, a charter school, as an alumni counselor, and has been a teacher’s assistant and a security guard in CPS.

A homeowner and landlord, Rivas is also a transitional foster parent, fostering unaccompanied migrant children who need to be placed in Spanish-speaking households before they are sent to an adult sponsor. He said the experience has informed his perspective on the importance of dual-language programs in schools, stronger policies to protect immigrant families, and support for principals and counselors who can bring in more resources for students.

He also wants to improve support for students from immigrant families and policies to protect them from federal agents.

“I have a wide range of experience all across our district that defines me as someone who is thoughtful and looking at all sides when we’re thinking about the decisions we have to make for kids and families in our district,” Rivas said. “I am independent and I am not taking orders from any special interest group with what we’ve seen from the (mayoral) appointees.”

Read Rivas’ full questionnaire responses.

Ariel Parrella-Aureli is a reporter covering Logan Square, Humboldt Park and Avondale for Block Club Chicago. Contact Ariel at ariel@blockclubchi.org.

Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 3a, Logan Square, Albany Park

2026-09-24T10:05:00+00:00

A newcomer building a coalition of support from private donors and charter school advocates is challenging a longtime community activist with ties to the Chicago Teachers Union and Northwest Side elected officials in the race to represent District 3a.

Incumbent Norma Rios Sierra, a Logan Square organizer appointed to the school board in 2024 by Mayor Brandon Johnson, is hoping to hold onto her seat against Peter Gonzales, a lawyer and tutor.

Schools in District 3a are struggling with teacher shortages, art program cuts, charter school closings, and mental health access. The Northwest Side district has a mix of 24 dual-language, charter, and alternative schools serving mostly Latino students.

While both candidates have similar positions on increasing funds for CPS and supporting immigrant families, their support differs. Rios Sierra is backed by the CTU and the Service Employees International Union Illinois State Council, which represents thousands of CPS support staff and has split politically with the teachers union in recent years. She’s one of only four candidates to be endorsed by both unions.

Gonzales has support from the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, The Urban Center, a centrist, pro-school choice political group, and the Common Ground Collective, an anti-CTU political action committee that is heavily funded by billionaire Michael Sacks and says it aims to engage voters around “effective progressive policies.”

Gonzales advocates for equitable teacher wages that can strengthen student test scores and expand opportunities for students, such as having a stronger trades pipelines and more school choice, while Rios Sierra wants to see more mental health resources for students and more art and extracurricular programs for neighborhood schools.

Rios Sierra survived two challenges to be on the ballot this fall. Rios Sierra was part of a working group to pick Macquline King, Chicago Public Schools’ new CEO, and she voted for the most recent CPS budget that hinged on receiving $150 million more in state funding.

She has voted to protect immigrant students from federal officials and to support the creation of a sustainable transition plan for families impacted by charter closings such as Aspira and Acero schools.

Born in Mexico City and raised in Logan Square, Rios Sierra spent years organizing with the nonprofit Palenque LSNA, working with students, families, and teachers on arts programming and events; fighting for affordable housing and local immigration reform; and organizing wellness workshops for over 200 parent mentors. She is a member of the Northwest Side Rapid Response Network, a CPS graduate, and a former Local School Council member at Logan Square Elementary.

As a single mother whose teen attends CPS, she said her commitment to her community and her background are proof that she shows up on behalf of students and families in the neighborhood who want fully funded schools and more mental health support for youth.

“I definitely want to continue to champion the needs of our immigrant families, and I’m really genuinely concerned with the mental health and well-being of our students,” she said.

Rios Sierra said she is committed to building relationships to secure additional revenue for schools, improving mental health access, and supporting more arts and extracurricular programming.

Read Rios Sierra’s full questionnaire responses.

With a background in budgeting, economics, and law, Gonzales said his skills differ from his opponent and show he is “willing to go to the mat” to stand up for immigrant, working-class families.

“I know what it means to really tackle hard budgetary issues,” he said. “I know what it means to deal with complex legal problems … when it comes to standing up against ICE and (President) Donald Trump. I actually do know what it means to defend people in open court.”

Originally from Aurora, Gonzales lives with his wife and 2-year-old son, whom he plans to send to a CPS school. He has lived in Avondale since 2019.

A senior legal advisor for the Illinois Secretary of State, Gonzales was the first in his family to attend college. He has volunteered as a tutor with Reach Out Community Center in Little Village and Midtown-Metro Achievement Centers in Little Italy. He’s also on the board of the Institute of Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame, which gives Latino college students volunteer opportunities with Chicago law firms with a focus on immigrant rights.

Gonzales wants to represent the area to better even out the district’s budget among schools and advocate for equitable wages for staff, funding for after-school programs, and resources to improve academic outcomes for students. He also wants to bring greater transparency and fiscal responsibility to CPS, advocate for more CPS pipelines into the trades, and protect immigrant students from federal immigration agents in the classroom and in the courtroom.

“At the end of the day, it’s just about trying to make sure every single kid gets the best possible education and that we’re protecting our community,” Gonzales said.

Read Gonzales’ full questionnaire responses.

Ariel Parrella-Aureli is a reporter covering Logan Square, Humboldt Park and Avondale for Block Club Chicago. Contact Ariel at ariel@blockclubchi.org.

Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 2b, North Lakefront

2026-09-24T10:04:00+00:00

A retired Chicago Public Schools teacher appointed by the mayor is facing off against a former special education teacher worried about the school district’s debt burden and a data scientist focused on securing more funding from the Illinois legislature.

Incumbent Debby Pope is endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union, Kyna Lenhof has the endorsement of the anti-CTU Common Ground Collective, and Daniel Basco has positioned himself as “a fiercely independent voice.”

District 2b is one of Chicago’s most culturally diverse areas and is home to 18 public schools. The three candidates running to represent the district all listed adequate classroom funding and resources among their main priorities, but their thoughts on how to secure that funding vary.

Pope said she supports increasing funding for schools by taxing the rich, while Basco said he wants CPS to get more funding from the state. Lenhof, meanwhile, said she wants to reduce the district’s reliance on high-interest loans.

Pope was appointed to the board by Mayor Brandon Johnson in 2024 after the mass resignation of his first group of school board appointees amid tensions with former CPS CEO Pedro Martinez.

She got the nod from the powerful teachers union, while Lenhof was endorsed by The Urban Center , a centrist political organization that supports charters and advocates for school choice across public and private schools. Lenhof was also endorsed by the Common Ground Collective, which is heavily funded by billionaire Michael Sacks and says it aims to engage voters around “effective progressive policies.”

Earlier this summer, Common Ground released an ad attacking Pope for voting in favor of a CPS budget plan that assumes the district will receive $150 million more in state funding than projected.

The day before the vote, Lenhof also released a statement criticizing Pope.

“Our current board member, appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson, has continually supported high-interest loans that burden taxpayers and weaken CPS’s financial future,” Lenhof wrote.

Both Pope and Lenhof have touted their experience working in classrooms, while Basco has positioned himself as an independent and highlighted his work researching education policy.

Raised in New York, Pope has lived in Chicago for more than 50 years and in Andersonville for nearly 30.

She taught high school for close to 20 of those years, primarily working as a bilingual social studies teacher. After retiring from teaching, Pope worked for the CTU for just over a decade, serving in various roles.

Pope was a strong advocate for bilingual and dual-language education during her first term on the school board, informed by her experiences in the classroom. When she started her career at Benito Juárez Community Academy High School, many of her students were newly arrived immigrants from Mexico. Pope wasn’t fluent in Spanish at the time but said she would read a Spanish dictionary every night after work to develop her skills.

“I saw school as an opportunity to help kids who had come as immigrants to find their footing in the United States,” she said.

Pope’s two daughters also attended CPS schools, graduating from Whitney Young Magnet High School while she was teaching at Gage Park High School. Her granddaughter currently attends Inter-American Magnet School, a dual-language school in Lakeview.

“The contrast in what was available to my daughters versus what was available to my students was painful to see every day,” Pope said. “My one daughter, she took four different art classes, and my other daughter was in concert choir, and they were both on the swim team. Gage Park didn’t have those things and I wanted all kids to have those opportunities.”

Pope said it’s important to ensure funding is equitably distributed. She’d like to see a graduated income tax and the closure of corporate tax loopholes so that the wealthy contribute more to public education.

Pope’s top donor as of mid-September was the political arm of the CTU.

Read Pope’s full questionnaire.

Lenhof moved to Chicago 25 years ago to take improv classes at The Second City. While there, she started working at Easterseals Academy, a therapeutic day school for students with autism, and later worked as a special education teacher at Scammon Elementary School in Kilbourn Park.

“I was inspired to run because I really do believe that every child should have access to a safe, equitable, and joyful education,” said Lenhof, a Bowmanville resident of 13 years.

She now works for KMM Consulting, a political fundraising and strategy firm that helps local candidates and nonprofits organize events and fundraise, and serves as treasurer for the 40th Ward Democrats. She also continues to perform and hosts a variety show in Andersonville.

If elected, Lenhof said she’d like to see CPS get more funding for special education, ensure that individualized education programs, or IEPs, are followed by all educators, and provide adequate support to special education teachers.

“My priorities really boil down to: How do you do the right thing for your most vulnerable populations?” Lenhof said.

She also said she would push for a budget that reduces the district’s borrowing as much as possible and avoids “more high-interest loan rates versus money that can go directly into the classroom.” Any money should be distributed equitably throughout the district, she said.

Lenhof’s two biggest donors among political action committees as of mid-September were the Common Ground Collective PAC and INCS Action PAC, a statewide group focused on promoting publicly funded, independently run charter schools.

Read Lenhof’s full questionnaire.

A Texas native, Basco studied policy analysis at Northwestern University. He worked in data science and got his Ph.D in policy analysis from the RAND School of Public Policy in California before moving to Andersonville five years ago.

Under the Obama administration, Basco advised the U.S. Department of Education on policies related to funding science education and worked with community colleges in Texas to evaluate the effectiveness of their courses.

In his current role at Kindsight, which provides fundraising tools to the education, nonprofit, and healthcare sectors, he builds technology to help nonprofits find donors.

“My approach is always, ‘How do you collect as much data as possible? How do you look at the problem from every angle?’” Basco said.

If elected, Basco said he would advocate for more state funding and push for multiyear CPS budgets to give students and families more consistency.

“What I’ve heard from parents is the uncertainty around the budget means uncertainty about programs, about after-school, about English language programs,” Basco said.

Basco, who works with artificial intelligence for a living, also said CPS needs stronger guardrails around AI. While AI can be a tool to help learning, Basco said the district needs to ensure students’ data and privacy are protected.

“The space is evolving so quickly so we need folks who are up-to-date about what’s going on to help shape policy,” Basco said.

Basco has emphasized his independence; on his website, he says that he is “beholden to no political machine.”

Basco said being an independent candidate means having “empathy for every audience.”

“I’m going to look at issues from every level and I will hear from everybody to try and find potential solutions,” Basco said.

As of mid-September, Basco had donated $7,000 to his own campaign and had reported no additional donations.

Read Basco’s full questionnaire.

Molly DeVore covers Chicago’s Far Northwest Side neighborhoods, including Portage Park, Jefferson Park, Norwood Park, Forest Glen, and Sauganash, for Block Club Chicago. Contact Molly at molly@blockclubchi.org.

Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 2a, Far North Side

2026-09-24T10:03:00+00:00

An attorney and a businessman are challenging an incumbent with a background in community organizing in a three-way race to represent one of Chicago’s most culturally diverse areas along the Far North Side lakefront.

Elected in 2024, Ebony DeBerry favors taxing corporations and the wealthy to confront Chicago Public Schools’ budget woes. Her opponents both see belt-tightening as a path forward. Bruce Leon, an entrepreneur and 50th Ward Democratic Committeeperson, is looking to cut wasteful spending, and Hector Morales, an attorney for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services who attended CPS, said the district must spend more efficiently.

District 2a is home to a large number of immigrant families. More than 80 languages are spoken throughout the Rogers Park neighborhood alone, according to the Rogers Park Business Alliance.

The three candidates’ views differ on how to fund and invest in bilingual and dual-language education programs while also addressing CPS’ budget deficit.

“We have to find ways to make corporations, millionaires, and billionaires pay their fair share,” DeBerry said during an interview, while Morales said board members “need to make sure we’re using what we got now, before we start asking folks for more money.”

DeBerry, a former CPS teacher, won 43% of the vote in 2024, edging out three other candidates, including Leon.

DeBerry has been endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union, while Morales has been endorsed by the Common Ground Collective, an anti-CTU political action committee that is heavily funded by billionaire Michael Sacks and says it aims to engage voters around “effective progressive policies.”

Last winter the group ran ads attacking Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed corporate head tax. The CTU, on the other hand, strongly supported the corporate head tax.

Morales is also endorsed by The Urban Center, a centrist political organization that advocates for school choice across public and private schools.

DeBerry is a lifelong Rogers Park resident and a former CPS student, teacher, and parent. She graduated from Sullivan High School and taught pre-K, kindergarten, and first grade for CPS in the early 2000s. She also taught in suburban Evanston and Arlington Heights. Her son graduated from Northside College Prep, a CPS selective enrollment high school, in 2021.

DeBerry said her work as a teacher and with ONE Northside, a nonprofit that helps get neighbors involved in various community issues, has shown her the importance of engaging with students and their families.

“Our life experience makes us experts on what we need,” DeBerry said. “I think that that’s why I value community schools so much — an initiative that brings programming and resources to schools based on the needs of that school community. They don’t all look the same because every school needs something different.”

If elected to a second term, DeBerry said she would like to establish a youth advisory council so the board can hear directly from students.

“We need to hear from a wide swath of opinions, of personal expertise, of community expertise,” she said.

The state needs to tighten its policies around charter schools, DeBerry said, so students aren’t left stranded when schools abruptly close, as happened with the Acero charter schools in spring 2025.

“We had seniors who didn’t know if they would be able to graduate together, who didn’t know if they would be able to have a prom,” DeBerry said. “It was heartbreaking.”

DeBerry would like CPS to start creating multiyear budgets that account for rising wages and building maintenance costs so there are fewer last-minute cuts at the beginning of the year. She also said the city’s taxing system needs to change, and that the wealthy need to contribute more to CPS.

“We are crippling our homeowners, who are not all wealthy,” DeBerry said. “We have a very unfair taxing system — the working class, the middle class, take care of everything in this city.”

DeBerry’s top group donor as of mid-September was ONE People’s Campaign.

Read DeBerry’s full questionnaire.

Leon is a fifth-generation Chicagoan who lives in West Rogers Park. He is a 50th Ward Democratic committeeperson and an influential member of Chicago’s North Side Orthodox Jewish community. He graduated from Highland Park High School, and his four daughters attended Arie Crown Hebrew Day School in suburban Skokie.

Leon ran for the school board in 2024 but lost to DeBerry with 20% of the vote. He also launched a campaign for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District seat last year but said he chose to drop out due to pressures from AIPAC, a pro-Israel lobbying organization. The writer of an independent voter guide posted that Leon is circulating petitions to run for city treasurer in February. Leon did not respond to questions on that potential run.

In 1998, Leon started Tandem HR, an outsourcing human resources firm, with just three employees. He grew the company to more than 200 employees and sold it in 2024.

Leon said he believes his experience running a business would serve him well on the school board.

“Out of the 21 board members, wouldn’t it make sense to have a business owner who loves Chicago, who wants to make this huge organization of 42,000 employees run efficiently and effectively?” Leon said.

He said it’s important to have a variety of expertise represented on the board.

“To think that everyone should be a kindergarten teacher, or be a union member, in order to be on the board, is preposterous,” he said.

Leon said CPS should address the budget deficit by cutting back on excess staff and converting schools with low attendance into charter schools or vocational schools.

Leon did not have any campaign donations as of mid-September, according to State Board of Elections records.

Leon did not respond to our questionnaire.

By day, Morales is an attorney whose private practice specializes in business licensing, real estate, and zoning. But Morales also has a passion for electronic music, and recently got a degree in sound arts and industries from Northwestern University.

Morales, who attended Senn and Roberto Clemente high schools before graduating from Truman Middle College Alternative High School, said music didn’t feel accessible to him until his 30s, when he took a class in circuit bending.

Morales took his niece’s broken keyboard, hooked it up to his laptop, and started making his own electronic music.

“It showed me that anything can be musical,” he said.

Morales said he was inspired to run for school board after volunteering at Gale Elementary School in Rogers Park, where he taught kids how to make electronic music.

“I noticed kids that were shy at first would get up there and start making music and their faces would light up,” Morales recalled.

If elected, Morales said he would like to make music and the arts part of schools’ core curriculum. Nurturing students’ creativity makes them better, more well-rounded students, he said.

A Loyola University alum, Morales grew up in the Lathrop Homes public housing project and was the first person in his family to graduate from college. College felt like a possibility for him largely because a Loyola student tutored him while he was in high school, he said. Morales said he would like to see CPS partner more with local universities to show high school students that college is an option.

Morales said running his own law firm since the early 2000s has given him experience balancing a budget. If elected, he said he wants to make sure CPS is “using every dollar as efficiently as possible.”

Morales did not have any campaign donors as of mid-September, according to State Board of Elections records .

Read Morales’ full questionnaire.

Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 1b, Northwest Side

2026-09-24T10:02:00+00:00

The two women vying to represent Chicago’s Northwest Side are no strangers to politics — one ran for school board in 2024 and the other has run campaigns or worked for other elected officials for more than 15 years.

Michelle Pierre lost by a thin margin in 2024, which was her first time running for office after spending more than 25 years working in education as a teacher, principal, district administrator, and leadership coach. Claudia Peralta is making her debut as a candidate, but has worked with multiple politicians on the Northwest Side, including U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez.

District 1b is home to 20 Chicago public schools, which is among the fewest of all the school board voting districts. Families here choose their neighborhood elementary schools at a higher rate than in other parts of the city.

This matchup isn’t so much about individual policies as it is about differing strategies for how to govern as a Chicago school board member.

Pierre is metrics-driven, weighing district financial decisions against their return on investment for students bettering their academic outcomes. Peralta is rooted in political savvy and using government relationships to secure the resources Chicago Public Schools needs for students to thrive. District 1b voters will ultimately choose which style they want to see prioritized.

The winner will replace Jennifer Custer, who has served the past two years and ran for school board president before dropping out of the race in August.

Peralta has seen the inner workings of Chicago Public Schools from a few vantage points, including as a CPS student.

Peralta moved from Ecuador to Chicago when she was 12. She spent her teenage years in Logan Square and graduated from Prosser Career Academy in Belmont Cragin. Amid the Trump administration’s heightened immigration enforcement, Peralta said she can contribute to the board of education her firsthand perspective as an English-learning immigrant student.

“I’m learning that the moment we’re living in requires that we step up and that we face our fears,” she said. “I’m ready to fight and ensure that our children get the resources they deserve.”

One of those fears was running for office. For almost a decade, Peralta has worked behind the scenes on campaigns and in advocacy. She currently serves as U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez’ district director. Before that, she was state Rep. Lindsey LaPointe’s chief of staff and coordinated programs for the Illinois Coalition For Immigrant and Refugee Rights. Both Ramirez and LaPointe’s districts include parts of the Northwest Side. As a parent, Peralta served on the Carl Von Linné Elementary Local School Council.

Of the skills she’s learned from those roles, Peralta said knowing how to operate across different levels of government is a major asset, especially when it comes to funding.

Claudia Peralta, a candidate for Chicago Board of Education District 1B, addresses attendees at her campaign fundraiser inside Eris Brewery and Cider House in Chicago on Sunday, July 19, 2026, during the FIFA World Cup Finals. (Makiya Seminera/Chalkbeat)

Peralta remains firm that addressing CPS’ budget deficit shouldn’t come at the expense of educators’ livelihoods — a cause championed by the Chicago Teachers Union and the Service Employees International Union Illinois State Council. Both organizations have endorsed Peralta and as of mid-September, SEIU had contributed to her campaign. She’s also collected individual contributions through events such as her World Cup final campaign fundraiser in July, which had about 50 attendees.

“The amount of support — it shows that I have been a part of the community for many years,” Peralta said. “People know my worth.”

Read Peralta’s full questionnaire.

If her narrow defeat for school board in 2024 confirmed anything, Pierre said, it’s that her campaign platform resonated with a large share of voters. This time, she’s trying to capitalize on that by getting her message out quicker and securing more support from local leaders.

“I thought it was not a political race. I thought it was just the Chicago school board,” Pierre said of her first time running. “Then I learned very quickly, everything is very political.”

Pierre sees herself as a candidate outside the partisan fray. But her campaign is also supported by three special interest groups. Those are the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, which advocates on behalf of publicly funded, independently run charter schools, and The Urban Center, a centrist political organization that advocates for school choice across public and private schools. The third is the Common Ground Collective, an anti-CTU political action committee that is heavily funded by billionaire Michael Sacks and says it aims to engage voters around “effective progressive policies.” Pierre is endorsed by both The Urban Center and The Common Ground Collective.

Those goals feed into her overarching message: Chicago’s children deserve a high-quality education, whether that be in neighborhood schools, charter schools, or magnet programs.

Chicago school board candidate Michelle Pierre, right, talks to Ald. Nick Sposato on election night Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, at Moe's Cantina. Pierre narrowly lost to Jennifer Custer and is running again to represent district 1b.

Pierre points to her extensive background in education as evidence that she can get the job done.

She worked as a teacher and a principal for several years in New York and Washington, D.C., before becoming chief academic officer of Cleveland Metropolitan School District for six years. Since moving to Chicago almost a decade ago, Pierre has held a leadership role at LEARN Charter Network and now works in a senior role at New Leaders, an organization offering professional development for education leaders.

But Pierre said her children are her primary motivation for running. She served as a parent on the Local School Council at Ogden International School of Chicago. Now, her youngest daughter is a recent graduate of the Chicago High School for the Arts.

“I fought for her every single day,” Pierre told supporters at her campaign kickoff in Portage Park. “I believe in all 300,000 kids, and I will fight for them every single day.”

Read Pierre’s full questionnaire.

Makiya Seminera is a reporter covering how the state and federal government affect education in Chicago and across Illinois. Contact Makiya at mseminera@chalkbeat.org.

Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 1a, Far Northwest Side

2026-09-24T10:01:00+00:00

A retired Chicago police officer allied with two local aldermen is looking to unseat a longtime community development advocate who gained an incumbent advantage when the mayor appointed him to represent Chicago’s Far Northwest Side.

Ed Bannon is hoping to fend off Margie Luczak’s challenge with support from the Chicago Teachers Union and the Service Employees International Union, which represents school support staff. But Luczak has secured the backing of special interest groups that favor school choice and charter schools.

Although the school board elections are nonpartisan, political undercurrents are present in voters’ decisions about which candidate aligns with their values. On the Far Northwest Side, voters have been more receptive to conservative candidates than much of Chicago and could be more sympathetic to an “anti-establishment” platform. But the race is inherently much narrower in its scope of issues than a Congressional or presidential campaign, which could reveal diverging attitudes specifically on the topic of education.

The Far Northwest Side is home to 22 schools that enroll more white students than Chicago Public Schools as a whole, but are more diverse than the voting population. Families here choose their neighborhood public schools at higher rates than in other parts of the city.

It’s one of the few areas in Chicago that leaned toward President Donald Trump in the 2024 election. And in 2023, many voters here picked former CPS CEO Paul Vallas over Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Although Bannon was appointed by Johnson, he hasn’t always aligned with him, most notably when he voted in favor of the CPS budget plan Johnson’s other appointees were trying to block last year. Bannon’s record has earned him endorsements from the Chicago Teachers Union and SEIU Illinois State Council.

Voters looking for a change in leadership may opt for Luczak, who served on Chicago’s police force for more than 25 years. In many ways, her campaign represents a foil to Bannon’s union-backed candidacy. She proudly says she’s not a “CTU puppet” and is supported by contributions from the Illinois Network of Charter Schools and The Urban Center, an organization that advocates for centrist leadership and school choice, including private schools. But she has little direct experience in education.

On a Tuesday night at Jefferson Park’s Copernicus Center, a handful of people — a few teens, a teacher, a parent and her child, and local state Sen. Robert Martwick — quietly filed into a spacious room. It was the night before Chicago Public Schools released its budget proposal, and Ed Bannon was hosting a briefing to explain the district’s finances and hear community members’ concerns. As far as he knew, he was the only board member holding such a meeting.

That community engagement is central to how Bannon sees his role as a school board member.

“I don’t know any way other to run other than just being out there and talking to people and trying to show that my record is one that will improve CPS,” Bannon said.

Bannon’s involvement on the Northwest Side spans several decades. He served as executive director of the Six Corners Association, coordinated business recruitment and retention programs for the 45th Ward, and ran for alderman in 2023. Incumbent Nick Sposato defeated him.

He also served for a decade on the Local School Council for Dever Elementary, where his children attended. Bannon said his long-standing involvement with CPS helped earn him his board appointment from Johnson.

“People are going to say what they’re going to say about how me being appointed somehow influences me as a board member,” Bannon said. “All I can say is I’m doing all those things regardless of (being) appointed or elected.”

Having conversations with constituents is the only way to clear up any preconceived notions about his allegiances, Bannon said. When Steinmetz College Prep teacher Lisa Reed voiced her frustrations with the board at Bannon’s July budget briefing, he didn’t shy away from her questions. Instead, he stepped aside with her after the meeting to hear her out personally.

Read Bannon’s full questionnaire.

If it hadn’t been for the smattering of attendees donning bright yellow shirts with Margie Luczak’s name stamped across, the candidate’s fundraiser at Tommy’s on Higgins might have looked like a large reunion of old friends.

The back of the Norwood Park bar buzzed as Luczak shuffled through the crowd greeting people, including Reed, the teacher who attended Bannon’s budget briefing the night before. The turnout — about 40 people — came as a welcome surprise for Luczak, who has never run for office.

Luczak grew up in West Lawn on the Southwest Side and graduated from Curie High School in the late 1980s. She spent nearly 30 years as a Chicago police officer and worked across several units, including narcotics and licensing.

While Luczak doesn’t have any children, she said she sees the school system through the perspectives of friends whose children attend CPS and through her experience as a taxpayer. In the past year, Luczak said she attended meetings held by The Urban Center and learned more about how the district operates.

“I don’t think the CPS needs more money thrown at them,” Luczak said. “I think they need to fix the issues that are going on first.”

When Luczak retired from the Chicago Police Department in January, she decided it was time to serve her community in a different capacity. Her priorities include lowering property taxes and returning school resource officers to schools — an initiative she said would give kids positive exposure to police officers.

Luczak acknowledges she doesn’t have much direct experience with education, but she believes her extensive policing career equips her with the “common sense” necessary to be a school board member.

“I put out a lot of fires, and so I was a good listener,” Luczak said. “Being on the Chicago school board, I will listen to my community and what their needs are.”

Read Luczak’s full questionnaire.

Makiya Seminera is a reporter covering how the state and federal government affect education in Chicago and across Illinois. Contact Makiya at mseminera@chalkbeat.org.

Chicago School Board Election 2026: The citywide race for president

2026-09-24T10:00:00+00:00

Chicago’s first-ever citywide race for school board president has all the makings of a political drama: millions in campaign contributions, special-interest group endorsements, and a candidate bowing out midstream.

Voters across the city will finalize their pick among four candidates to lead the Chicago Board of Education on Nov. 3. Chicago’s school board president will be directly elected for the first time as more than 30 years of mayoral control ends. The person in this powerful but unpaid position represents the board publicly, runs board meetings, and helps set the agenda. They will work with 20 other members to set a vision and goals for CPS for the next four years.

Former Chicago Teachers Union deputy political director Hilario Dominguez, who graduated from and worked in Chicago Public Schools, is running on a progressive platform that includes expanding preschool to all 3-year-olds and demanding more education money from the state, rather than cutting. The CTU is fueling Dominguez’s candidacy financially as it tries to hold on to control of the school board, which it seized after former union organizer Brandon Johnson became Chicago mayor in 2023.

Jessica Biggs, a former CPS principal and current school board member, wants to prioritize financial stability and high-quality education for every student. She’s backed by the progressive Service Employees International Union Local 73, which represents mostly low-wage Black and Latino CPS workers and is in a bitter dispute with the CTU. She’s also solidified support from the business community and former government officials who worked under former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, including former CPS CEO Janice Jackson and former deputy mayor for education Beth Swanson.

Attorney Victor Henderson, who serves on the board of Urban Prep Charter Academy, is centering his campaign on advancing student achievement and fiscal responsibility. He broke open contribution caps when he lent his campaign $500,000 and has secured support from two Black congress people, prominent lawyers and pastors of large Black South and West Side churches, including Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina and Byron Brazier of Apostolic Church of God.

Leadership consultant Sendhil Revuluri, who served on the school board under former mayor Lori Lightfoot, is promising a focus on student learning and community engagement. He is backed by Chicago Democrats for Education, run by heavyweight political consultant Hugo Jacobo. Jacobo railed against the mayor-appointed board that fired former CPS CEO Pedro Martinez in 2024. Though he says he’s pro-labor, he has advocated for a board that’s independent of the CTU, the powerful union that represents roughly 30,000 teachers and CPS staff and is known for its strong focus on social justice issues.

A fifth candidate, Jennifer Custer, a former educator now serving on the board, dropped out in late August.

All the candidates say they are running because they want CPS to better serve students and families. But they differ broadly in their approaches — Biggs wants to focus on a better-functioning board, Revuluri on holding the district’s top leader more accountable for outcomes, and Henderson on offering an outsider perspective to issues like the budget crisis and charter funding. Dominguez is proposing big initiatives, such as increasing access to youth jobs, paid internships, and mentorships.

Only Dominguez is ruling out closing schools amid the district’s steady enrollment losses, though the others say they would work with communities and move with deliberate care in weighing campus mergers. Henderson would consider opening more privately run charter schools and wants to see them better supported, while the others would further scrutinize existing charters.

The hall leading into Henderson’s downtown office is covered in framed newspaper articles about clients he has represented as a well-known defense attorney: actor Jussie Smollett, who was accused of allegedly faking a racist attack; Ald. William Beavers, who was convicted of tax evasion; the Jackie Robinson West Little League, which was stripped of its U.S. World Series championship title; and a CPS principal who sued after being ousted by her Local School Council.

Henderson is the only candidate in the race who doesn’t have experience as an educator. But the 65-year-old’s four grown children all attended CPS elementary schools in Beverly and selective enrollment high schools.

Henderson is not only a lawyer, but also a former certified public accountant. He says he can read contracts, understand budgets, and take on powerful interests.

“On that board, you need the right combination of people,” he said. “You have to have parents. You have to have principals. You have to have community members, but you also need to have lawyers and maybe doctors.”

Henderson became motivated to run for school board president after he got pulled onto what he calls the recovery board of Urban Prep Academies. At the time, in 2023, the school board was trying to close the charter school network after CPS’ inspector general found “dismal” financial practices, including unaccounted-for spending, taking high-interest loans, and needing cash advances. The founder and former CEO of Urban Prep was recently charged with embezzling more than $100,000 from the organization.

Henderson chalks up Urban Prep’s problems to a bad administration, but says the attempt to shut down the charter network, which serves almost exclusively Black male students, was wrongheaded. Urban Prep officials say they produce better academic outcomes than district-run schools for Black male students, who historically have lagged behind other student groups. “You don’t have those students and their families suffer.”

Henderson was part of a group of Black men who rallied on behalf of Urban Prep. The charter organization sued CPS and was allowed to keep two schools open.

Henderson says CPS needs to better support charter schools. He is sympathetic to the argument that charter school operators should receive a funding boost from CPS.

Henderson said he would commission a forensic audit. If it turns out that CPS needs additional revenue, he said he has the skill set to go to Springfield and make the case.

He said he wants to serve because he cares deeply about education.

“Men who are educated are more likely to get married, have families. You feel better about yourself,” he said. “The data shows that the more education you have, as a general rule, the more you make. Education is just transformational.”

Read Henderson’s full questionnaire.

School board member Jessica Biggs says her experience leading last year’s search for the district’s leader motivated her to run for president.

Biggs says she successfully secured buy-in from all board members on the job description for the superintendent after what she calls an “authentic” process of gathering community feedback.

“So that just showed me what was possible if there was leadership,” she said.

But the process fell apart after the candidates’ names became public and one dropped out. Biggs said she believes what happened was driven by political divisions on the board, leaving her demoralized to such an extent that she decided she didn’t want to run again as a board member.

“There were times when I very much wanted things to move forward, or be brought for a public vote, and was not able to do that,” Biggs said.

To have the impact she was seeking, Biggs realized, she needed to take a lead in setting the board agenda. The way to do that was to run for board president, Biggs said.

“If I was going to continue to spend my time on this board,” Biggs said. “it was important to me to be able to have that authority.”

Biggs grew up in Wheaton, now lives in Douglas, and has one daughter, who attends a fine arts magnet school.

Biggs was one of three members elected in 2024 without the backing of powerful interest groups, including the Chicago Teachers Union and the Illinois Network of Charter Schools. She won her race with about 45% of the vote despite being massively outspent. On election night, she said she felt like people wanted independent board members. “I feel really loved,” she said.

She works for the Southwest Organizing Project, a community organization on the Southwest Side on an initiative that connects school communities with a range of services.

Biggs was fired as principal of a South Side elementary school in 2018 after an inspector general report found that she instructed staff to mark students as tardy even if they missed much of the school day and had them pick children up in their cars without getting written permission from their parents.

She was put on CPS’ “Do Not Hire” list. But she was removed last year, after previous attempts to get off the list were denied. Biggs has contended that her firing was political.

In her two years on the board, she opposed some of the biggest measures pushed by mayor-appointed and CTU-aligned members. She held firm last year against the push to take a loan to avoid cuts. This summer, she voted against an amendment that reversed layoffs by assuming the state would provide more money for CPS.

Since she ran two years ago, she’s gone from a “no” on school closings to leaving the question blank on our CPS School Board questionnaire. She says she doesn’t think there is a yes-or-no answer.

“I think this is a false dichotomy,” Biggs said. “There are spaces in this district where kids’ needs are being met by small schools, and there are spaces in this district where kids’ needs are not being met by what we are offering in a school.”

Read Biggs’ full questionnaire.

Revuluri, the first to declare his candidacy more than a year before the election, says he would lead a board laser-focused on student outcomes. A board appointee during Lightfoot’s administration, he has leaned into criticism of the current board, arguing it has gotten caught up in political squabbling and left pressing issues such as declining enrollment unaddressed. The board is now partly appointed and partly elected.

“Our students need a board that will be entirely focused on their success and willing to confront the current reality,” said Revuluri, the father of two CPS students.

Revuluri was a founding teacher at a public high school in New York City. He also worked in the CPS Department of High School Teaching and Learning and at the University of Illinois Chicago, where he led the Suburban Cook County Mathematics Initiative. A former “Jeopardy!” winner and Local School Council member, he worked at an investment firm and more recently as an education consultant.

He acknowledges that the CPS board on which he served as vice president also became consumed by politics. Revuluri holds himself and his board responsible for not reopening schools for in-person learning sooner during the COVID-19 pandemic, “to the detriment of our students,” though he notes the profound uncertainty the district was navigating.

Revuluri said the school board should drive more dollars toward programs proven to help students. He criticized the ongoing expansion of “Sustainable Community Schools,” which Dominguez and other CTU-backed candidates have vowed to continue expanding. A partnership between the union and district that gives high-needs schools an extra $500,000 a year to team up with community nonprofits, the program has drawn some scrutiny for thin evidence that it has improved student outcomes.

“There’s a big gap between the rhetoric and ensuring actual results that matter,” he said.

He also blasted the board for recently passing a budget that assumes $150 million more from the state that isn’t guaranteed.

Revuluri indicated he would not close schools to balance the district’s budget in our CPS School Board questionnaire in July. He explained in an interview that the district should resort to mergers only to improve the experience of students in schools that have become too small to meet their academic and social needs. Any such plan must start with deep community engagement, he said.

“Chicago is not alone in facing these changes, but we have been exceptional in how much we have pretended and been in denial,” he said. “What pretending has delivered for our students is an impoverished educational experience.”

Read Revuluri’s full questionnaire.

After months of speculation about the candidate the CTU might champion for the board’s top job, the union settled on one of its own when it endorsed Dominguez, who left his job at the union before launching his campaign. Dominguez says he’s unapologetic about his yearslong role as a union stalwart. The only presidential contender who worked as a full-time CPS teacher, he is also the husband of an assistant principal in the district.

Dominguez says his education advocacy goes back to his time as a student at Whitney Young Magnet High School, when he organized a walkout to protest budget cuts in 2010.

A native of the Pilsen neighborhood, he worked as a special education teacher on the Southwest Side. He took two years off to focus on political campaigns, including his own failed City Council bid. He later helped organize an 11-day teacher strike in 2019, when he was arrested with other union members holding a sit-in protest at the offices of the failed Lincoln Yards megaproject. Trespassing charges against him and the others were later dropped.

After going to work for the CTU full-time in 2022, Dominguez also worked on Johnson’s breakout campaign and on the candidacies of CTU-backed school board members in 2024. The union handily outspent well-resourced pro-school-choice groups in those races. It helped secure wins in three of nine contested races.

Dominguez said he has made more than 100 lobbying trips to Springfield over the years, “more than all my opponents put together.” So far, though, the push to secure an influx of additional state revenue for schools has fallen flat. Dominguez says that as president, he would work to engage more families in lobbying and rally districts statewide.

He is proposing offering free, full-day preschool to all city 3-year-olds through a partnership with private childcare centers and home-based daycares. He says the shift would drive economic development, boost the district’s enrollment, and “do right by families” by easing childcare costs.

Dominguez’s other priorities are also closely aligned with the union’s. He said he will push for better cafeteria food and the continued expansion of the Sustainable Community Schools program.

He staunchly opposes any school closures, arguing that the district and city should instead use vacant space in “supposed underutilized schools” to expand services such as healthcare clinics and library branches.

“When we talk about underenrolled schools, we should be clear that we’re talking primarily about Black and brown students in Black and brown neighborhoods that deserve more investment and not punishment,” he said.

In 2021, Dominguez faced a complaint from a fellow teacher who claimed Dominguez made a Nazi salute, called him Hitler in front of students, and questioned that teacher’s sexual orientation. The complaint was later withdrawn. Dominguez called the complaint “baseless” and said he was standing up to a racist colleague who had disrespected a student.

Read Dominguez’s full questionnaire.

Mila Koumpilova is Chalkbeat Chicago’s senior reporter covering Chicago Public Schools. Contact Mila at mkoumpilova@chalkbeat.org.

Sarah Karp covers education for WBEZ. Contact Sarah at skarp@wbez.org.

How Detroit school board candidates would address chronic absenteeism

2026-09-22T20:24:06+00:00

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The five people elected to the Detroit school board in the Nov. 3 election will help shape the district’s continued strategy to address high rates of chronic absenteeism.

It’s a tough task. The district has steadily reduced the share of students who are chronically absent, from a high of 76.7% in the 2021-22 school year to 60% at the end of the 2025-26 school year.

While the decline is notable, a large number of students still do not attend school regularly. A student is considered chronically absent if they miss 10% or more of the school year, or 18 days in a 180-day school year.

The district’s efforts to improve attendance over several years have included an investment in attendance agents, the creation of health hubs, incentive programs that pay high school students for perfect attendance, and a pilot program that provides free yellow school bus transportation for some students attending high schools with high rates of chronic absenteeism.

Mayor Mary Sheffield has made reducing chronic absenteeism a priority since she took office in January. She has made city bus service free for all Detroit students, expanded after-school programs, and created a pilot program providing rideshare service to students at several high schools.

Chalkbeat asked the 34 candidates about their ideas for reducing chronic absenteeism. Thirty-one are running for four four-year terms, and three are running for one partial two-year term.

Below are responses from the 19 candidates who filled out our survey. For a full list of candidates and their responses to other key questions, check out our voter guide.

Lori Higgins is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat Detroit. You can reach her at lhiggins@chalkbeat.org.

Voter guide: Meet the candidates running for the Detroit school board

2026-09-21T15:55:09+00:00

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Thirty-four people are vying for five open seats on the board for the Detroit Public Schools Community District, a pivotal race that could result in multiple new people overseeing the largest district in Michigan.

It’s the largest slate since 2016, the year DPSCD was created and more than 60 people ran to serve on the new district’s board.

This race could be consequential because only two incumbents — Steve Bland and Bessie Harris — are running for reelection. Both were appointed to their seats last year to fill out the remaining terms of members who resigned.

The board’s current leaders — Board President LaTrice McClendon and Board Vice President Corletta Vaughn — are not running for re-election. The fifth open seat belonged to Iris Taylor, who died in July.

Thirty-one of the candidates are running for four-year terms while three of them — Ijazz Jackson, Aliya Moore, and Shawn Vaughn — are running for a two-year partial term.

Just 19 of the 34 candidates responded to a questionnaire Chalkbeat sent via email and text in July. They have a plethora of ideas of how to address some of the biggest challenges, including fighting high rates of chronic absenteeism, increasing enrollment, and dealing with the pending loss of the funding that allowed the district to hire academic interventionists.

In our voter guide below, you’ll read the candidate bios and their answers to our questions as they wrote them. Chalkbeat did not edit for grammar or punctuation. For more information on voting, go here.

Lori Higgins is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat Detroit. You can reach her at lhiggins@chalkbeat.org.

Clarification: Sept. 21, 2026: This story was updated to clarify that one of the five board seats in the November election will have a partial term that ends in 2028.

This November’s Detroit school board election may drastically change the district’s direction. Here’s how.

2026-09-21T10:00:00+00:00

Sign up for Chalkbeat Detroit’s free newsletter to keep up with the city’s public school system and Michigan education policy.

Voters will elect a new majority to the Detroit school board this fall, in an election that could shape the future of Michigan’s largest district for years to come.

The race for five open seats on the seven-member board comes as many parents and community members push for more urgency in improving early literacy scores, facilities, and administrative transparency.

The Detroit Public Schools Community District is standing “on the precipice of probably another watershed moment,” said Jamon Jordan, the city’s appointed official historian.

Jordan compared the importance of this election to a number of seminal moments in the history of Detroit’s public school system — from Milliken v. Bradley, a landmark 1974 Supreme Court case that limited busing for desegregation, to the 1990s reform movement in the city that pushed African-centered education, to the 2016 “right to read” lawsuit a decade ago that shone a light on deplorable school conditions.

There are 31 candidates running for four seats with 4-year terms on the board. Another three are seeking one seat with a partial term that will end in 2028. Only two in the running are incumbents: Steve Bland Jr. and Bessie Harris. Both were appointed to the board last year and are newcomers to governing the district. Many of the candidates are vocal critics of the district’s current leadership, with some calling for Superintendent Nikolai Vitti’s removal. He has been in Detroit nine years.

The school board’s current leaders announced earlier this summer that they would not seek reelection as their terms come to an end. Iris Taylor, a member credited as a longtime force for progress, planned to run again in November but died in July. The two board members who were elected in 2024 and are not up for reelection this fall – Monique Bryant and Ida Short – have become more vocal in their criticism of Vitti.

DPSCD has made progress academically in the last decade, and some observers worry a new board could make changes that could stall or reverse those gains.

After years of financial turmoil under emergency management, DPSCD also has had balanced budgets every year since Vitti took over. There are no longer hundreds of teacher vacancies. Instead of pay cuts, teachers have gotten steady raises.

LaTrice McClendon, current board chair, said she doesn’t want to see the district lose momentum. But she does want to see the next board bring new ideas.

“You want people of different experiences so that they can bring a different perspective,” she said.

A new school board could bring more conflict with district leadership

Vitti has said little about what a new school board could mean for the Detroit district. He did not respond to requests for comment this week, but previously told Chalkbeat the district will “either move forward with greater progress and momentum or backwards” after the election.

It’s not unusual for a change in school board members to lead to heightened criticism, conflict, or even efforts to push out top administrators.

Vitti left his previous job as the leader of Florida’s Duval County Public Schools in 2017 — months after the board president called for his resignation and amid threats that he would sue the district over a hostile work environment.

Some in Detroit wonder if something similar could happen here. At last month’s board meeting, a handful of board candidates and current board members called literacy rates “unacceptable.”

During a heated exchange at the meeting, Bryant said there should be more improvement given the settlement money spent on extra support for early learners.

“The return on investment has been 0% as far as I am concerned,” said Bryant. “You and your staff have got to figure it out.”

School boards’ roles are to hold systems accountable, said Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs, executive director of the National School Board Association and former board president of Prince George’s County Schools in Maryland. In DPSCD, the board can vote to hire or fire the superintendent. However, the Detroit Financial Review Commission must approve the termination.

“It can be an awkward relationship, but it should be a collegial one,” said McCotter-Jacobs of the board-superintendent dynamic.

“I would hope no new board member would say they will fire the superintendent,” she said. “They should be saying they will come in and understand what the district’s needs are.”

Before Vitti took his position in DPSCD, turnover for the city’s public school district leaders was very high, Jordan said. That was especially true from 2000 to 2017, particularly during the years under emergency management.

Many times throughout history, Detroit public school boards have been at odds with superintendents. The last nine years have been relatively calm compared to the years before, Jordan added.

Vitti’s nine-year tenure in DPSCD is among the top 10% among superintendents in the 500 districts across the country included in a recently released analysis by the Superintendent Research Project.

Emily Hartnett, executive director of Women Leading Ed and lead researcher of the project, said superintendents with longer tenure overwhelmingly leave on their own terms or through a “negotiated exit” rather than removal.

Vitti’s current contract expires June 30, 2028. While negotiating his contract extension in 2024, he raised the possibility of his exit from the district for the first time.

Some worry a new direction may put academic progress at risk

Despite fairly steady progress, DPSCD’s performance on state standardized tests and the SAT remain far behind statewide averages. And some critics are dissatisfied with small year-over-year gains in proficiency rates.

At the September board meeting, board member Short suggested changing the reading curriculum because “it isn’t working.”

Part of the community’s frustrations stem from decades of inequitable education for Black children in Detroit, Jordan said. As the 2016 literacy lawsuit documented, Detroit students experienced deplorable conditions in city schools — such as vermin infestations, caved-in ceilings, and mold — that denied them access to education.

This will be the last year the district has to spend settlement money from the lawsuit. Much of the funding has been used to hire hundreds of academic interventionists and contract with out-of-school tutoring to bring students to grade level. When the money is gone, the district will have to find other ways to pay for the positions or make cuts. The collective disappointment many Detroiters express over current early literacy outcomes may be underscored by the end of funding meant to correct historical wrongs, said Jordan.

But researchers say the substantial progress made suggests systemic change is working.

DPSCD also ranked among the best of similar districts in the U.S. for the speed at which students learn in a school year, a recent analysis found. Researchers say it’s important to keep that in mind because students like those in Detroit often start school far behind their peers in wealthier districts due to systemic racism and poverty.

One of the biggest challenges in education is the tendency to change course when immediate results don’t show the desired outcome, said Jeremy Singer, assistant professor of educational leadership and policy at the University of Michigan-Flint.

“Even while districts may be showing improvements year to year, the risk is always that people feel it’s not enough,” said Singer. “The risk then is throwing out a strategy that is actually working.”

Recent research also suggests that instability in district leadership can affect student achievement.

Beyond oversight of district leadership, the new board will have a wide range of responsibilities. It will create the district’s new four-year strategic plan. The plan, which concludes at the end of this school year, outlines the vision for the district, as well as specific goals for academic progress.

The new members also will have input on the future of small schools in the district and what happens to the buildings after they are vacated. In the next budget cycle, the new board will likely have to make difficult decisions about which initiatives to keep once the literacy settlement is gone and as threats to federal funding continue.

Board members also will need to decide whether DPSCD’s current efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism are working. Though the rate has gone down recently, about 60% of students still missed 18 or more days in the 2025-26 school year.

School safety remains a key area where parents want to see improvement. The new board will decide how to spend future state funding on safety personnel and equipment.

Detroit parents, community members want change

Many parents in the district and Detroiters with a pulse on local education want to see a new board challenge the status quo.

Parent Jasmine Johnson said though there has been long-term progress in academic achievement, she wants to see faster results and new curricula.

“Everybody wants to see these huge jumps immediately,” she said. “That’s not realistic. But this incremental percent change — that’s not going to make it either.”

Gwen Moore, parent of a former DPSCD student, said she wants a new board to “shake up the district and the parents.”

“I want them to become accountable for supporting their schools, teaching them at home and all working together to make our students the best they can be,” she said.

Georgea Cole, a DPSCD grandparent and founder of nonprofit Act Now Services, wants the district to “stay the course” but be “more vigorous.”

“We need to raise the bar to the standards that I know that we can,” said Cole.

Cyekeia Lee, executive director of Detroit College Access Network, wants the new board to dig deeper and go beyond the concept that graduation is the only measure of success.

“I just remain optimistic that the right candidates will land in the right seats and a change will continue to come,” she said.

Hannah Dellinger covers Detroit schools for Chalkbeat Detroit. You can reach her at hdellinger@chalkbeat.org.

Micah Walker is a reporter for BridgeDetroit. You can reach her at mwalker@bridgedetroit.org.

Clarification: Sept. 21, 2026: This story was updated to clarify that one of the five board seats in the November election will have a partial term that ends in 2028.

Court order: Lindsey Cornett is back on the ballot for IPS school board

2026-09-12T00:31:20+00:00

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After a court order, Lindsey Cornett is back on the ballot for the Indianapolis Public Schools Board of School Commissioners election but without a political party affiliation.

“I am really excited to get to move forward and head to November,” Cornett said, adding that she’s not worried about no longer having a Democratic affiliation, saying she’ll make her thoughts and ideas clear to voters.

Marion Superior Court Judge John M.T. Chavis II ordered the ballot change on Friday.

Cornett faces Democrat and incumbent Chris Bultman in the race for District 4, representing the southwestern part of the school district. She was running as a write-in candidate after being removed from the ballot. Five of the seven of the IPS school board seats are on the ballot this November.

Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the IPS board

Cornett was previously on the ballot, and the Marion County Election Board decided to remove her in August after a successful challenge to her party affiliation. Cornett filed a judicial review shortly after that decision.

The challenge against her alleged that Cornett didn’t meet the requirements to run as a Democrat because she hadn’t voted in two Indiana Democratic primary elections, as she thought she did and indicated on her filing paperwork.

Due to a 2025 law, school board candidates have the option to include a party affiliation on the ballot this election. To do that, candidates can either have voted in two party primaries or seek approval from the county chairman of that political party.

Bultman also faced a challenge to his party affiliation, saying he needed to vote in the two most recent Indiana Democratic primaries in 2026 and 2024 to qualify. Bultman’s most recent primary votes were in 2026 and 2020.

However, the election board decided that Bultman met the requirement to run as a Democrat because he had voted in at least two Democratic primaries, but Cornett had not and should be removed from the ballot.

The board cited guidance from the Indiana Election Division and interpretation from the author of the law on partisan school board candidates and pointed to state law about candidates running for office in its decision.

Cornett, however, argued that the law was unfairly applied and the board should have used a state law that points specifically to school board candidates. She said she and Bultman should both be on the ballot, but neither should be listed as a Democrat, and asked the court to review the election board’s decisions on the challenges against her and Bultman.

In his Friday decision, Chavis wrote that the election board’s reading of state law and decision to remove Cornett was incorrect for a party affiliation challenge. He agreed that the state law around school board elections should have been used and added that the guidance from the state election division is “advisory only” and not binding.

The only time state law says a school board candidate can be removed from the ballot is when the candidate moves outside the district and fails to withdraw, per the court order.

Chavis did not revisit the election board’s decision about Bultman, saying the issue was not properly filed with the court and the deadline had passed.

Chalkbeat Indiana reached out to Bultman for comment, but didn’t immediately hear back.

The court decision comes just as ballots are being printed. The election board said it will now print ballots and mail absentee ballots next week.

The District 4 IPS school board seat is on the ballot following the resignation of board member Allissa Impink. She resigned after winning the Democratic primary for Indiana State Senate District 46. The winner of the IPS District 4 race in November would serve the remainder of Impink’s term until 2028.

Election Day is Nov. 3 and early voting starts Oct. 6. Voters can apply for absentee ballots by mail at vote.indy.gov.

MJ Slaby oversees Chalkbeat Indiana’s coverage as bureau chief. Contact MJ at mslaby@chalkbeat.org.

Your guide to 2026 school board elections in Marion County

2026-09-11T11:15:12+00:00

Sign up for Chalkbeat Indiana’s free daily newsletter to keep up with Indianapolis Public Schools, Marion County’s township districts, and statewide education news.

This article was co-published by Chalkbeat Indiana, Mirror Indy and WFYI as part of a collaboration ahead of the 2026 school board elections.

Update, Sept 11: This guide was updated to reflect that Lindsey Cornett is now on the ballot for IPS school board and not a write-in candidate.

This November, more than 50 candidates are on ballots across Marion County for 31 seats on 10 district school boards. And it’s the first time that school board candidates can opt to include a party affiliation on the ballot.

Winning candidates will start their terms in January 2027.

As school board members, they will set and enforce policies for students and staff, approve budgets, and set goals. One of the biggest roles of a school board is to hire and oversee a superintendent. Board members vote on decisions collectively, and individual members can’t make decisions for the district on their own.

School board members can be paid a stipend that is up to 10% of the lowest starting salary of a district teacher.

In Marion County, the number of members per school board varies, as does whether they are at-large or represent a specific area of their school district. School boards in the county are elected, except for Speedway Schools, where the school board is appointed by the town board.

How can I learn more about school board candidates in Marion County?

Chalkbeat Indiana, Mirror Indy, and WFYI partnered to send candidate surveys and publish voter guides on each Marion County school board election. Read each guide:

Additionally, Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI are co-hosting an IPS school board candidates forum at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, at the Indianapolis Public Library, Central Branch. RSVP and submit questions here.

How many school board candidates picked a political party?

In the first year for partisan school board candidates, more than half the candidates in Marion County picked a party. Twenty-one are Democrats, eight are Republicans, and seven are Independents. Twenty candidates didn’t select a party. Marion County bucks statewide trends for party affiliation; the vast majority of Indiana’s partisan school board candidates are Republicans.

Most of the school board members whose terms are ending are running for reelection, and nearly half of all the school board candidates in the county are incumbents.

In six districts — IPS and Decatur, Franklin, Pike, Warren, and Wayne township schools — all the eligible incumbents are running again. Washington Township schools is the only district where no current board members are on the ballot.

Additionally, most candidates are facing at least one opponent, and in three races, there are four candidates running for a single seat. Two of those elections are for IPS school board and one is for Franklin Township schools.

The district with the most candidates overall is IPS, with 15 candidates for five seats. Next is Decatur Township with eight candidates for three seats.

In four districts — Beech Grove as well as Perry, Washington and Wayne township schools — all the candidates are unopposed.

How can I vote in school board elections?

School board elections are not included in straight-ticket voting. Even though school board candidates can now include a party affiliation, candidates of the same party can run against each other.

Voter registration is underway and ends on Oct. 5. Marion County residents can check their voter status and register to vote here.

Early voting begins on Oct. 6 at the Indianapolis City-County Building at 200 E. Washington St. Additional early voting sites open on Oct. 24.

On Election Day on Nov. 3, Marion County residents can vote at any of the county’s voting centers, which can be found online. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

MJ Slaby oversees Chalkbeat Indiana’s coverage as bureau chief. Contact MJ at mslaby@chalkbeat.org.

Voter guide 2026: Here’s who’s running for school board in Wayne Township

2026-09-11T11:00:00+00:00

Sign up for Chalkbeat Indiana’s free daily newsletter to keep up with Indianapolis Public Schools, Marion County’s township districts, and statewide education news.

This article was co-published by Chalkbeat Indiana, Mirror Indy, and WFYI as part of a collaboration ahead of the 2026 school board elections.

Four school board members are running uncontested this year to keep their seats in Wayne Township. The district of about 15,700 students sits on Indianapolis’ west side.

This year, Wayne Township administrators are pursuing a tax referendum that would replace the district’s existing one with a new, slightly higher rate. Candidates reached by Mirror Indy say they support the referendum, which will be used to recruit and retain teachers and support school security.

Candidates elected this year will take their seats in January and serve four-year terms ending in December 2030.

4 board members running to keep seats

Four incumbents are running to keep their seats. Brandon Bowman, Mikeal Gordon, and Raimeka Graham are seeking reelection as Democrats. Benjamin Wakefield did not declare a party affiliation.

This is the first year candidates in Indiana could declare a party affiliation when filing to run for a school board seat.

All four positions on the ballot this fall are at-large seats. That means Wayne Township residents can choose candidates for all the school board openings regardless of where they live within the district.

Election Day is Nov. 3. In-person early voting begins Oct. 6 at the City-County Building, 200 E. Washington St. Additional early voting centers open across the city Oct. 24.

You must be registered to vote by Oct. 5. You can check your voter registration status and find the polling location closest to you by visiting indianavoters.in.gov.

Brandon Bowman, At-large

Brandon Bowman is running as a Democrat.

He is currently president of the Wayne Township school board. He was first elected to the board in 2014 and is seeking his fourth term.

Mirror Indy attempted to reach every candidate in this district. Bowman did not respond to multiple emailed requests to complete the candidate survey.

Mikeal Gordon, At-large

Mikeal Gordon, 55, is running as a Democrat.

He was appointed to the board in December to fill a vacancy left open following the death of longtime member Mike Nance.

Gordon is a purchasing manager with the sheet metal fabrication company Newjac Industrial, based in Lebanon, Indiana. His wife, MiChelle, is the secretary of McClelland Elementary School.

The couple has seven children, including a daughter who graduated from the district’s THRIVE Program for students with cognitive and developmental needs.

Gordon ran unsuccessfully for school board in 2020. He told Mirror Indy last year that he opted not to run again in 2022 or 2024 out of respect for current members of the board.

He is an active volunteer in Wayne Township schools and works as a Santa for public and private events.

Gordon answered questions about his vision for the Wayne Township school board in a short candidate survey. Responses have been lightly edited for grammatical purposes.

Wayne school district candidate, Mikeal Gordon.

List your top three priorities, if elected.

Fiscal responsibility, teacher retention and student test scores.

What do you see as the most pressing issue currently facing the district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

Fiscal issues. We are starting with the referendum this fall on the ballot. The legislature has made it tough on schools. So, finding ways to cut back without hurting our students will be key whether the ballot question passes or not.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

I would love to see the district continue to focus on the whole student. Continue to be strong in the basics with math, English, history and science as well as the arts. Teaching each student holistically where they are at.

Affordability and finances are top of mind for districts and voters. What will be your approach to district finances?

Find a way to use what we have been entrusted with from our voters. Being newer on the school board this year, I still admittedly have a lot to learn on the finance side, but I believe that is the key to keeping this district strong in the coming years.

How will you engage with the community, if elected? What role will their feedback have in your decision-making?

This is my strong suit. I love being out in the community and volunteering, whether that be at schools during their events, during local community events, or even just being social walking through the store. With my beard, I am easily recognizable and hope everyone stops to say hi and have a conversation as long as it is appropriate.

Do you support the district’s effort to pursue a continuation of its operating referendum at a rate not to exceed 70 cents? Why or why not?

Absolutely. With SEA 1, many schools in this state have been put into a very difficult situation. I think it is prudent to get back on the right track and show that we can do so responsibly. If we were the only district looking to get a referendum passed, it would be easy to say we are not doing that, but I think two things show differently. First, there are over 30 school districts seeking to pass a ballot measure and many more that will struggle with the decision in the next few years. Second, when we allowed the 2015 referendum to expire without seeking another one, we showed that we were only going to take what we truly needed to run this district because that was our commitment to our voters. If this ballot measure passes, the 2019 referendum will be zeroed out and we will once again just have the single referendum. We understand that strong schools are important for a vibrant community. Wayne Township is not a community with massive businesses to help carry it. As a school district, Wayne Township must be a strong presence with our community, our families, our educators and staff, and our students. This is how we continue in that way.

Raimeka Graham, At-large

Raimeka Graham is running as a Democrat.

She is principal of Deer Run Elementary School in Pike Township and is a past president of the Wayne Township school board. She was appointed to the Wayne Township board in 2020.

Mirror Indy attempted to reach every candidate in this district. Graham did not respond to multiple requests to complete the candidate survey.

Benjamin Wakefield, At-large

Benjamin Wakefield, 42, is running with no party affiliation.

He is the lead pastor of Lynhurst Baptist Church and a past president of the Wayne Township school board. He was first elected to the board in 2018 and is seeking his third term.

Wakefield has three children attending Wayne Township schools.

Wakefield answered questions about his vision for the Wayne Township school board in a short candidate survey. Responses have been lightly edited for grammatical purposes.

List your top three priorities, if elected.

Strong schools: Ensure every school has the resources needed to provide an excellent education. Supported teachers: Give teachers the tools, support and respect they need to help students thrive. Successful students: Help every student discover their strengths and graduate prepared for the future.

Wayne school board candidate, Benjamin Wakefield.

What do you see as the most pressing issue currently facing the district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

The most pressing issue is meeting the diverse needs of our students while ensuring every school has the opportunity to thrive. My approach is to listen first, collaborate with educators and families, make data-informed decisions, and keep students at the center of every decision.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

I believe our district is already doing many things well. My focus is helping students become lifelong learners by strengthening critical thinking, technology, and career readiness while continuing to value the arts, skilled trades, and the well-rounded education that prepares students for life.

Affordability and finances are top of mind for districts and voters. What will be your approach to district finances?

I recognize that costs are rising for families and for our schools. We must be good stewards of taxpayer dollars, balancing resources wisely while ensuring students have what they need to succeed. Great schools carefully manage every dollar and advocate for the investments that make a lasting difference for students.

How will you engage with the community, if elected? What role will their feedback have in your decision-making?

I believe the best decisions are made by listening first. I’ll seek input from students, families, educators, staff and our community, because every perspective matters. Their feedback will be an important part of my decision making, along with data and a commitment to always put students first.

Do you support the district’s effort to pursue a continuation of its operating referendum at a rate not to exceed 70 cents? Why or why not?

Yes. I support continuing the operating referendum because our students deserve well-funded schools. At the same time, I recognize the financial pressures facing families, so we must be transparent, accountable, and thoughtful stewards of every taxpayer dollar while ensuring our schools have the resources they need to succeed.

Mirror Indy reporter Carley Lanich covers early childhood and K-12 education. Contact her at carley.lanich@mirrorindy.org or follow her on X @carleylanich.

Warren Township school board voter guide 2026: Meet the 6 candidates

2026-09-11T11:00:00+00:00

Sign up for Chalkbeat Indiana’s free daily newsletter to keep up with Indianapolis Public Schools, Marion County’s township districts, and statewide education news.

This article was co-published by Chalkbeat Indiana, Mirror Indy, and WFYI as part of a collaboration ahead of the 2026 school board elections.

Three school board seats are up for election this year in Warren Township.

The district of about 11,500 students stretches across Indianapolis’ far east side.

Warren Township leaders this year are gearing up for a major effort to move fifth-grade students, currently placed in intermediate buildings, back to the elementary schools. Some students’ elementary school building assignments could change as a result. The transition is expected to take place in time for the start of the 2027-28 school year.

Candidates reached by Mirror Indy say they support the change and want to provide students with the resources they need to have a smooth transition.

Candidates elected this year will take their seats in January and serve four-year terms ending in December 2030.

6 candidates vie for 3 seats

Six candidates are running for seats on the Warren Township school board.

Three current board members will run to keep their seats. Three challengers are also running.

Five candidates, Terri Amos, Rachel Burke, Jerry Crites, Samantha Douglas, and Kevin Humphrey Sr., did not declare an affiliation with a political party. Steve Tutsie, a challenger, is running as an independent. This is the first year candidates in Indiana could declare a party affiliation when filing to run for a school board seat.

All three positions on Warren Township school district ballots this fall are at-large seats. That means district residents can choose candidates for all the board openings regardless of where they live within the school district.

Election Day is Nov. 3. In-person early voting begins Oct. 6 at the City-County Building, 200 E. Washington St. Additional early voting centers open across the city Oct. 24.

You must be registered to vote by Oct. 5. You can check your voter registration status and find the polling location closest to you by visiting indianavoters.in.gov.

Terri Amos, At-large

Terri Amos, 55, is running without a party affiliation.

Amos serves as president of the Warren Township board. She was first elected to the board in 2014 and is running this fall for what would be her fourth term.

Amos is a teacher in another school district. Her three children attended Warren Township schools for kindergarten through 12th grade and are now graduates.

Amos answered questions about her vision for the Warren Township school board in a short candidate survey. Responses have been lightly edited for grammatical purposes.

Warren township school board candidate, Terri Amos.

List your top three priorities, if elected.

As a school board member, I would advocate for increased state funding by working with state legislators and collaborating with other school districts to push for a more equitable funding formula. I would prioritize responsible budgeting to ensure teacher salaries remain as competitive as possible, helping our district attract and retain high-quality educators. I also believe in being transparent with the community about the district’s financial challenges, and explaining why referendums may be necessary to maintain strong academic programs, safe facilities and student services. By focusing on fiscal responsibility, advocacy and open communication, I would work to ensure Warren Township schools have the resources needed to provide every student with a high-quality education.

What do you see as the most pressing issue currently facing the district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

One of the most pressing issues currently facing Warren Township schools is the challenge of inadequate state funding. As the cost of educating students continues to rise, many school districts are struggling to provide competitive teacher salaries, maintain programs, and meet the diverse needs of their students. Low teacher pay makes it difficult to recruit and retain high-quality educators, placing additional strain on schools. At the same time, many districts have been forced to seek voter approval through referendums to secure the funding needed for essential operations and improvements. These financial challenges highlight the need for more sustainable and equitable state funding to ensure that all students receive a high-quality education without placing an increasing burden on local taxpayers.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

Warren Township schools have made steady progress in student achievement over the past three years. IREAD scores have continued to improve, with more than 83% of third-grade students passing the assessment. This success reflects the district’s commitment to strengthening early literacy skills and supporting student learning. While celebrating these gains, the district is now focused on improving ILEARN math scores. As a school board member, I would support evidence-based instructional practices, provide teachers with the resources and professional development they need, and monitor student achievement data to ensure we continue making progress in mathematics while maintaining our success in reading.

Affordability and finances are top of mind for districts and voters. What will be your approach to district finances?

As a school board member, I would approach district finances with a focus on transparency, accountability and long-term planning. I believe every dollar should be spent wisely to maximize student learning while being respectful of taxpayers. I would carefully review the district’s budget, prioritize funding for classroom instruction, student support services, and competitive teacher salaries, and look for opportunities to improve efficiency without sacrificing educational quality. I would also work to build community trust by clearly communicating financial decisions, and ensuring that any requests for additional funding, such as referendums, are supported by a demonstrated need and a clear plan for how the funds will benefit students.

How will you engage with the community, if elected? What role will their feedback have in your decision making?

As a school board member, I believe strong community engagement is essential to the success of our schools. I would make it a priority to be visible and approachable by attending school events, community meetings, and district activities, while listening to the concerns and ideas of parents, students, teachers, and community members. I would encourage open communication by providing regular updates on board decisions, and being transparent about district goals and challenges. By building relationships, seeking feedback and ensuring every voice is heard, I hope to strengthen the partnership between our schools and the community and make decisions that reflect the needs and priorities of Warren Township families.

The district anticipates moving fifth graders back into elementary schools by fall 2027. What do you believe is needed to ensure a smooth transition? As a board member, how would you help?

As a school board member, I would support a thoughtful and well-planned transition as Warren Township moves fifth-grade students back to the elementary schools. A successful transition will require clear communication with families, staff and students, careful planning for staffing and classroom space, and ensuring each school has the resources needed to meet the academic and social-emotional needs of fifth graders. I also believe it is important to create a unique experience for our fifth-grade scholars by providing leadership opportunities, age-appropriate extracurricular activities, and programs that prepare them for middle school. By working collaboratively with district leaders, teachers and families, I would help ensure this transition is a positive experience that supports student growth, strengthens school communities, and sets our scholars up for future success.

Rachel Burke, At-large

Rachel Burke did not declare a party affiliation.

Burke is a past secretary, vice president, and president of the board seeking her fourth term.

She was born and raised in Warren Township, attending Warren Central, Heather Hills, Lakeside, and Stonybrook schools.

She is a mom to three children who have attended the district. She has volunteered with robotics and Science Olympiad teams as well as school parent-teacher council groups.

In June, Burke was elected as the National PTA’s vice president of advocacy. You can learn more about her by visiting her campaign website.

Mirror Indy attempted to reach every candidate in this district. Burke did not respond to multiple emailed requests to complete the candidate survey.

Jerry Crites, At-large

Jerry Crites, 62, did not declare a party affiliation. Crites is a retired facilities director for Warren Township schools. He doesn’t have students currently enrolled in the district. He is running for what would be his first term on the school board.

Crites answered questions about his vision for the Warren Township school board in a short candidate survey. Responses have been lightly edited for grammatical purposes.

Warren township school board candidate, Jerry Crites.

List your top three priorities, if elected.

Improve student outcomes: Raise test scores and strengthen the curriculum through targeted instruction, tutoring/intervention, and clear progress monitoring.

Support and retain staff: Offer competitive salaries and professional incentives for both certified and classified personnel to attract and keep high-quality employees.

Evaluate and upgrade facilities: Conduct a thorough facility review and prioritize repairs, safety upgrades, and learning-space improvements based on need.

What do you see as the most pressing issue currently facing the district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

One of the most pressing issues facing our district right now is the impact of federal cutbacks on feeding programs and the broader safety net that supports kids outside of the school day. As a board member, my approach would be to safeguard these programs in our own budget priorities, build stronger partnerships with local food banks and nonprofits to help close the gap, and advocate at the state and federal level for their continued support. A child who is hungry cannot focus on learning, so protecting these programs means protecting our ability to educate every child in this district.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

I believe the district needs to prioritize technology and digital literacy, ensuring students build real skills in areas like coding, data literacy, and responsible use of emerging tools like artificial intelligence — not just access to devices. In a rapidly changing job market, this is essential for preparing every student for future success, and it’s especially important for closing equity gaps for students who may have less exposure to technology outside of school.

Affordability and finances are top of mind for districts and voters. What will be your approach to district finances?

My approach will be to work collaboratively with the board and chief financial officer to make responsible, transparent budget decisions — reviewing spending, identifying efficiencies, and maintaining accountability to taxpayers. Above all, every financial decision should keep students and the quality of their education first.

How will you engage with the community, if elected? What role will their feedback have in your decision making?

I will make myself accessible by responding directly to those who attend board meetings and by making sure my contact information is available through the district website for anyone unable to attend or who needs to reach me at another time. I also plan to attend community events to stay connected and support the district, and I will remain open and available to answer questions at any time. Community feedback will play a real role in my decision making, since the board’s decisions should ultimately reflect the needs and voices of the families we serve.

I believe a thorough evaluation of facilities is needed to ensure our elementary schools have adequate classroom space and capacity to support this change. As a board member, I would meet regularly with district officials to track construction and renovation progress, ensure timelines stay on schedule, and make sure teachers and staff have the training and resources needed to support fifth graders in a new setting.

Samantha Douglas, At-large

Samantha Douglas, 36, did not declare a party affiliation.

Douglas is a community advocate and president of the Far Eastside Community Council. She is running for what would be her first term on the Warren Township school board.

Douglas is a mom to a fourth grader at Brookview Elementary School, an eighth grader at Stonybrook Intermediate and Middle School, and a junior at Warren Central High School. Her oldest graduated from Warren Central in the spring.

You can learn more about Douglas by visiting her campaign website.

Douglas answered questions about her vision for the Warren Township school board in a short candidate survey. Responses have been lightly edited for grammatical purposes.

Warren township school board candidate, Samantha Douglas.

List your top three priorities, if elected.

Strengthening school and community connections. Schools should be the heart of our communities. They should be community hubs where students, families and neighbors can find not only a quality education, but the resources, relationships and support that help everyone thrive. I’ll build stronger partnerships between our schools, families, nonprofits, businesses and neighborhood organizations so students have the support they need both inside and outside the classroom. I’ve spent 10 years cultivating relationships that continue to help build a better community. I want to bring those relationships to Warren.

Supporting the whole student. Student success goes beyond academics. I’ll advocate for policies that strengthen families, support teachers and staff, increase parent engagement, and ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive. Schools are so much more than ABCs & 123s, and I want to help build more opportunities for our kids to be successful inside and outside of the classroom.

Leading with collaboration and accountability. I’ll bring thoughtful, transparent leadership that values collaboration, uses data to guide decisions and prepares Warren Township schools for the changing future of education. I want all our families, students and staff to feel like they are a part of what’s happening at Warren schools and that they’re being represented well.

What do you see as the most pressing issue currently facing the district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

I believe the most pressing issue facing Warren Township schools is ensuring we remain the first choice for families. Warren has long been known as the “Pride of the Eastside,” and we should live up to that reputation by offering an exceptional educational experience that prepares every student for success. Rather than focusing on competing out of fear, we should focus on being so innovative, supportive, and connected to our community that families choose Warren because it’s the best place for their children to learn, grow and thrive.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

It’s difficult for me to choose just one academic area because every year Warren serves nearly 12,000 unique students, each with different strengths, goals, and needs. My priority is ensuring every student has access to the academic support and opportunities they need to succeed. That means maintaining strong literacy and math instruction, while also investing in STEM, the arts, career and technical education, and other pathways that prepare students for whatever future they choose. Success isn’t about one subject. It’s about helping every student reach their full potential.

Affordability and finances are top of mind for districts and voters. What will be your approach to district finances?

I believe every financial decision should begin with one question: How does this improve outcomes for students? My approach would be grounded in transparency, fiscal responsibility, and long-term planning, while recognizing that we can’t simply cut our way to excellence. We should be thoughtful stewards of taxpayer dollars, invest strategically in what helps students and educators succeed, and seek partnerships that expand opportunities without placing unnecessary burdens on families.

How will you engage with the community, if elected? What role will their feedback have in your decision making?

At the most basic level, I am elected to represent this community. That means listening first and ensuring my decisions are informed by the perspectives, values and priorities of the families I serve. I also recognize that effective representation requires transparency and communication. My goal is to provide information, access and education that helps residents understand the issues before the board so they can engage in meaningful dialogue. While I won’t always be able to make every decision everyone agrees with, I will always strive to make decisions with the community, not just for the community.

I support this transition because I believe decisions like this should always be guided by what’s best for students. A smooth transition will require thoughtful planning, clear communication with families, well-prepared staff, and ensuring our elementary schools have the space, resources, and programming needed to support fifth graders. As a board member, I will ask thoughtful questions, listen to the experiences of families and educators throughout the process, and ensure the district has the resources and accountability necessary for a successful implementation. Change is most successful when the people it impacts feel informed, supported and heard.

Kevin Humphrey Sr., At-large

Kevin Humphrey Sr., 64, is running without a party affiliation.

Humphrey served in the U.S. Marine Corps. and is a retired postal worker. He serves as vice president of the Warren Township board. He was first elected in 2022 and is seeking his second term this fall.

Humphrey is a longtime volunteer in youth sports. Children in his family attend the Warren Early Childhood Center, Grassy Creek Elementary School, and Creston Intermediate Middle School.

Humphrey Sr. answered questions about his vision for the Warren Township school board in a short candidate survey. Responses have been lightly edited for grammatical purposes.

Warren township school board candidate, Kevin Humphrey.

List your top three priorities, if elected.

Continue academic growth, increasing teachers’ salary, and increasing ADM. (ADM stands for average daily membership, a term used in education to refer to a school’s student enrollment count.)

What do you see as the most pressing issue currently facing the district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

The new budget cuts. Must work with legislators to reevaluate things.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

It’s a matter of policy changes. New regulations and changes in policy keep moving the goal post.

Affordability and finances are top of mind for districts and voters. What will be your approach to district finances?

To stay fiscally disciplined.

How will you engage with the community, if elected? What role will their feedback have in your decision making?

In every way possible. The voice of the community is key to our decision making.

The space is being added to accommodate another grade. For the students, it’s just a matter of another year in their buildings. For some teachers, it will be transitioning to a new building. As a board, we will give the teachers all the support they need.

Steve Tutsie, At-large

Steve Tutsie, 60, is running as an independent candidate.

If elected, Tutsie would serve his first term on the Warren Township board. He is an assistant head football coach at Marian University and held multiple stints coaching at Warren Central, including the 2006 state-championship-winning Warrior team.

He does not have family currently attending Warren Township schools. You can learn more about Tutsie on his Facebook page.

Tutsie answered questions about his vision for the Warren Township school board in a short candidate survey. Responses have been lightly edited for grammatical purposes.

Warren township school board candidate, Steve Tutsie.

List your top three priorities, if elected.

Student achievement, student retention and recruitment, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

What do you see as the most pressing issue currently facing the district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

Student retention and recruitment at our middle schools. Sending fifth graders back to the elementaries in 2027 is one vital strategy. Another critical component that needs to be explored is establishing paths for student success.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

This needs to be addressed from three different lenses. Regarding the elementaries, continue the upswing in reading and math scores. The middle school strategy must focus on better identification of academic and extra curricular needs of each student. This will aid in retention. The high school focus must be the successful navigation of the new state graduation requirements.

Affordability and finances are top of mind for districts and voters. What will be your approach to district finances?

We must be responsible stewards of taxpayers’ dollars with accountability.

How will you engage with the community, if elected? What role will their feedback have in your decision making?

I will be visible and present at as many school activities as possible. It is critical that you listen and encourage feedback. No one has better information than people with boots on the ground.

Engage with the teachers, parents and students affected by the transition. The best way to ensure a smooth transition is to anticipate and avoid possible pitfalls before they take place. That is where my experience as an educator for all three grade levels and 12 years of service for Warren Township schools will pay dividends.

Mirror Indy reporter Carley Lanich covers early childhood and K-12 education. Contact her at carley.lanich@mirrorindy.org or follow her on X @carleylanich.

Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township: School board election voter guide

2026-09-11T11:00:00+00:00

Sign up for Chalkbeat Indiana’s free daily newsletter to keep up with Indianapolis Public Schools, Marion County’s township districts, and statewide education news.

This article was co-published by Chalkbeat Indiana, Mirror Indy and WFYI as part of a collaboration ahead of the 2026 school board elections.

Two of the five school board seats are up for election in the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township on the northeast side of Marion County.

The new board members will shepherd the district — which last year enrolled roughly 16,700 students — through its massive building improvement plan. They also will guide the district through any potential fiscal challenges incurred by the state’s recent property tax reforms. The district has never asked voters to increase property taxes through an operating referendum, and several of the candidates stress fiscal responsibility and transparency as among their top priorities.

The district’s pay for administrators, which according to self-reported data has been among the highest of Marion County’s 11 school districts in recent years, has been a point of contention recently among board members.

Who is running and how to vote

Two nonpartisan candidates are vying for one at-large seat, which is filled by voters throughout the entire district.

Another two nonpartisan candidates are competing for the District 2 seat, which encompasses the northeast corner of the district.

The new board members will serve through 2030.

Early voting begins Oct. 6. The general election is Nov. 3. You can find out how to register to vote in Marion County here, and you can find polling locations at https://vote.indy.gov/.

Candidate survey responses have been edited lightly for length and clarity.

Maria Bertram Cartagena, at-large candidate

Maria Bertram Cartagena, 49, is running as a nonpartisan for the at-large seat. She has a master’s degree in business administration and has children attending district schools.

Lawrence Township school board candidate Maria Bertram Cartanega.

Cartagena has previously worked as an engineer and owns a local business advising and capital investing company. She serves as a board member of the Lawrence Township School Foundation.

Her campaign website is https://www.mariabertramcartagena.com/.

Please list your top 3 priorities if elected.

• Creating Opportunities: Empowering every student to flourish through strong schools and diverse academic pathways designed for long-term success.

• Family Engagement: Strengthening the partnership between our families and schools to ensure every child has the community support they need.

• Fiscal Transparency: I will insist on fiscally prudent budgets and make sure that we dedicate sufficient resources to improve classroom learning and student services.

What do you see as the most pressing issue facing your district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

SB 1 & SB 518 Property tax relief results in reduced school district revenue.

I think my approach to addressing this issue is going to be to work side by side with the other board members and to bring to state legislators our concerns with these bills and the ways these bills are affecting our students and district in general. I will work with state legislators on both sides of the aisle to be of influence for our students. My approach is one of collaboration, with our students in mind.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

32% of the student demographic in MSD of Lawrence Township is of Hispanic origin. ESL is always going to be a challenge for our district. Although we focus on all our students and all levels of academic advancement and achievement, I think additional focus must be placed on our ESL students to help them be successful academically and pass the State exams. I do think we already do a great job helping those students with tutoring and extra support in each school. Our School Vision is “The district of destination where excellence empowers everyone to reach their full potential.”

How will you engage with the community if elected? What role will their feedback have in your decision making?

I would like to create one or more Parent Advocacy groups if elected. For example, I would like to create a forum in Spanish where parents of LT students feel welcome and can ask questions about the district. As another example, I would visit the communities where most of the Hispanics reside in our district to connect with them in that way since some of them lack transportation. Community feedback is something I will bring immediately to our Superintendent and other board members to be evaluated. I will value and consider all feedback.

Administrator pay has often been a point of contention between school board members. What are your thoughts on the amount the district spends on administrators, which includes principals and assistant principals, and how would you strengthen public trust in district administration?

Teachers, administrators, and staff are all important for student success. My parents were teachers first and later became administrators of their own school. They lived and breathed for the profession whether serving as teachers or administrators. I saw firsthand their sacrifice, their hard work, and how that reaped benefits in having great staff and amazing school workers that stood with them for 20+ years. My parents valued loyalty and hard work and because of that they incentivize the employees for it. Great administrators support and develop teachers and staff. If elected as a board member I will work with the other board members to show our community that we have the finances to support our administrators’ raises. Transparency is key at all levels. People need to know. If we don’t, then we need to provide reasons for not passing raises.

Jessica Dunn, at-large candidate

Jessica Dunn, 54, is running as a nonpartisan for the at-large seat. She has a bachelor of arts from Indiana University and a master’s degree from Butler University, and she has children attending district schools. She has served on the board since 2023.

Dunn is the director of English as a new language for Indianapolis Public Schools. Her campaign website is https://www.jessicadunn4msdlt.com/.

Please list your top 3 priorities if elected.

My platform centers on three interconnected priorities:

First, driving academic achievement and investing in our educators. That starts with collaborating with the board and superintendent to set transparent, measurable goals. We must continue strengthening our graduation pathways while ensuring we recruit and retain top-tier teachers to lead our classrooms.

Lawrence Township school board candidate Jessica Dunn.

Second, delivering exceptional district programs through responsible fiscal management. I am committed to making sure taxpayer dollars are used efficiently, living within our means while expanding community partnerships, and maintaining robust before- and after-school programming for our families.

Third, supporting the safety, health and well-being, and culture of our schools. We will continue prioritizing safe physical environments, actively measuring the impact of our mental health support systems, and listening to our parents and staff through annual survey feedback to continuously improve school climate.

What do you see as the most pressing issue facing your district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

The most pressing issue facing our district is maintaining long-term financial stability and academic excellence in the face of reduced state educational funding.

My approach is to maintain strict fiduciary oversight so the district lives within its means.

(MSDLT) has done a phenomenal job of balancing the operational budget without asking homeowners for an operating referendum tax increase. I will continue to prioritize strategic budgeting, protect our classroom dollars, and ensure we maximize every state dollar before ever considering turning to our local taxpayers for additional funds.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

To drive real student achievement, our focus must center on growth at key transitions: building strong early literacy foundations and ensuring 9th-grade pathway completion.

Indiana’s updated accountability model aligns perfectly with this goal by looking beyond single test scores to evaluate continuous progress, attendance, and true post-secondary readiness. By equipping educators with early, data-driven interventions and broadening high school career pathways, we ensure no student falls through the cracks between kindergarten and graduation. With strong existing programs and continued investment in state-of-the-art facilities at the McKenzie Center for Innovation & Technology, MSDLT is primed to lead the way.

How will you engage with the community if elected? What role will their feedback have in your decision making?

I view community engagement as an ongoing conversation. My role is to represent the people who place their trust in our school system, which requires proactive outreach to students, parents, teachers, district staff, and taxpayers.

Feedback from our stakeholders serves as the foundation for the board’s three primary responsibilities: maintaining strong fiscal accountability, shaping responsive district policies, and holding district leadership accountable to our shared goals. Before voting on major policy updates or financial decisions, I prioritize seeking out diverse perspectives, especially from those most directly impacted, so our school board reflects the community it serves.

When I first joined the school board, I questioned administrative compensation. But through my experience on the board, my perspective has evolved because I’ve seen the reality: you get what you pay for.

Our principals, assistant principals, and district leaders don’t work 40-hour weeks. They are in our buildings long before the first bell, navigating complex student needs, supporting teachers, and spending countless evenings and weekends managing athletics, fine arts, and community events. Compared to executive leadership roles in the private sector requiring similar hours and levels of responsibility, public school administrators earn far less; yet they hold the safety and academic future of thousands of children in their hands.

However, maintaining competitive pay requires maintaining public trust. We strengthen that trust by focusing on radical transparency. We must communicate clearly with taxpayers about how administrative oversight protects our more than $200 million operational budget, keeps our schools safe, and prevents costly operational mistakes; all while maintaining balanced budgets without asking property owners for an operating referendum.

Larry Brown, District 2 candidate

Larry Brown is running as a nonpartisan for the District 2 seat. He has a master’s in business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University, and has children in the district. He works as an implementation coordinator with Elevance Health.

Please list your top 3 priorities if elected.

Lawrence Township school board candidate Larry Brown.

1. Student Attendance 2. Safety in school 3. Fiscal Transparency

What do you see as the most pressing issue facing your district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

The biggest challenge facing our district is student attendance. When students are not in school, they miss valuable instruction, fall behind academically, and are less likely to reach their full potential. Improving attendance must be a priority because every day in the classroom matters.

As a school board member, I will support policies that focus on identifying and addressing the reasons students are absent. That means strengthening communication with parents, partnering with community organizations to help families overcome barriers such as transportation, health, or other challenges, and ensuring our schools are safe, welcoming, and engaging environments where students want to learn.

I also believe in using attendance data to identify trends, intervene early, and hold ourselves accountable for measurable improvement. The board’s role is to provide oversight, support effective strategies, and ensure resources are directed where they will have the greatest impact.

My goal is simple: remove barriers, build stronger partnerships with families, and help every student be present, engaged, and prepared for success.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

I believe the district’s biggest academic priority should be improving literacy while closing the achievement gaps that exist across our schools. In an urban district, many students face challenges outside the classroom that can impact learning, but every child still deserves the opportunity to read, learn, and succeed at a high level.

I will support early literacy programs, targeted academic interventions, and resources that help students who are behind catch up. I also believe we must invest in our teachers by providing quality training and the tools they need to be successful in the classroom.

Academic success doesn’t happen by schools alone. We need strong partnerships with parents, community organizations, and local businesses to support students both inside and outside the classroom.

As a school board member, I will advocate for policies that use data to measure progress, invest resources where they are needed most, and hold the district accountable for improving student outcomes. Every student, regardless of their ZIP code or background, should graduate prepared for college, a career, or military service.

How will you engage with the community if elected? What role will their feedback have in your decision making?

If elected, I will make it a priority to be visible, accessible, and engaged throughout the Lawrence Township community—not just at board meetings. I plan to regularly attend school events, PTO meetings, neighborhood association meetings, faith-based gatherings, and community events to hear directly from students, parents, teachers, and residents.

I believe the best decisions are made when leaders listen first. Community feedback will play an important role in my decision-making by helping me better understand the needs, concerns, and ideas of those we serve. While I know every decision may not satisfy everyone, I will always be transparent about how and why decisions are made and ensure every voice is heard and respected.

As a school board member, I will be committed to building trust through consistent communication, visibility, and accountability. My goal is for the community to know they have a representative who is present, approachable, and committed to putting students first.

I understand that administrator compensation is an important issue for many taxpayers and families. My understanding is that Lawrence Township’s administrator salaries are generally comparable to those of similar school districts in our region. To attract and retain strong principals and district leaders, we must offer competitive compensation while also being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.

I believe the focus should not be solely on how much administrators are paid, but on the value they bring to our schools and the results they produce. The board should ensure that compensation is tied to performance, accountability, and the district’s goals for student achievement and operational excellence.

To strengthen public trust, I will support greater transparency by clearly communicating how compensation decisions are made, how administrators are evaluated, and how district resources are being used to improve student outcomes. I believe trust is built through openness, accountability, and consistent communication. Taxpayers deserve to know that every dollar is being invested wisely, and I am committed to ensuring that district leadership remains focused on serving students, families, and the community.

Craig J. Willey, District 2 candidate

Craig J. Willey, 46, is running as a nonpartisan for the District 2 seat, and has children attending district schools. He serves as an associate dean and professor for the Indiana University Indianapolis School of Education.

Willey has a bachelor of arts in Spanish and a bachelor of arts in actuarial science from Butler University, as well as a doctorate in curriculum studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Lawrence Township school board candidate Craig Willey.

Please list your top 3 priorities if elected.

If elected, my priorities would be to 1) continue the work with families to maintain schools that are welcoming and help all kids thrive; 2) advocate for Lawrence schools and community, especially when it comes to educational policy; and 3) sustain Lawrence’s efforts to attract and retain exceptional educators and leaders.

What do you see as the most pressing issue facing your district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

The most pressing issue facing school districts today is making sure that there are adequate resources to support the programs and educators that students need to be successful. I would do this by carefully monitoring the implications of SEA 1 on school district budgets and explore solutions to any shortcomings that surface.

The other piece of this is making sure we teachers are properly supported to meet the student achievement standards set by local and state policy.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

I am confident that the district will continue to lead in compliance with respect to reading and foundational mathematics instruction, as well as providing robust opportunities for STEM learning and career and technical education.

We also must continue to provide focused services for multilingual learners and exceptional learners. This combination of focusing on foundational skills while continuing to update programming to be future-ready will ensure that Lawrence graduates continue to lead in the community and beyond.

How will you engage with the community if elected? What role will their feedback have in your decision making?

I am a person who is available and accessible. I would invite community members to weigh in on the issues facing MSDLT. It is important to me to bring this feedback forward when considering solutions to the challenges that come up.

Because of my decades of experience as a teacher and collaborator with school districts, I understand the roles administrators play in leading successful school districts. Attracting and retaining leaders that help keep MSDLT functioning at the highest level is crucial, and this involves appropriate compensation. At the same time, our students deserve the best teachers in front of them on a daily basis.

It is no secret that teachers give endlessly of themselves for our students, and they deserve to be properly compensated and supported. Teacher retention matters. We can do both in MSDLT: pay administrators competitively and provide teachers what they need and deserve.

Amelia Pak-Harvey covers schools for Chalkbeat Indiana. Contact Amelia at apak-harvey@chalkbeat.org.

Beech Grove school board voter guide 2026: Meet the 3 candidates

2026-09-11T11:00:00+00:00

Sign up for Chalkbeat Indiana’s free daily newsletter to keep up with Indianapolis Public Schools, Marion County’s township districts, and statewide education news.

This article was co-published by Chalkbeat Indiana, Mirror Indy, and WFYI as part of a collaboration ahead of the 2026 school board elections.

Three school board seats are up for election this year in Beech Grove.

The district of nearly 5,500 students sits on Indianapolis’ southeast side.

This year, Beech Grove administrators are pursuing a tax referendum that would replace the district’s existing referendum tax rate. Candidates reached by Mirror Indy say they support continuing the referendum, which provides funding for bus services, building maintenance, and school resource officers.

Candidates elected this year will take their seats in January and serve four-year terms ending in December 2030.

3 candidates running at large

Three candidates are running to keep their seats this year.

Board members Brian Downard and Madison West did not declare a party affiliation.

Jannis King, who is president of the Beech Grove board, is running as an independent. This is the first year candidates in Indiana could declare a party affiliation when filing to run for a school board seat.

All three positions on the ballot this fall are at-large seats. That means Beech Grove residents can choose candidates for all the school board openings regardless of where they live in the district.

Election Day is Nov. 3. In-person early voting begins Oct. 6 at the City-County Building, 200 E. Washington St. Additional early voting centers open across the city Oct. 24.

You must be registered to vote by Oct. 5. You can check your voter registration status and find the polling location closest to you by visiting indianavoters.in.gov.

Brian Downard, At-large

Brian Downard, 40, is running with no party affiliation. He works in aerospace engineering and has two children attending Beech Grove schools — one is elementary-aged and the other is middle-school-aged.

Downard was appointed to the Beech Grove board in January 2024 to fill a vacancy left by former longtime member Rick Skirvin. Skirvin retired from his seat early following allegations he falsely accused three Black teenagers of stealing from a local convenience store.

The Beech Grove board chose Downard to serve the remainder of Skirvin’s term, which ends this December. Downard is now running to keep the seat for the next four years.

Beech Grove school board candidate, Brian Downard.

You can learn more about him through his campaign’s Facebook page.

Downard answered questions about his vision for the Beech Grove school board in a short candidate survey. Responses have been lightly edited for grammatical purposes.

List your top three priorities, if elected.

Priority one is the educational quality, academic experience, safety, and well-being of our Beech Grove students. Priority two is maintaining accountability to the parents, students, education professionals and community that I serve on the school board. Priority three is to strengthen Beech Grove City Schools by continuing to build our financial health, creating opportunities for student growth and programs, and to make BGCS better than I found it.

What do you see as the most pressing issue currently facing the district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

Beech Grove City Schools faces overwhelming impacts from the legislation and tax base that determines school funding in Indiana. I support the 2026 operational referendum for Beech Grove City Schools that will allow us to continue vital services for our school community, such as facilities maintenance, custodial services, repairs and transportation. I also advocate for continuing to improve operational efficiency through financial stewardship, strategic resource allocation and improving revenues wherever it is possible.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

There is important work to do in improving foundational literacy and math skills, but my passion is in the development of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) opportunities for students to have access to education and careers that shape our future. I want to encourage our students to pursue vocational callings that can be life-changing for the next generation of our community.

Affordability and finances are top of mind for districts and voters. What will be your approach to district finances?

Beech Grove City Schools has done an amazing job of doing more with less, achieved through financial discipline, strategic reductions in district leadership, deliberate resource decisions, and identifying revenue sources. There is more work to be done in this space, but an immediate focus is to successfully navigate this year’s operating referendum with our community, focusing on the commitment of only asking for what we need and to be transparent and trustworthy with the tax dollars we receive from the people of this city.

How will you engage with the community, if elected? What role will their feedback have in your decision making?

I am always willing to discuss any topic concerning our school system with the community. I am available to listen to any concerns and appreciate any feedback of what I can do better to represent our community in school district decisions.

Do you support the district’s effort to pursue a renewal of its operating referendum at a rate not to exceed 57 cents? Why or why not?

I absolutely support the 2026 operating referendum for Beech Grove City Schools for the sake of our students and community. The school system operates on an extremely thin budget for operations due to legislative funding formulas and a fixed tax base — all disadvantages for small community school corporations like Beech Grove. The referendum will allow us to continue providing essential services to our community and students. The proposed referendum rate was carefully decided to limit impact to our taxpayers and to only ask for what we need to operate our schools. I am proud of what we can do with these limited funds to make such a significant impact on our ability to support our students in their educational experience.

Jannis King, At-large

Jannis King is president of the Beech Grove school board. She’s served on the board for more than a decade and is running as an independent.

Mirror Indy attempted to reach every candidate in this district. King did not respond to multiple requests to complete the candidate survey.

Madison West, At-large

Madison West, 32, is running with no party affiliation. West very recently joined the Beech Grove school board. She was appointed in July to fill a seat vacated by Rob Challis.

Challis resigned this summer after being hired as the district’s new school safety coordinator. Indiana law prohibits school employees from serving on their district’s board.

West works in government affairs and has three young children. One is a third grader at South Grove Elementary, another is a kindergartener at Hornet Park Elementary and the third is starting preschool.

You can learn more about West by visiting her campaign website.

West answered questions about her vision for the Beech Grove school board in a short candidate survey. Responses have been lightly edited for grammatical purposes.

Beech Grove school board candidate, Madison West.

List your top three priorities, if elected.

Advancing student achievement through support for students and educators, ensuring fiscal responsibility and long-term financial stability, and providing collaborative, student-centered leadership.

What do you see as the most pressing issue currently facing the district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

The most pressing issue facing Beech Grove City Schools is ensuring long-term financial stability while continuing to provide every student with a high-quality education. Like many school districts across Indiana, Beech Grove is faced with the difficult decision of pursuing an operating referendum to address immediate funding needs and avoid cuts that could impact students, teachers and classrooms. While the referendum is an important short-term solution, we must also continue working toward a sustainable, long-term funding model. My approach will be to make fiscally responsible decisions, maintain open communication with our community, and collaborate with state leaders to advocate for lasting solutions. Our students shouldn’t have to wait for long-term policy changes to receive the education and opportunities they deserve.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

One area I believe we should continue to focus on is ensuring every student builds strong foundational skills while also expanding opportunities that prepare them for life after graduation. That means strengthening early literacy, supporting academic growth at every grade level, and providing students with pathways to college, careers and skilled trades. Every student should graduate with the knowledge, skills and opportunities to succeed in whatever future they choose.

Affordability and finances are top of mind for districts and voters. What will be your approach to district finances?

Affordability and fiscal responsibility must remain top priorities. Beech Grove has made significant progress over the past several years, and I commend the superintendent and school board for making difficult, but necessary decisions to strengthen the district’s financial position, while keeping students at the center of those decisions. My approach will be to build on that work by making thoughtful, transparent financial decisions, ensuring taxpayer dollars are used responsibly, and continuing to advocate for long-term funding solutions at the state level. Every budget decision should support student success while protecting the district’s financial future.

How will you engage with the community, if elected? What role will their feedback have in your decision making?

I believe effective leadership begins with listening. I will engage with parents, students, teachers, staff and community members by being accessible, attending school and community events, and encouraging open, respectful dialogue. Community feedback is an important part of the decision-making process, because those closest to our schools provide valuable perspectives. While every decision must ultimately be based on what is in the best interest of all Beech Grove students, I am committed to ensuring our community feels heard, informed and represented throughout that process.

Do you support the district’s effort to pursue a renewal of its operating referendum at a rate not to exceed 57 cents? Why or why not?

Yes. I support the district’s efforts to renew the operating referendum at a rate not to exceed 57 cents because it provides critical funding needed to maintain the high-quality education our students deserve, while avoiding unnecessary impacts on classrooms, teachers and essential student programs. Like many school districts across Indiana, Beech Grove is facing financial challenges that cannot be solved by local efforts alone. While I believe we must continue advocating for long-term improvements to the state’s school funding formula, we also have a responsibility to address today’s needs so our students are not left behind. Supporting this renewal is a fiscally responsible step that helps provide stability as we work toward sustainable, long-term funding solutions.

Mirror Indy reporter Carley Lanich covers early childhood and K-12 education. Contact her at carley.lanich@mirrorindy.org or follow her on X @carleylanich.

Voter guide 2026: 4 candidates are running for 3 seats on Pike Township school board

2026-09-11T11:00:00+00:00

Sign up for Chalkbeat Indiana’s free daily newsletter to keep up with Indianapolis Public Schools, Marion County’s township districts, and statewide education news.

This article was co-published by Chalkbeat Indiana, Mirror Indy, and WFYI as part of a collaboration ahead of the 2026 school board elections.

Four candidates are running for three seats on the Metropolitan School District of Pike Township school board in the November election.

The northwest Marion County district enrolls around 10,640 students. About 60% are Black and 27% are Hispanic, and 47% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Pike leaders are navigating several issues central to the district’s operations. On Sept. 9, the board released a letter that alleged some staff feared district leaders and described their leadership style as dictatorial and authoritarian.

In July, the home mailbox of school board president Terry A. Webster Sr. was vandalized. Webster, and other board members, said they would not be intimidated and would work only to do what was best for the district. The incident happened as some in the community were frustrated over the hiring process for a new co-director of athletics.

The board is also overseeing a complex financial landscape following voters’ 2024 approval of a $14.5 million property tax referendum. Most of those funds are going toward teacher pay. The district is also one of the first in the state to share those ballot-approved tax funds with charter schools that enroll students who live within the district.

Candidates who win in the election will be sworn in as board members in January and serve four-year terms ending in December 2030. School board members oversee district policies, goal setting, and budgeting. They also hire and oversee the superintendent.

4 candidates running for 3 seats

Three incumbents — Alonzo Anderson, Wayne Moore, and Terry A. Webster Sr. — are seeking new terms. Sherie Latoya Scott is running as a challenger.

All four candidates filed as Democrats. This is the first year Indiana school board candidates could declare a party affiliation when filing to run.

The three seats on this year’s ballot are at-large, meaning all Pike Township voters can choose among all the candidates. The winners represent the entire district rather than a specific area within it.

Election Day is Nov. 3. Early voting starts Oct. 6 at the City-County Building, 200 E. Washington St., and additional sites open across the city Oct. 24. Voters must be registered by Oct. 5; registration status and polling locations are available at indianavoters.in.gov.

Candidates answered questions in a short candidate survey. Responses have been lightly edited for grammatical purposes.

Alonzo Anderson, At-large

Anderson, 49, is running as a Democrat, and is Pike’s board vice president. He is a firefighter and previously spent 15 years as a financial banker. Anderson studied at Vincennes University. His daughter graduated from Pike High School in 2026.

Anderson said his social media campaign will begin in September.

Pike Township school board candidate, Alonzo Anderson.

List your top three priorities if elected.

1. Maintain Fiscal Responsibility — Protect taxpayer dollars through responsible budgeting, financial oversight, and long-term fiscal sustainability. 2. Evolve an Already Excellent Educational Experience — Build on our district’s strengths while continuously improving academic achievement, innovation, student opportunities, and educational standards. 3. Expand Community Engagement and Transparency — Create more meaningful opportunities for families, staff, students, and the broader community to participate, provide feedback, and stay informed about district decisions.

What do you see as the most pressing issue currently facing the district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

With state education and fiscal statutes constantly evolving, Pike must remain nimble and prepared to adapt. My approach will be to ensure that changes in state law are implemented responsibly without compromising Pike’s high-quality educational experience our students and families expect. Just as importantly, our community deserves to understand how these changes may directly or indirectly affect our schools, students, staff, and taxpayers. Transparency should not come after a decision is made — it should be part of the process from the beginning. I would expand opportunities for proactive communication through community town hall meetings, legislative-session podcasts hosted through the district website, informational updates, and other accessible communication platforms.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

Pike will always adhere to the educational requirements established by the State of Indiana while continuing to look for innovative opportunities to expand what we offer our students. College is one pathway, but it is not the only pathway to a successful future, I myself can attest to that.

We should continue exploring and strengthening opportunities for students interested in skilled trades, technical careers, education and teaching, entrepreneurship, and other workforce pathways. I believe we should also explore opportunities to strengthen financial literacy, helping students understand budgeting, credit, saving, investing, debt, and responsible financial decision-making before they enter adulthood.

Affordability and finances are top of mind for districts and voters. What will be your approach to district finances?

Pike Township Schools has a strong public history of responsible financial stewardship, and we must continue to protect that reputation. As a board member, I will remain committed to responsible budgeting, accountability, and careful oversight of taxpayer resources.

Some members of the Pike Township community have been frustrated over communication around the hiring of a new co-athletic director. How would you make sure the administration and board handle staff hires when the community has a high level of interest?

As a community member myself, I understand the frustration many in our community experienced during what was a difficult Co-Athletic Director hiring process. I also understand that, from the community’s perspective, a lack of information can create uncertainty and frustration. In addition, our Human Resources confidentiality requirements prohibited the Board from sharing certain details of the hiring process. While those requirements are important and must be respected, the experience reinforced the importance of finding better ways to communicate with our community while protecting the confidentiality of applicants and employees.

This experience provided the Board and administration with an opportunity to evaluate and develop a more streamlined and equitable hiring process. Transparency does not mean compromising confidentiality. It means being as open as we can be, explaining what we can, and continually improving the processes that serve our students, staff, candidates, and community.

Wayne Moore, At-large

Moore, 64, is running as a Democrat and is a current board member. He is pastor at Olivet Baptist Church. Moore has a bachelor’s degree in theology from Central Baptist Theological Seminary and a master’s degree from Simmons Bible College, according to his biography on the Pike website. He has three children.

You can learn more about Moore through his Facebook page.

List your top three priorities if elected.

1.) A continued support for public education. 2.) A continued support for students and parents. 3.) A continued support for teacher staff and support systems that make the district run effectively.

Pike Township school board candidate, Wayne Moore.

What do you see as the most pressing issue currently facing the district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

Fiscal responsibility, and strong elected school board members … Who understand the constituency in which they are accountable to.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

English, math, reading and give the community a greater understanding of the proficiency of our students, not just graduation rates.

Affordability and finances are top of mind for districts and voters. What will be your approach to district finances?

Holding the superintendent and staff accountable for finances and communicating it to voters as often as possible.

Great question. Many of the stakeholders in the community are not familiar with the hiring process in Pike Township. This is one of the main issues as a board member I think the hiring process needs to be reevaluated and revisit it. At this point, the community is not aware that HR does not have the control of the hiring process. This is something that I think is problematic. If elected, one of my goals will be to make HR more transparent as it relates to the hiring process and give the community more understanding about how it works.

Sherie Latoya Scott, At-large

Scott is a longtime educator who held positions in Pike Township and at the Indiana Charter School Board, and was a founding principal at Global Prep Academy, according to her LinkedIn profile.

You can learn more about Scott through her campaign’s Facebook page.

WFYI attempted to reach every candidate in this district. Scott did not respond to multiple requests to complete the candidate survey.

Terry A. Webster Sr., At-large

Webster, 65, is the Pike school board president and is running as a Democrat. He is senior pastor of Nu Corinthian Baptist Church. Webster studied at Newburgh Seminary, according to his biography on the Pike website. He has three children.

Webster said he does not have a campaign website.

Pike Township school board candidate, Terry Webster.

List your top three priorities if elected.

School safety, academic improvement and student retention.

What do you see as the most pressing issue currently facing the district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

The district faces the challenge of raising the current percentage of scholars with low test scores to being college ready by graduation. The approach will be to set District goals that will help reflect improvement yearly by measurable outcomes.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

Math and reading continue to be focused areas of improvement for our scholars. These areas are a national focus.

Affordability and finances are top of mind for districts and voters. What will be your approach to district finances?

District finances should continue to be monitored by board/administration and be fiscally responsible, with state budget cuts the district must be prudent and prepared for the unknown.

Continue to explore the best options available or introduce new options.

Eric Weddle is WFYI’s education editor. Contact Eric at eweddle@wfyi.org or follow him on X at @ericweddle.

Voter guide 2026: Franklin Township school board race has 7 candidates for 3 seats

2026-09-11T11:00:00+00:00

Sign up for Chalkbeat Indiana’s free daily newsletter to keep up with Indianapolis Public Schools, Marion County’s township districts, and statewide education news.

This article was co-published by Chalkbeat Indiana, Mirror Indy, and WFYI as part of a collaboration ahead of the 2026 school board elections.

Seven candidates are running for three seats on the Franklin Township Community School Corporation board in the November election. The most competitive race is the at-large seat in which the incumbent faces three competitors.

Enrollment in the southeast Marion County district grew by 48% in the past 20 years. Today, nearly half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch because of their family income. Of all students enrolled, half are white, about 20% are Asian, and 14% are Black.

The district recently received two major philanthropic investments for academic programs. Last year, the Lilly Endowment gave $29.5 million for the district to build a 38,617-square-foot health sciences facility to teach students in pre-nursing, emergency medical services, and other areas related to biomedical sciences. In 2024, it received a $1.5 million grant from the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation toward increasing college enrollment.

Candidates elected this year will be sworn in as board members in January and will serve four-year terms ending in December 2030. School board members oversee district policies, goal setting, and budgeting. They also hire and oversee the superintendent.

7 candidates running in 3 races

Franklin Township’s five-member board includes one at-large seat and four seats tied to geographic quadrants of the township. This year, three seats are on the ballot: the at-large seat and the northeast and southeast quadrant seats. The northwest and southwest quadrant seats are up for election in 2028.

Franklin Township voters can cast a ballot in all three races, regardless of where in the district they live. Board members elected to quadrant seats represent their specific areas of the township, while the at-large member represents the entire district.

This is the first year Indiana school board candidates could declare a party affiliation when filing to run. The opportunity led to one of the more diverse groups of candidate affiliations in Marion County: three Republicans, one Democrat, one independent, and two candidates not declaring a party.

Zachary Smith Howard, the board’s current president, is running unopposed for reelection in the northeast quadrant seat.

Southeast quadrant incumbent Larry Walker faces a challenge from Matt Morgan.

The at-large race attracted three challengers against incumbent Dawn Downer, who is seeking reelection: Komal Chohan, Antonio Key Sr., and Tim McVey.

Election Day is Nov. 3. Early voting opens Oct. 6 at the City-County Building, 200 E. Washington St., with additional sites opening across the city Oct. 24. Residents must be registered by Oct. 5; voters can confirm their registration and find their polling location at indianavoters.in.gov.

Candidates answered questions in a short candidate survey. Responses have been lightly edited for grammatical purposes.

Komal (Komal Kaur) Chohan, At-large

Chohan, 31, is running as an independent. She is a mental health therapist at Salam Therapy and mental health hub director at Umeed-Hope. Chohan holds a master’s degree in social work and graduated from Franklin Central High School. She said seven of her cousins graduated from the district between 2009 and 2013, and younger relatives are now enrolled in the district.

You can learn more about Chohan at her campaign’s Facebook page.

Franklin Township school board candidate, Komal Chohan.

List your top three priorities, if elected.

If elected, my top three priorities are: first, expanding on-site mental health and early intervention supports so students get help before reaching a crisis point. Second, driving fiscal transparency through resource audits that keep funding centered on classroom tools and competitive educator pay. Third, restoring true community collaboration by giving parents, teachers, and township residents a meaningful voice in district decisions.

What do you see as the most pressing issue currently facing the district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

The most pressing issue facing Franklin Township is that as our community grows, the complex needs of our students are outpacing our current support systems. When you have worked on the frontlines of our schools, you see firsthand that you cannot separate academic success from emotional well-being. To address this, my approach centers on three practical strategies. First, we must expand our on-site mental health infrastructure and early interventions so students get support before they are in crisis. Second, we need rigorous budget transparency by auditing our expenditures to ensure resources are actually reaching the classrooms and the frontline staff who support our kids every day. Finally, we must build true partnerships with parents, local organizations, and businesses, moving beyond just giving district updates to actually solving problems together. By anchoring our decisions in fiscal accountability and whole-child support, we can build a resilient school system for every family.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

The district needs to expand our definition of academic success beyond a narrow culture of test-prep. While standardized tests and AP courses are vital pathways for many of our students, treating them as the only barometer of success creates a hollow metric that traps classrooms in memorization loops. We need to shift our academic focus toward real-world problem-solving and critical thinking. That means giving our educators the instructional freedom to teach students how to think, not just what to think. By prioritizing genuine capability alongside traditional metrics, whether a student’s next step is a university, a trades apprenticeship, or a career, we ensure they graduate not just with a test score, but with the practical resilience to navigate whatever future they choose.

Affordability and finances are top of mind for districts and voters. What will be your approach to district finances?

My approach to district finances is rooted in absolute transparency, fiscal responsibility, and equity-driven resource allocation. Taxpayers and families deserve to know precisely how their dollars are utilized and whether those investments directly impact student success. To achieve this, my financial strategy focuses on three core pillars: conducting rigorous, open-book audits to eliminate administrative bloat and direct resources to schools based on actual need, actively pursuing state and federal grants alongside smart community partnerships to stretch our budget further, and prioritizing direct classroom impact by protecting frontline educators, keeping class sizes manageable, and investing in sustainable long-term tools rather than short-term fixes. By filtering every budgetary decision through how it supports our students and educators, we can build a fiscally resilient district that honors both our taxpayers and our children.

Franklin Township received a $29.5 million grant from the Lilly Endowment to construct a Health Sciences Academy. While the grant covers the initial implementation and construction, how will you approach the long-term operational budgeting to ensure the academy remains fully funded without diverting resources from existing programs?

While the $29.5 million Lilly Endowment grant provides an incredible foundation for constructing the Health Sciences Academy, relying on one-time funding without a sustainable operational roadmap is a financial trap. We cannot build state-of-the-art facilities at the expense of our most valuable asset: our educators. My approach to long-term operational budgeting for the academy is built on strict fiscal accountability that protects existing classroom resources and educator compensation. First, we must bake recurring state funding streams, such as Career and Technical Education per-pupil weights, directly into the academy’s baseline model to offset ongoing costs. Second, we need to establish formal industry partnerships and equipment-sharing agreements with regional healthcare networks that benefit from this direct talent pipeline, helping subsidize specialized operational expenses. Finally, we must subject non-classroom expenditures to rigorous audits while treating educator compensation as a non-negotiable fixed line item. We cannot celebrate state-of-the-art facilities while failing to properly pay the educators actually running them.

Dawn Downer, At-large

Downer, 60, is the board’s at-large incumbent and did not declare a party affiliation. She is a project manager in early childhood education. Downer previously was state director of Indiana’s First Steps early intervention program and chief of staff for Indiana’s disability services agency. She is a graduate of Franklin Central High School and Purdue University, and the parent of a district graduate.

You can learn more about Downer at her campaign website.

Franklin Township school board candidate, Dawn Downer.

List your top three priorities, if elected.

1. Fiscal Responsibility: Maintain a balanced and sustainable budget while making thoughtful investments in student achievement, competitive and equitable staff compensation, and the resources our teachers and staff need to be successful. 2. Academic Growth: Continue improving student achievement by supporting effective curriculum, innovative learning opportunities, and pathways that prepare students for college, careers, and life after high school. This should be accomplished in partnership with teachers, staff, parents, and students, whose experience and expertise are essential to making these efforts successful. 3. Safety and Student Well-Being: Maintain safe, supportive learning environments for students and staff. This includes addressing physical safety concerns as well as behaviors that interfere with learning. Students and staff should feel safe, respected, and supported in our schools.

What do you see as the most pressing issue currently facing the district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

One of the most pressing issues facing FTCSC is maintaining financial stability while continuing to meet the growing needs of our students and staff. A strong school system depends on having the resources to attract and retain excellent teachers and staff, provide reasonable and supportive working environments, and give educators the tools they need to help students succeed.

As a board member, I would continue to support a balanced and sustainable budget while looking for opportunities to maximize existing resources, pursue outside funding and partnerships, and advocate at the state level for fair and equitable school funding.

Fiscal responsibility and support for our employees should not be viewed as competing priorities. We need to make thoughtful decisions about where resources can have the greatest impact, including competitive and equitable compensation, appropriate staffing, manageable classroom environments, and the resources necessary for teachers and staff to do their jobs effectively. The district must remain proactive rather than waiting for financial challenges to force difficult decisions.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

FTCSC has a broad range of academic opportunities, and I believe we should continue strengthening both foundational academics and pathways that prepare students for their futures. At the elementary level, continued emphasis on reading literacy is particularly important. Like many districts across the country, FTCSC experienced declines in reading achievement in recent years. The district responded by fully implementing a new reading curriculum, and we are seeing encouraging improvements in student achievement. We need to continue monitoring the data and supporting our teachers and staff to ensure those gains are sustained and expanded.

At the secondary level, I support continuing to expand Career and Technical Education, Health Sciences, dual-credit, advanced coursework, and other pathways that allow students to graduate prepared for college, careers, Armed Services, work or additional training. This achievement should be both on campus, as well as an increased collaboration through our partnership with Central Nine Career Center. Our goal should be to ensure that every student has a pathway to success after graduation, not just one definition of success. None of this can happen without our teachers and staff. They are the professionals working directly with students every day, and their experience and input should be part of decisions about curriculum, instructional practices, classroom needs, and student support.

Affordability and finances are top of mind for districts and voters. What will be your approach to district finances?

FTCSC has demonstrated a strong commitment to financial responsibility and has maintained a balanced budget for more than a decade, despite significant changes and reductions in state funding. Going forward, I believe we must continue to live within our means while prioritizing investments that directly support our strategic goals and student outcomes. That means carefully evaluating programs and expenditures, maximizing available revenue, and making sure taxpayer dollars are producing the greatest possible benefit for students and families. At the same time, responsible budgeting must include our teachers and staff. Competitive and equitable compensation is important to retaining experienced educators and attracting the high-quality employees our students deserve. We also need to consider staffing levels, classroom sizes and workloads, professional development, and the resources employees need to do their jobs effectively.

I support pursuing additional funding opportunities and partnerships, maximizing the value of existing tax resources while remaining within Indiana’s property tax limitations, and continuing to explore innovative opportunities such as expanded online learning. Growing and strengthening programs that meet the needs of more students can also help keep students within FTCSC while strengthening the district’s financial position. Financial responsibility does not simply mean spending less. It means making thoughtful choices about where resources can have the greatest impact, including investments in students and the people who educate and support them, while protecting the quality of education our community values.

The Health Sciences Academy is viewed as a long-term investment in our students and community, not simply as a grant-funded project. The ongoing academic and operational costs associated with the program are incorporated into the district’s long-term financial planning and annual budgeting process. I support closely monitoring enrollment, staffing, operating costs, and student outcomes to ensure the program remains financially sustainable and delivers the intended educational benefits. This includes ensuring that the academy has the appropriate staffing and resources to provide a high-quality program without creating unreasonable demands on teachers and staff.

We should also maximize opportunities to leverage Career and Technical Education funding and develop partnerships with health-care providers, higher education institutions, and other community organizations. As the program develops, there may also be opportunities to serve students from outside the district when capacity allows, creating additional revenue while expanding access to the program. Most importantly, the academy’s long-term success should not come at the expense of existing programs, students, or staff. The board’s responsibility will be to evaluate the academy as part of the district’s overall budget and ensure that it remains sustainable alongside the educational needs of all FTCSC students and the staffing and resources necessary to serve them well.

Antonio Key Sr., At-large

Key, 48, filed to run as a Democrat. He is CEO and owner of Pacers Behavioral Services LLC, and works as a mental healthcare professional and psychology professor. Key holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and a master’s degree in community psychology from Martin University. He is the parent of two Franklin Township students — a son in eighth grade and a senior daughter.

You can learn more about Key at his campaign’s Facebook page.

Franklin Township school board candidate, Antonio Key.

List your top three priorities, if elected.

1. Student Achievement and Opportunity — Strengthen academic outcomes while expanding college, career, trade, dual-credit and workforce pathways so every student graduates prepared for their next step. 2. Student Mental Health, Safety and Support — Invest in early intervention, behavioral and mental-health resources, and strong school environments where students feel safe, supported and ready to learn. 3. Fiscal Responsibility and Transparency — Protect classroom resources, support and retain quality educators, pursue outside funding and partnerships, and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly and transparently.

What do you see as the most pressing issue currently facing the district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

I believe one of the most pressing issues facing our district is making sure every student has a real opportunity to succeed, regardless of where they start. Academic achievement matters, but we also have to address the barriers that keep students from reaching their potential — mental health, attendance, behavior, family challenges, and whether students truly feel connected to their school.

My approach would be to listen first — to teachers, parents, students and staff — and then use the data to identify where students are falling through the cracks. I believe in early intervention rather than waiting until a student is failing or in crisis. We must strengthen academic support, mental health resources, family engagement and accountability while giving our educators the tools they need to do their jobs. Every child may not start at the same place, but our responsibility is to make sure every child has a fair opportunity to reach the finish line.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

I believe our academic focus should be on strong foundational skills while connecting education to real life. Reading, writing, math and critical thinking will always be essential, but students also need to understand how what they are learning connects to college, careers and adulthood. I want us to continue expanding career and technical education, dual-credit opportunities and partnerships with colleges and local employers while making sure students who are struggling with foundational skills receive intervention early. Success should not have only one definition. For one student it may be a four-year university. For another it may be a trade, certification, apprenticeship, military service or entrepreneurship. Our job is to make sure a Franklin Township diploma prepares students to have choices.

Affordability and finances are top of mind for districts and voters. What will be your approach to district finances?

My approach would be fiscal responsibility with the classroom as the priority. Every dollar belongs to the taxpayers, and the board has a responsibility to make sure those dollars produce the greatest possible benefit for students. Franklin Township also faces a unique funding challenge because approximately 85% of our property-tax base is residential, which limits local revenue compared with districts that have larger commercial and industrial tax bases. That means we have to be especially strategic with the resources we have. I would support transparent budgeting, regular review of expenditures, aggressive pursuit of grants and partnerships, and long-term financial planning rather than short-term fixes. At the same time, fiscal responsibility cannot simply mean cutting. We must protect effective classroom programs, retain quality educators and make investments that improve student outcomes. My standard would be simple: Is this necessary, is it sustainable, and does it benefit our students?

The $29.5 million Lilly Endowment grant is an incredible investment in our students, but responsible leadership means planning beyond the ribbon cutting. Before permanent operating expenses are absorbed into the district’s budget, I would want a clear multi-year sustainability plan showing the academy’s projected staffing, maintenance, equipment and program costs. I would also pursue a diversified funding model that includes healthcare partnerships, higher-education partnerships, additional grants, workforce-development opportunities and other outside funding sources wherever appropriate. Organizations that benefit from a strong pipeline of future nurses, technicians and healthcare professionals should have an opportunity to invest in developing that pipeline. Most importantly, I would not support building an outstanding new program by quietly taking resources away from successful programs our students already depend on. The Health Sciences Academy should expand opportunity in Franklin Township — not redistribute scarcity. We have been given an extraordinary opportunity. Our responsibility now is to make sure it remains an asset for students not just when it opens, but for generations.

Tim McVey, At-large

McVey, 46, is running as a Republican. He works in executive management and graduated from Franklin Central High School in 1998. McVey has two sons currently attending the district.

You can learn more about McVey at his campaign’s Facebook page.

List your top three priorities, if elected.

1. Student safety 2. Partnering with state and local elected officials to find better alternatives to funding our schools without raising property taxes. 3. To bridge the gap between the constituency and school administration by being a voice and resource for the community.

Franklin Township school board candidate, Tim Mcvey.

What do you see as the most pressing issue currently facing the district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

There is a large staffing shortage in our school system that impacts the quality of education for our students. While a referendum is not the answer, the school system is at a breaking point for being able to afford the influx of new students from the dense population in the township. Partnering with state and city officials to allocate more funding to our school district must be a priority.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

I think it’s important to focus on practical “life skills” to prepare our children for the professional world. I think providing a wide array of options for areas of study, but we need to teach skills that are useful for life after high school.

Affordability and finances are top of mind for districts and voters. What will be your approach to district finances?

I plan to be a conduit between the community and state and city government to find ways to allocate more of their budgets to the local school systems.

I think it’s important to maintain a long term relationship with Eli Lilly by creating internship programs beyond high school to the mutual benefit of both Franklin Township and Eli Lilly. Just because Lilly makes an initial investment doesn’t mean they will discontinue investing if it’s beneficial to them.

Zachary Smith Howard, Northeast quadrant

Howard, 38, is the board’s current president and is running unopposed for reelection as a Republican. He is director of state relations for Indiana University. Howard has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Missouri State University and a master’s degree in public affairs from Indiana University Indianapolis. He does not have children.

You can learn more about Howard at his campaign’s Facebook page.

List your top three priorities if elected?

1. Ensuring FTCSC remains the Best CHOICE for Franklin Township children and families; 2. Putting students first and preparing them to succeed in our AI-driven world; 3. Recruiting and retaining quality educators.

Franklin Township school board candidate, Zachary Smith.

What do you see as the most pressing issue currently facing the district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

The most pressing issue facing FTCSC is maintaining excellence in student achievement and programmatic offerings due to the makeup of how school funding works in Indiana and the long-term effects of SEA 1-2025. Franklin Township is over 85% residential, meaning the mix of property tax funding received from the district is primarily from homeowners (1%), versus a larger rental (2%) and commercial (3%) mixes of other districts in Marion County. Maintaining and growing student enrollment is essential to the success of Franklin Township Schools, which is why having strong educators and quality facilities are crucial to sustaining student success in the township.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

FTCSC needs to continue to focus on its Science of Reading implementation, with the goal of exceeding the district’s 90% IREAD passage rate. Franklin Township Schools are implementing the Indiana enVision Mathematics curriculum for grades 4-8 this academic year and hopes to see student achievement growth because of this change. Franklin Central High School has a 98.64% graduation rate, so maintaining pathways is essential for all FC graduates to continue to be successful in enrollment, enlistment and/or employment post-high school.

Affordability and finances are top of mind for districts and voters. What will be your approach to district finances?

Franklin Township Schools continues to navigate their finances with a balanced budget, while working to grow educator and staff salaries. Understanding school finance can feel overwhelming, but FTCSC is working to make it easier for the community to understand where school funding comes from and how it impacts students at tinyurl.com/flashesfinancials. Continuing to get more dollars to the classroom and the staff who make student achievement possible is reflected in all my 2026 campaign priorities.

The Franklin Central Health Sciences Pavilion is a game-changer for FC students and the Franklin Township community writ large, as it will offer students the ability to earn multiple health science stackable credentials while in high school. These credentials will lead to immediate employment in the healthcare field and can seamlessly allow for higher credentials with additional training post-high school. Offering these opportunities at Franklin Central allows students to have the full academic and extra-curricular experience without leaving the building and additional Career and Technical Education and performance funding from the State to sustain these programs.

Matt Morgan, Southeast quadrant

Morgan, 46, declared as a Republican. He owns and operates a handyman business based in Franklin Township. Morgan graduated high school in 1998 and attended two years of community college. He has two children in Franklin Township schools, a sophomore and a fourth grader.

You can learn more about Morgan at his campaign’s Facebook page.

List your top three priorities, if elected.

Finding additional revenue in lieu of funding cuts set to take effect after the recent legislative session. Addressing the current atmosphere of athletics and coaching within our High School. Fully supporting all front line and support staff as they’re the “fuel” that runs the proverbial engine.

Franklin Township school board candidate, Matt Morgan.

What do you see as the most pressing issue currently facing the district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

Like any other school district, funding and spending as wisely as possible to eliminate or significantly delay the need for a referendum.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

I would like to see the high school explore avenues for pathing students that aren’t interested in attending college. C9 is a great option but I feel there are more things that all schools could be doing to prepare our children for life after school.

Affordability and finances are top of mind for districts and voters. What will be your approach to district finances?

I need to learn the intricacies of the school finances, funding, vouchers and many other aspects of finances before I can speak on a plan. The numbers I’ve seen are so in depth that I’d like to educate myself better on them.

I believe the district needs to implement a plan to explore use of facilities by outside groups and the income that can be generated from that. We have amazing facilities and a field house about to come online. Attracting high level events to the township would benefit both the schools and local businesses as well.

Larry J. Walker, Southeast quadrant

Walker, 79, is running as a Republican for reelection to the southeast area board seat. He is a custom home builder, realtor, and land developer. Walker is a graduate of Franklin Central High School. Walker says two nieces, a nephew, nine great-nieces and great-nephews, and a younger sister and brother all attended and graduated from the district.

Walker’s comments during a public school board meeting in 2024 were the subject of a Mirror Indy story.

You can learn more about Walker at his campaign’s Facebook page.

Franklin Township school board candidate, Larry Walker.

List your top three priorities if elected.

(1) Continuing safety first for our students and the entire Franklin Township Community Corp. (2) Continuing for a balanced budget, (3) Continue to oppose any referendum.(4) Open door policy for parents concerns.(5) Also our new health science academy which is exciting for Franklin Central High School students.

What do you see as the most pressing issue currently facing the district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

Housing explosion in Franklin Township and to make sure we have the facilities for the students to get a good education and opportunities.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

Reading and math. We deal with those two items daily in life. Also our new health science academy to make sure it is properly staffed with quality people. Health care is our future in education.

Affordability and finances are top of mind for districts and voters. What will be your approach to district finances?

Keep trying to draw commercial and industrial uses in the right areas of Franklin Township.

Working with our school superintendent & COO and working with local hospitals and health care facilities for donations . Btw, the health science academy is a 1st for Central Indiana and I am really excited about it for our students and community.

Eric Weddle is WFYI’s education editor. Contact Eric at eweddle@wfyi.org or follow him on X at @ericweddle.

Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township: School board election voter guide

2026-09-11T11:00:00+00:00

Sign up for Chalkbeat Indiana’s free daily newsletter to keep up with Indianapolis Public Schools, Marion County’s township districts, and statewide education news.

This article was co-published by Chalkbeat Indiana, Mirror Indy and WFYI as part of a collaboration ahead of the 2026 school board elections.

Three of the five school board seats are up for election in the Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township on the southwest side of Marion County.

The new board members will serve through 2030 and steer the district — which last year enrolled roughly 6,500 students — through potential fiscal challenges incurred by the state’s recent property tax reforms. The district recently changed school start times to help offset rising transportation costs, but it still estimates losing $3 million annually from those tax reforms.

Decatur Schools are asking voters for a property tax increase in November, but will be replacing its existing rate with a lower one. If passed, the referendum would be a tax increase from the base amount through 2034.

Who is running and how to vote

Eight candidates — four nonpartisans, three Republicans, and one independent — are vying for three at-large seats, which are filled by voters throughout the entire district.

Early voting begins on Oct. 6. The general election is Nov. 3. Find out how to register to vote in Marion County here, and find polling locations at https://vote.indy.gov/.

Candidate survey responses have been edited lightly for length and clarity.

Randi Berryman, at-large candidate

Randi Berryman, 42, is running as a nonpartisan. She has a child who does not attend a school in the district. Berryman has a bachelor of science degree, and works as a scientist.

Please list your top 3 priorities if elected.

Responsible decision making, data-driven change, positive school culture.

Decatur Township school board candidate Randi Berryman.

What do you see as the most pressing issue facing your district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

The most pressing issue facing our district is underperformance. When I compare our schools to neighboring districts, it’s clear that Decatur Township is falling behind academically. To address this I will take a comprehensive, data-driven approach. I will conduct a thorough budget analysis across all departments and reallocate resources to directly impact students and teachers. I will also review our curriculum against neighboring and top performing schools so we can adopt evidence-based instructional practices.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

The district needs to focus on Math, Science, and Language Arts. These are the foundational subject areas where our students underperform compared to state benchmarks and neighboring districts. Strengthening these core subject areas is critical because they form the basis for all future learning. By focusing our resources, professional development, and curriculum improvements in these areas, we can make measurable progress in student achievement and close performance gaps that currently exist.

How will you engage with the community if elected? What role will their feedback have in your decision making?

Community engagement will be the foundation of my leadership. I believe strongly in creating continuous feedback loops with all parents, teachers, staff, and students because they are the ones who experience the direct impact of our decisions. If parents and teachers are not seeing meaningful improvement, then we are not doing our job. This feedback is essential. Without it there is no way to know whether the changes we implement are truly creating the outcomes we intend.

I plan to hold regular listening sessions, create accessible channels for ongoing input, and report back transparently. Your voice matters. My commitment is to actively listen, thoughtfully respond, and make data informed decisions that reflect the needs and priorities of our community.

Do you support the referendum? Why or why not?

Yes, I support the referendum. Investing in our children’s education is an investment in our community’s future, and adequate funding is essential to providing the resources our students need to succeed.

However, funding alone is not enough. We must also elect leaders who will use those additional dollars wisely, strategically, and transparently. If we don’t have a clear plan for how funds will directly improve students, even increased revenue will not create the impact our district needs. That’s why I’m committed to ensuring every dollar is allocated effectively toward proven programs and competitive teacher salaries that truly support learning.

The district recently changed school start times to reduce costs. As school districts across the state face increasing financial pressure, what other suggestions or ideas do you have on ways that Decatur Township could save money?

While I understand schools are facing financial challenges, I have serious concerns about the recent changes to school start times in Decatur Township schools. Research consistently shows that age-appropriate schedules are critical to student health, development, and academic performance.

Students must come first, even when making tough budget decisions. Cost savings should never come at the expense of what we know is best for kids. That said, I’m committed to finding smarter ways to reduce costs without compromising student outcomes. If elected, I will conduct a comprehensive budget review to identify inefficiencies and compare our spending to districts across the state. I’ll prioritize investments that directly impact the classroom while scrutinizing administrative overhead, vendor contracts, and operational expenses. I’ll also explore what neighboring districts have done to reduce costs. I believe in reviewing the data behind what works, implementing proven strategies, and placing students first.

Teresa A. Burns, at-large candidate

Teresa A. Burns is running as a nonpartisan.

Chalkbeat Indiana attempted to reach every candidate in this district. Burns did not respond to multiple requests to complete the candidate survey.

Judith Collins, at-large candidate

Judith Collins is a Republican incumbent who has served on the board for two decades.

Chalkbeat Indiana attempted to reach every candidate in this district. Collins did not respond to multiple requests to complete the candidate survey.

Dale Henson, at-large candidate

Dale Henson, 69, is a Republican incumbent who has served on the board for two decades. He is a graduate of Decatur Central High School and the National Fire Academy and does not currently have children attending district schools. He retired as Decatur Township’s fire chief in 2014 after 35 years, and also previously served as the executive director of the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association.

Please list your top 3 priorities if elected.

Maintain a 95% graduation rate or higher. We achieved our highest graduation rate in 2025 of 97.48%. IREAD-3 passing rates meeting state average with a goal of 95% or see proficiency and achieve a 3% increase from previous year. We want to see our scores increase by 3% for Language Arts and Mathematics on our ILEARN assessments.

Decatur Township school board candidate Dale Henson.

What do you see as the most pressing issue facing your district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

I want us to continue be fiscal responsibility to the community. State funding & legislative decisions that continue to decrease our funding each year. Safety conscious for our students and staff.

How will you engage with the community if elected? What role will their feedback have in your decision making?

As a current board member have always been open to listen to any community member. I attend many events throughout the year besides our monthly board meetings.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

Reading, reading, every student needs to be able to read to be successful as they go through school and as they graduate. This continues to be our top academic focus.

Do you support the referendum? Why or why not?

Yes, I support the referendum. I support because of changes made for funding of schools through legislation. We have seen a 3-million-dollar reduction in 2026 as a result of legislative changes.

We are always looking at ways to reduce cost across the district and the new school start times is a way we will reduce fuel costs with reduced miles traveled daily. We are the only Marion County School Corporation to reduce our total budget in 2026 by half million dollars.

Steve Jacobi, at-large candidate

Steve Jacobi is running as a nonpartisan.

Chalkbeat Indiana attempted to reach every candidate in this district. Jacobi did not respond to multiple requests to complete the candidate survey.

Patrice Johnson, at-large candidate

Patrice Johnson, 36, is running as a nonpartisan and has a daughter who graduated from Decatur Central High School. Her son attends school online. She has a bachelor of science in public health education and works as a community service provider.

See her campaign Facebook page here.

Decatur Township school board candidate Patrice Johnson.

Please list your top 3 priorities if elected.

Transparency, student success, and building a stronger school community.

What do you see as the most pressing issue facing your district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

One of the biggest challenges facing our district is rebuilding trust while balancing increasing financial pressures. Families want to understand not only what decisions are being made, but why they are being made.

My approach is to ask questions, listen to all stakeholders, review the data, and make decisions based on facts rather than assumptions. I believe school board members should communicate openly with the community, hold the district accountable for measurable results, and ensure every dollar is spent with students as the priority.

How will you engage with the community if elected? What role will their feedback have in your decision making?

Community engagement shouldn’t begin and end at board meetings. I plan to remain accessible through regular communication, community events, social media, and by encouraging conversations with parents, teachers, students, and taxpayers.

Feedback is an important part of good governance. While no single voice can determine every decision, listening to different perspectives helps identify concerns, improve policies, and make better-informed decisions that reflect the needs of the district as a whole.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

I believe we need to continue strengthening foundational academic skills, particularly reading and math, because they impact success in every other subject area. We should regularly evaluate student achievement data, identify where students are struggling, and support evidence-based strategies that help close learning gaps while also challenging students who are ready for advanced coursework.

Academic success should remain our primary mission, and we should continually look for ways to improve outcomes for every student.

Do you support the referendum? Why or why not?

I believe the referendum deserves thoughtful consideration rather than a simple yes or no answer. My responsibility as a board member would be to ensure the community has a clear understanding of why additional funding is being requested, how the money would be spent, what accountability measures would be in place, and what alternatives have been explored.

I support transparency and informed decision making. Taxpayers deserve complete information before being asked to make an important financial decision, and I believe the district should clearly demonstrate responsible stewardship of existing resources alongside any future requests.

Before asking taxpayers for additional funding, I believe we should continually evaluate opportunities to improve efficiency. Some areas worth exploring include:

* Reviewing operational expenses to identify unnecessary or duplicate spending.

* Evaluating contracts and vendor agreements to ensure the district is receiving the best value.

* Pursuing additional grants and partnerships when appropriate.

* Regularly reviewing programs to ensure resources are aligned with measurable student outcomes.

* Looking for operational efficiencies that reduce costs without negatively impacting classroom instruction.

My priority would always be protecting student learning while ensuring taxpayers can trust that every dollar is being used responsibly.

Chase Lyday, at-large candidate

Chase Lyday, 39, is a Republican incumbent who has served on the board since 2023. He has no children in the district. He graduated from Decatur Central High School and attended Ivy Tech Community College. He previously served as the police chief for Avon Community Schools but resigned in 2022 while under investigation by the Hendricks County prosecutor, who alleged Lyday lied about past disciplinary actions against him. No charges were filed.

Decatur Township school board candidate Chase Lyday.

Lyday called the allegations against him “patently false” and “baseless.”

“I would encourage anyone evaluating my candidacy to look at the totality of my record, the people I have served alongside, and the impact I have made on students, schools, and my community,” he said. .

Please list your top 3 priorities if elected.

Continue comprehensive approach to school safety, increase literacy test scores in early elementary students, solidify fiscal plans in light of budget deficit created by tax code revisions.

What do you see as the most pressing issue facing your district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

The most pressing issue facing the district is taking care of our teachers and procuring the additional resources necessary to provide students with critical supports like literacy specialists, mental health counselors, school resource officers, and coaches. These services are at risk of being cut if we do not close the gap in funding created by recent legislation.

How will you engage with the community if elected? What role will their feedback have in your decision making?

I love coffee meetings and lunch with community members to discuss needs of the district. I take calls at all hours to be responsive to needs and concerns. My passion is serving and I am confident anyone who has interacted with me in regards to the school district sees that. When a concern arises, I direct that issue to the appropriate administrator and follow up to ensure it has been addressed.

I serve as a representative for the community. Their input is highly valued in how the school district operates.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

Literacy is the key to all education. Our early elementary students must pass the IREAD test by 3rd grade to continue on to 4th grade. We have to focus substantial resources on our rsrly elementary students reading at grade level and ensure older students have access to every literacy resource available to be proficient.

Do you support the referendum? Why or why not?

Yes I support the referendum. The referendum is necessary for us to continue providing the quality of education and services like mental health support, school resource officers, and child nutrition workers. These supports are necessary to maintain and improve our ability to provide a high quality education.

The district has done an excellent job at saving and executing an efficient spending plan. Our team will continue finding ways to eliminate inefficiencies and increase savings. Our focus with finances will be to let our data direct spending decisions and focus on external sources of funding such as grants and local partnerships.

Kristyn Stoddard, at-large candidate

Kristyn Stoddard is running as an independent.

Chalkbeat Indiana attempted to reach every candidate in this district. Stoddard did not respond to multiple requests to complete the candidate survey.

Corrections and Clarifications: This guide has been updated to reflect Randi Berryman’s child doesn’t attend Decatur schools.

Amelia Pak-Harvey covers schools for Chalkbeat Indiana. Contact Amelia at apak-harvey@chalkbeat.org.

Voter guide 2026: Here’s who is running for Washington Township school board

2026-09-11T11:00:00+00:00

Sign up for Chalkbeat Indiana’s free daily newsletter to keep up with Indianapolis Public Schools, Marion County’s township districts, and statewide education news.

This article was co-published by Chalkbeat Indiana, Mirror Indy, and WFYI as part of a collaboration ahead of the 2026 school board elections.

Two candidates are running unopposed for two school board seats in Metropolitan School District of Washington Township on the November ballot.

The district, in the northern part of Marion County, enrolls around 11,325 students — 46% of whom qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Around 40% of students are Black and 22% are Hispanic.

The district is also asking voters to renew a property tax increase in the election as new state tax reforms combined with existing property tax caps stress the district’s budget. If approved, the referendum would generate a maximum annual revenue of $24 million, with most funds going toward retaining teachers and staff. If the referendum fails, the district could reduce staff and increase class sizes, according to its referendum presentation.

Candidates elected this year will be sworn in as board members in January and serve four-year terms ending in December 2030. School board members oversee district policies, goal setting, and budgeting. They also hire and oversee the superintendent.

2 candidates running

Two newcomers — Leslie Bowles and Jocelyn Sisson — are seeking seats on the five-member board. Neither declared a party affiliation. This is the first year school board candidates in Indiana could choose to declare a political affiliation for an election.

Incumbent board members Kristina Frey and William Turner did not file for reelection.

Both board seats on the ballot are at-large seats. That means all residents living in the district can vote for candidates, and the candidates represent the entire district, regardless of their own residence district.

Election Day is Nov. 3. Early voting opens Oct. 6 at the City-County Building, 200 E. Washington St., with additional sites opening across the city Oct. 24.

Residents must be registered by Oct. 5; voters can confirm their registration and find their polling location at indianavoters.in.gov.

Candidates answered questions in a short candidate survey. Responses have been lightly edited for grammatical purposes.

Leslie Bowles, At-large

Bowles, 47, is running with no party affiliation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Marian University and a master’s degree from Indiana University in public affairs. She is managing director of development partnerships for the League of Conservation Voters, a national environmental and voter-engagement organization. Bowles is a North Central High School graduate and has three children enrolled in the district.

You can learn more about Bowles through her campaign’s Facebook page.

List your top three priorities, if elected.

The top three priorities I will be focused on are shrinking the achievement gap in our district; ensuring our district is well-funded so that every student who enters our schools has equitable access to both rigorous academics and resources; and every family in this district feels seen, supported, and represented.

Washington Township school board candidate, Leslie Bowles.

What do you see as the most pressing issue currently facing the district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

The most pressing issue facing Washington Township is the achievement gap, and it is one I have been focused on since I moved back to the district in 2021. I believe every student is capable and full of potential, and that no students’ access to the programs and resources they need to excel should ever be determined by race, the side of town they live on, or their family’s income.

As a school board member I will continue to explicitly name the achievement gap as a priority, require disaggregated data by race and income at board meetings, ensure the data is shared more widely with parents in a way that is visible and transparent to our school community, and hold district leadership accountable for measurable progress. I will also be focused on ensuring our district has the resources to continue the progress we have made to continue investing in the programs and interventions that work and centering the voices and experiences of the families most affected.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

The district must continue to focus on the achievement gap, reading literacy, math proficiency and advanced placement courses for students. As a parent I know reading is our students’ foundation to excel in other courses they will take.

Equitable access to advanced placement courses is also important because it exposes our students to college-level thinking, writing, and problem-solving while they are in high school. Offering AP courses also ensures our district is competitive with other similarly sized school districts across central Indiana.

Affordability and finances are top of mind for districts and voters. What will be your approach to district finances? Do you support the district’s referendum? Why or why not?

As a parent in the district, homeowner affordability is at the top of my mind. If elected, I will work to ensure the district continues to be diligent in using our resources to support our diverse student body.

I support the operating referendum renewal for Washington Township schools because it is not funding buildings, but protecting what we already have. In 2022 I co-founded the Washington Township Parents in Support of Public Education PAC, dedicated to protecting our high-quality, diverse public schools. I have seen, up close, the growing efforts to privatize and defund public education — efforts that put our schools, our teachers, and our children’s futures at risk. This year we are working to educate parents and help pass the operating referendum renewal in our district because it will ensure the district is able to keep counselors, teachers, and support staff our students need. About 300 positions depend on the referendum and ensuring our schools are properly staffed will help maintain academic programs and support services our students deserve.

Washington Township has historically faced significant academic achievement gaps between student groups. In 2025, 20% of Hispanic students and 22% of Black students in grades three to eight passed the math and English Language Arts position of the state exam — compared to 54% of their white classmates. What specific performance metrics will you use to hold the administration accountable for closing the gap, and what board-level policy changes do you believe are necessary to achieve improvement in student outcomes?

As a Black parent I am focused on eliminating the achievement gap between white students and Black and Brown students in our district. As a school board member I will continue to explicitly name the achievement gap as a priority, require disaggregated data by race and income at board meetings, ensure the data is shared more widely with parents in a way that is visible and transparent to our school community, and hold district leadership accountable for measurable progress. I will also work to ensure funding for wraparound support including counseling, mental health services, and family engagement support. I will also review enrollment data in the district’s advanced placement and high ability classes, which is disproportionately accessed by white students even in a diverse district like ours. As a school board member I will advocate for the outreach, identification practices, and support structures needed to ensure that Black and Brown students are fully and equitably represented in every opportunity the district offers.

Jocelyn Sisson, District 2

Sisson is running with no party affiliation. She taught English for 35 years, including 25 years at North Central High School, before retiring. Sisson graduated from Brown University and has a graduate degree from Harvard University. She continues to tutor students at North Central’s Learning Center. Her two daughters graduated from the district in 2014 and 2017.

You can learn more about Sisson through her campaign website.

List your top three priorities, if elected.

Increasing and/or creating support systems to maximize all students’ achievement. For Middle and High School students, this would include encouraging a wider participation in Honors and Advanced Placement classes of under-represented students. Ensuring high standards for student achievement, grading policies and teacher instruction. Aligning Washington Township’s curriculums from Kindergarten to Senior year to expand all students’ eligibility for the Enroll Honors Seal diploma.

Washington Township school board candidate, Jocelyn Sisson.

What do you see as the most pressing issue currently facing the district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

My number one priority is this year’s referendum that will continue the existing property tax assessment. Unfortunately, the ballot statement is misleading. It implies an increase when in fact if passed, the referendum will not raise taxes. Given the funding changes passed by the state legislature, the passage of this referendum is especially important if Washington Township is to continue to hire and retain teachers, staff and administration.

I am working with the Washington Township referendum committee to share accurate information about the referendum with the Washington Township families who have students attending our schools as well as with those residents in our district who do not have students attending our schools.

Good schools benefit all. When schools maintain their funding, they continue to provide excellent education to their students. Good schools also maintain property values for all, including those who do not have children attending Washington Township schools.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

As a former teacher of 35 years, I know from experience that student mastery of skills depends on teachers having high standards for their students while also holding students accountable. At the high school, the trend toward mid-term and semester exam eliminations and exemptions impairs students’ college readiness and skill mastery. For teachers, without the data that exams provide, class instruction cannot be improved, nor can assessments be revised. Exams provide important information for teachers in terms of how well students understand the class material taught, and for students, exam grades reveal how well they have mastered class materials.

The district needs to ensure academic alignment from kindergarten through grade 12. By doing so, it is more likely that all MSDWT students will earn the Enrollment Honors Seal — one seal on the new Indiana diploma.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has increasingly become a shortcut for students. The result: a decreased ability to read texts accurately and write convincingly. Washington Township must develop and implement a district-wide policy regarding AI that preserves students’ skills.

Affordability and finances are top of mind for districts and voters. What will be your approach to district finances? Do you support the district’s referendum? Why or why not?

I absolutely support Washington Township’s referendum. Public schools are a bastion of democracy: we teach all children. The passage of the referendum ensures that our schools continue to educate and serve all who enter their doors. As indicated above, the language on the upcoming ballot is misleading. The referendum implies that there will be an increase in the property tax rate. This is misleading as the referendum merely continues the existing tax rate without any additional burden on taxpayers.

This question highlights the need for a data-driven education policy for all students from Kindergarteners to 12th graders. I would carefully consider data from Washington Township and the results from national educational research. I am particularly interested in these influences: foundational reading and math skills, attendance patterns, the current number of non-white students enrolled in the middle schools’ and high school’s honors-level and Advanced Placement classes.

We should learn from any state or district that has a track record of success. As an example, I am interested in how we can replicate the steps that Mississippi took to improve 4th grader reading literacy from 49th in the nation to the top 10.

Our district is committed to all students earning the Enrollment Honors Seal — one seal on the new Indiana diploma. With the knowledge gained from the data I indicate above, Washington Township can develop programs that ensure that all students meet grade level markers and that all our students have access to and are prepared for success in the AP and honors-level classes required by the Enrollment Seal.

I was the director of the cohort program. As director, I asked middle school teachers to identify under-represented students who they believed could succeed in at least one honors-level class at the high school. These students were then placed in special homerooms that provided academic support and guidance. Due to the current political environment, this program was terminated. However, I would like to see a similar program renamed, revised, and reestablished.

Sept. 12: Corrections and Clarifications: This article has been updated to reflect that Jocelyn Sisson is running for the District 2 seat.

Eric Weddle is WFYI’s education editor. Contact Eric at eweddle@wfyi.org or follow him on X at @ericweddle.

Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board

2026-09-10T11:00:00+00:00

Sign up for Chalkbeat Indiana’s free daily newsletter to keep up with Indianapolis Public Schools, Marion County’s township districts, and statewide education news.

This article was co-published by Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI as part of a collaboration ahead of the 2026 school board elections.

Update, Sept 11: This guide was updated to reflect that Lindsey Cornett is now on the ballot for IPS school board and not a write-in candidate.

The majority of seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools Board of School Commissioners are on the November ballot in the first election since the creation of a new board appointed by the mayor to manage key aspects of city schools.

The election is the first for partisan school board candidates, which led to one IPS candidate being removed from the ballot, but then added back.

Fifteen candidates are vying for five seats on the seven-member school board. All five incumbents are seeking re-election.

While three seats - districts 3 and 5 and one At-Large - were regularly scheduled to be on the ballot this year, two more are also there due to resignations earlier this year. The District 2 and District 4 seats were filled with appointed members until the election.

IPS school board members oversee district policies, goal setting, and some financial decisions. They also hire and oversee the superintendent. The new Indianapolis Public Education Corporation or IPEC took over key responsibilities for IPS and charter schools in the city from school boards including managing school buildings and transportation and the ability to put a tax measure on the ballot.

The outcome of the November tax measure, or referendum, will also determine potential budget cuts. Officials have estimated that the district will need to make around $20 million in cuts even if the tax measure passes.

Also new this year is the option for school board candidates to be partisan. A vast majority of IPS school board candidates are running as Democrats, a stark contrast to the rest of central Indiana and the state.

What to know before you vote for IPS school board

Voters living anywhere within IPS boundaries can vote for the one at-large seat on the ballot. For the four district seats, voters must live in that district to vote in the race.

Three of the districts on the ballot represent the northern half of the IPS district boundaries: District 5 to the west, District 3 in the central portion, and District 2 in the east. And District 4 represents the southwestern part of the school district.

The most crowded races are four candidates each in District 3 and for the at-large seat. There are three candidates in District 5 and two in District 2. District 4 has two candidates.

Chalkbeat and WFYI sent survey questions to each of the candidates to help voters learn more ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Chalkbeat and WFYI will host a candidate forum on Oct. 19 at the Indianapolis Public Library Central Branch, 40 E St Clair St. RSVP here.

How can I vote in school board elections?

School board elections are not included in straight ticket voting. Despite school board candidates now having the option to include a party affiliation, candidates of the same party can be running against each other.

Voter registration is underway and ends Oct. 5. Marion County residents can check their voter status and register to vote here.

Early voting begins Oct. 6 at the Indianapolis City-County Building, 200 E. Washington St. Additional early voting sites open Oct. 24.

On Election Day Nov. 3, Marion County residents can vote at any of the county’s voting centers, which can be found online. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Update, Sept 14: Daqavise Winston’s photo was updated.

Contact WFYI Government Reporter Caroline Beck at cbeck@wfyi.org.

MJ Slaby oversees Chalkbeat Indiana’s coverage as bureau chief. Contact MJ at mslaby@chalkbeat.org.

The Marion County Election Board took her off the ballot. Now, she’s challenging that decision in court.

2026-08-21T20:08:39+00:00

Sign up for Chalkbeat Indiana’s free daily newsletter to keep up with Indianapolis Public Schools, Marion County’s township districts, and statewide education news.

Lindsey Cornett is asking the Marion Superior Court to put her back on the ballot for the Indianapolis Public Schools board of commissioners after she was removed for not meeting criteria to list her party affiliation. She’s also filed as a write-in candidate.

The Marion County Election Board voted to uphold a candidacy challenge against Cornett and remove her from the ballot on Aug. 10 because she wrote on her candidate forms that she’d voted in two Indiana Democratic primary elections when her voter records showed that wasn’t the case. Voting in primaries is one of two ways school board candidates can include a party affiliation on the ballot, something that’s new, but not required, this election.

The election board decided to remove Cornett from the ballot instead of only removing her party affiliation based on guidance from the Indiana Election Division and the bill author’s interpretation of state law. However, Cornett argues the law is being applied incorrectly.

Cornett was one of two candidates for IPS school board District 4, representing the southwestern part of the school district. Typically, the District 4 race wouldn’t be on the ballot until 2028, but former school board member Allissa Impink resigned earlier this year after winning the Democratic primary for State Senate District 46, prompting her IPS school board seat to be on the 2026 ballot. The winner will serve the remainder of Impink’s term.

Chris Bultman, who is currently the only District 4 candidate on the ballot, was appointed by the IPS school board to fill Impink’s seat between her resignation and the election. His party affiliation was also challenged, but the election board rejected it and kept him on the ballot as a Democrat.

Cornett’s petition for judicial review asks the court to examine the election board’s decision to both challenges. She argues that neither candidate should have been removed from the ballot, yet both didn’t meet the standards for including their party affiliations. The review asks for the court to agree, putting Cornett back on the ballot.

“I’m very hopeful about the judicial review process,” Cornett said, adding she’s determined to stay in the race to give voters choices.

Bultman said he trusts the election board’s decision, and his “focus now is representing Dist. 4 to my best ability.”

A ruling is expected no later than Sept. 11, according to court documents. And timing is tight: the first ballots are printed in mid-September. Cornett also filed as a write-in candidate and said she did so to “cover her bases.”

Write-in candidates are not listed on the ballot, and only those who filed will have their votes counted and certified, per the election board.

No other Marion County school boards have candidate challenges or write-in candidates. The deadline for both was noon today.

MJ Slaby oversees Chalkbeat Indiana’s coverage as bureau chief. Contact MJ at mslaby@chalkbeat.org.

Marion County Election Board removes Lindsey Cornett from IPS school board ballot after challenge

2026-08-11T01:25:03+00:00

Sign up for Chalkbeat Indiana’s free daily newsletter to keep up with Indianapolis Public Schools, Marion County’s township districts, and statewide education news.

The Marion County Election Board removed Lindsey Cornett from the Indianapolis Public Schools school board ballot on Monday because of her voting record but allowed her opponent Chris Bultman to remain in the race, saying his record met the requirements.

Cornett and Bultman, who recently was appointed to the IPS board, were the two candidates running for District 4, representing the southwestern part of the school district. The District 4 seat is on the ballot this year because of the resignation of board member Allissa Impink.

Both Cornett and Bultman filed to run as Democrats and faced challenges saying they didn’t meet the criteria to have the party affiliation listed next to their names on the ballot.

For the first time, thanks to a 2025 law, school board candidates are now allowed to list party affiliation on the ballot, but only if they have voted in two primaries held by that party or have gotten permission from the county party leader. Registered voters can challenge those party affiliations.

The outcome of those challenges is determined by the county election board. The Marion County Election Board’s decision could be one of the earliest decisions by an Indiana elections board regarding partisan school board candidates, setting a precedent for future challenges. Board members cited guidance from the Indiana Election Division as well as the interpretation from the bill author in making their unanimous decisions to remove Cornett but keep Bultman on the ballot.

The challenge against Cornett, filed July 1 by registered voter Bryan Regules, says that it’s questionable that she “voted a democratic primary ballot two primaries.” A Chalkbeat review of her voting history shows that she voted in one democratic primary election since moving to Indiana in 2019.

Cornett conceded that she voted in only one primary, but said she didn’t realize it until after filing her candidacy paperwork. She and her attorney, Nabeela Virjee, argued that while that was grounds to remove her party affiliation from the ballot, she should remain on the ballot because of how Cornett and Virjee interpret state law and that listing her as a Democrat would fulfill the law’s goal of giving voters more information.

Attorney Brad Boswell, who was advising the election board, said the law around school board candidates says what to do in the case of an unsuccessful challenge to party affiliation, but doesn’t list the appropriate step after a successful challenge. And in that case, the state election division said it would defer to the part of state law that’s about candidates in general, which says to remove the candidate from the ballot.

Kate Sweeney Bell, the county clerk and a member of the election board, said the additions about party affiliation for school board are “as clear as mud” yet impact “real issues with real people.”

Cornett also faced challenges around the timing of her filing and the number of signatures she received. However, since the board voted on the party affiliation first, it did not make a determination on the other challenges.

Cornett said after the meeting that she was disappointed and frustrated and felt the law had been applied unfairly. She said she’s still committed to running in November.

Anyone who disagrees with the board’s decision has 30 days to seek judicial review of the outcome. But the timeline is tight, as the first ballots are printed in mid-September.

Cornett plans to file a judicial review and is also looking into being a write-in candidate. The deadline for write-in candidates is Aug. 21.

Which primary elections meet the candidate qualifications

The challenge to Bultman’s candidacy, filed July 24 by registered voter Isaiah Tworek, argues that the interpretation of the law is that the candidate should have voted in the last two primaries held by the party as stated in the school board portion of the law, not voted in any two of that party’s primaries, like the broader law and election division says.

According to Indiana Code regarding nomination for school board office, as well as Senate Enrolled Act 287 from 2025, the law that allows partisan school board elections, the candidate must have voted in the two most recent primary elections held by that party.

A section in Indiana Code regarding local and state candidates overall says the candidate must have voted in two primaries held by their party without voting in another party’s primary in between. That same language is on the Indiana Election Division’s CAN-34 form, aka the Petition of Nomination and Consent for School Board Office, and is the interpretation by the state election division.

In Bultman’s case, voting records show he voted in Democratic primaries in 2026 and 2020, fulfilling the latter interpretation, which the county election board agreed with.

Bultman said he was excited to move forward with his candidacy and noted his respect for Cornett. He added that the challenges show there’s a need for clarity around the new law.

The winner of the district 4 race in November would serve the remainder of Impink’s term until 2028.

MJ Slaby oversees Chalkbeat Indiana’s coverage as bureau chief. Contact MJ at mslaby@chalkbeat.org.

Frey, Harris elected to Memphis-Shelby County school board

2026-08-07T03:11:27+00:00

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Memphis voters have elected longtime lawyer Tanya Frey and anti-violence program leader T.L. Harris to serve on the Memphis-Shelby County school board, according to unofficial results from the August 6 election.

In the district’s first partisan school board election, Harris and Frey ran as Democrats in the Districts 6 and 8 races against independent challengers. Two Democratic incumbents — Michelle McKissack in District 1 and Joyce Dorse Coleman in District 9 — ran unopposed.

No Republicans were on the ballot.

New board members take office on Sept. 1 and will inherit a significant legal battle over control of the district. The local officers could be constrained by a nine-member oversight board that Tennessee Republicans appointed under a state takeover law passed this spring.

The state-appointed board is temporarily blocked by a federal court order pending a decision on a Memphis-Shelby County Schools lawsuit challenging the takeover law as unconstitutional.

If reinstated by the court, oversight board members would have final approval over MSCS budgets and vendor contracts. They could also choose a new superintendent and close local schools.

Harris won the District 6 Democratic primary in the spring by fewer than 200 votes. He’s lived in the Whitehaven neighborhood for more than 30 years and spent three years leading community centers for the Memphis Gun Down summer program.

Harris pleaded guilty to a federal drug charge in 2006 while working as a Memphis police officer. He served time in federal prison and later had his voting rights, and right to hold public office, restored. Harris said that background makes him more able to connect with local youth facing poverty and other hardships. Chalkbeat was unable to confirm his current place of employment.

Harris said literacy is the most important issue for the MSCS board to address, with less than a third of Memphis students passing state reading tests.

He will replace District 6 incumbent Keith Williams on the board.

Frey runs Terra Firma Consulting, an organization that advises nonprofits on leadership decisions. She worked as a lawyer for 21 years for companies including Autozone and ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

She said she’ll be focused on improving board governance during a year when the district has to respond to state audit findings that revealed ineffective operations and potential spending abuse.

Frey will replace current board member Amber Huett-Garcia, who was elected on Thursday to serve on the Shelby County Commission.

Bri Hatch covers Memphis-Shelby County Schools for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Reach Bri at bhatch@chalkbeat.org.

What do you think about your school district’s ballot request for a property tax increase?

2026-07-30T11:00:00+00:00

Sign up for Chalkbeat Indiana’s free daily newsletter to keep up with Indianapolis Public Schools, Marion County’s township districts, and statewide education news.

A record number of Indiana school districts are asking voters to approve property tax increases this November.

We want to know: How will this impact you?

Indiana’s school districts are facing financial strain on multiple fronts. Enrollment, which influences how much state revenue they receive, is declining. The costs of running a district, officials say, are increasing. And lawmakers last year passed property tax reform that is expected to cost districts millions of dollars in lost revenue.

Under state law, property taxes are capped at 1% of a home’s gross assessed value. But districts can seek out revenue beyond that by asking voters to approve a referendum on the ballot.

Those referendums ask voters to provide additional funds to schools for a specific need, such as operations, construction, or safety. The funding is on top of property taxes already allocated to schools along with state and federal funding.

Starting this year, districts may only ask voters for these increases during the state’s general election in November.

We want to hear from residents about what they think of school referendums and the impact it may have on their household budget. Your answers may help shape our future reporting on this year’s elections. Share your thoughts on questions below:

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Amelia Pak-Harvey covers schools for Chalkbeat Indiana. Contact Amelia at apak-harvey@chalkbeat.org.

Confusion on partisan school board law puts two IPS candidates’ spots at risk

2026-07-27T23:00:06+00:00

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This story was originally published by WFYI.

A new Indiana law that lets school board candidates run under a political party is now threatening to knock the only two candidates for an Indianapolis Public Schools board seat off the November ballot.

Both candidates running for the District 4 seat — Lindsey Cornett and Chris Bultman, who already holds the seat after being appointed in June — are now being challenged, in part because they both filed to run as Democrats.

One challenge filed against Cornett on July 1, argued she should be disqualified for various reasons, including questions about her ability to run as a Democrat on the ballot.

Bultman is also now facing a challenge, filed late Friday afternoon, that similarly centers on his eligibility to run as a Democrat.

The concerns around party affiliation for school board candidates all stem back to a 2025 state law that now allows school board candidates to run as a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian or choose not to affiliate with any party at all.

The Marion County Election Board was set to hear arguments on Cornett’s challenge during its Monday meeting. But once the second challenge against Bultman was filed, the legal counsel for the election board advised them to consider both challenges at the same time.

Brad Boswell, an attorney with Faegre Drinker advising the election board, also explained that conflicting language in state election law and the language in the new school board candidate law complicates both of these challenges.

The main issue lies in the fact that the new law concerning school board candidates identifying with a political party says that if the candidate wants to affiliate with one of the state’s major political parties, they must show that they voted in that chosen party’s last two primary elections “held by the party with which the candidate claims affiliation.”

However, the state’s candidate guide says that a candidate must have voted in the chosen party’s primary in the “two (2) most recent Indiana primary elections that the candidate voted in.”

Both the new law and the state’s candidate guidance also allows for candidates to get approval from their chosen party’s county chairman to earn affiliation with the party.

After explaining the conflicting language, Boswell advised the election board to delay consideration on both candidates’ challenges until further guidance is given on how to interpret the new law.

If the Marion County Election Board determines that the candidate’s party affiliation should be judged by the law’s stricter standard, both Bultman and Cornett could be disqualified from running.

Voter registration records for both candidates, obtained by WFYI, show they’ve only ever voted in Democratic primaries in Indiana and only in the 2026 primary; neither voted in 2024.

That raises a bigger question the board will have to answer: If both candidates are found ineligible to run as Democrats, are they removed from the ballot entirely, or would they remain on the ballot as unaffiliated candidates?

Indiana’s Election Administrator’s Manual states that if a candidate is successfully challenged based on their party affiliation, the county election board can remove them from the ballot. However, school board candidates who choose to affiliate with a minor political party, or claim to be an independent or choose not to affiliate with any party, can’t be challenged based on their party affiliation.

Boswell said that the Marion County election board is likely the first board in the state that will have to make decisions for candidate eligibility under the new law.

“First, thank you General Assembly, because this seems clear as mud,” said Marion County Clerk Kate Sweeney Bell during Monday’s meeting.

The three-person election board agreed unanimously to delay considering the candidate challenges.

According to records from Indiana secretary of state’s office, around half of the 1,034 school board candidates that have filed to run in the November general election haven’t listed any party affiliation.

Bultman and Cornett are currently the only candidates filed to run for the District 4 seat, which was previously held by Allissa Impink, who then resigned from the position after winning the primary race for Indiana State Senate District 46.

Bryan Regules filed the challenge against Cornett. Isaiah Tworek filed the challenge to candidacy and notes it’s only about party affiliation and not eligibility to be a candidate.

Aug. 21 is the final day to challenge any school board candidates who have filed to run through the normal process. Ballot language and candidates must be confirmed for the ballot by the middle of September.

A date has not been set for the Marion County Election Board’s next meeting.

The general election is Nov. 3.

Contact WFYI Government Reporter Caroline Beck at cbeck@wfyi.org

Memphis school board election comes as legal battle continues over state takeover

2026-07-17T10:00:00+00:00

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Early voting is underway for the Memphis-Shelby County election that will seat two new local school board members as the legal battle over district control continues.

Voters will head to the polls on Aug. 6. Two incumbents, Michelle McKissack in District 1 and Joyce Dorse Coleman in District 9, are running unopposed after winning the Democratic nomination in MSCS’ first partisan school board primary in May.

But the Democratic nominees for the District 6 and District 8 seats, T.L. Harris and Tanya Frey, will each face an independent challenger. Local pastor and former teacher Frederick Tappan is running against Harris, and MSCS librarian Leigh Ann Scarbrough will face Frey.

Harris, who led a youth violence prevention program for three years, beat four other Democratic candidates by fewer than 200 votes. He was convicted on a felony drug charge 20 years ago while employed as a Memphis police officer. Frey, a longtime Memphis lawyer, won her race against one other candidate by a wide margin.

It’s unclear what the newly elected members’ role will look like after they assume office on Sept. 1. The state takeover law passed this spring by Nashville Republicans authorizes a new oversight board to seize control of key district decisions, including approval of the budget and school closures.

A federal judge temporarily blocked the state-appointed board two weeks ago, an early win for MSCS and Shelby County leaders who are suing over the takeover law. But earlier this week, Tennessee officials filed a request to lift that block, challenging the district’s claims of unconstitutionality.

As the lawsuit plays out in court, find out which local school board district will appear on your ballot, and learn about candidates’ stances on key issues below. Early voting ends on Aug. 1.

Bri Hatch covers Memphis-Shelby County Schools for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Reach Bri at bhatch@chalkbeat.org.

15 candidates for 5 seats: See who’s running for school board at IPS and other Indianapolis area districts

2026-07-15T20:32:18+00:00

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Update, July 15: Tiffani Flick, Jayia McCray and Christopher Williams have withdrawn from their respective school board races since this article was published.

Update, June 26: This story was updated to reflect that Lindsey Cornett was added to the ballot as a District 4 candidate for IPS school board.

Fifteen candidates are running for five seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board this November, including an influential charter school advocate and an Indiana Democratic Party leader.

Candidates had until noon June 18 to be on the November ballot, and the list is a first look at who could lead IPS during a time of change for the city’s schools. This was the first time candidates could include their political affiliations.

Of the 59 candidates competing for 31 seats on 10 school boards across Marion County, more than half decided to list a party affiliation, with 23 Democrats and 9 Republicans. Seven candidates are Independents and 20 chose to be nonpartisan. For IPS, 13 listed Democrat and two are Independents.

This election is pivotal for the IPS school board. After two resignations this year, five of the board’s seven seats are on the ballot. It’s also the first election since state lawmakers created the mayor-appointed Indianapolis Public Education Corporation.

IPEC holds key powers for IPS and charter schools in the city including including the ability to ask voters for a tax increase to provide additional funds to schools. The elected IPS board previously had that power, and this year’s possible referendum comes as the district faces critical financial challenges. Per state law, three of the nine members of IPEC are also IPS board members.

Of the five races for IPS school board, the most crowded are for District 3 and the at-large seat with four candidates for each. The District 3 race is especially notable with Hope Duke Star, the current IPS board president and a member of IPEC, and Derek Redelman, who is considered an architect of the state’s 2001 charter school law, both on the ballot.

Alexander S. Nyirendah, the vice chair of the Indiana Democratic Party, is running for an at-large seat and Chris Bultman is running in District 4. Bultman works at Concept Schools, a nonprofit charter management organization and was recently appointed to join the IPS board.

The IPS board members who have terms ending in 2026 are all running for re-election.

School board candidates statewide were previously nonpartisan, but they now have the ability to list a political party affiliation, identify as an independent, or be nonpartisan. Because there are no primary elections, multiple candidates can have the same party affiliation.

Here’s a look at who’s on the ballot. Incumbent candidates are noted with an asterisk.

Candidates for IPS school board:

See the map of school board districts here.

District 2

Bryan Duarte, Democrat
Hasaan Rashid, Democrat*

District 3

Loren Eugene Heger, Democrat
Hope Duke Star, Democrat*
Derek Redelman, Independent
Daqavise D. Winston, Democrat

You’re invited: Hear about the changes for schools this election and what they mean

District 4

Chris Bultman, Democrat*
Lindsey Cornett, Democrat

District 5

Nicole Carey, Democrat*
Yuri Smith Sr., Democrat
Pearl Taylor, Democrat

At-large

Heather Houston, Independent
Angelia Lois Moore, Democrat*
Alexander S. Nyirendah, Democrat
Sacha Nicole Sharp, Democrat

Candidates for school boards across the Indianapolis area:

Beech Grove City Schools

Three at-large seats are on the ballot.

Brian Downard, nonpartisan*
Tiffani Flick, Democrat
Jannis King, Independent*
Madison West, nonpartisan

MSD of Decatur Township

Three at-large seats are on the ballot.

Randi Berryman, nonpartisan
Teresa A. Burns, nonpartisan
Judith Collins, Republican*
Dale Henson, Republican*
Steve Jacobi, nonpartisan
Patrice Johnson, nonpartisan
Chase Lyday, Republican*
Kristyn D. Stoddard, Independent

Franklin Township Community Schools

At-large

Komal (Komal Kaur) Chohan, Independent
Dawn Downer, nonpartisan*
Antonio DeWayne Key, Sr, Democrat
Tim McVey, Republican
Christopher Williams, Republican

Northeast District

Zachary Smith Howard, Republican*

Southeast District

Matt Morgan, Republican
Larry J. Walker, Republican*

MSD of Lawrence Township

At-large

Maria Bertram Cartagena, nonpartisan
Jessica Dunn, nonpartisan*

District 2

Larry Brown, nonpartisan
Craig J Willey, nonpartisan

Perry Township Schools

Three at-large seats are on the ballot.

Chris Lewis, Republican*
Brianna Bible, Democrat
Lee Shively, Independent*

MSD of Pike Township

Three at-large seats are on the ballot.

Alonzo Anderson, Democrat*
Wayne Moore, Democrat*
Sherie Latoya Scott, Democrat
Terry A. Webster, Sr., Democrat*

MSD of Warren Township

Three at-large seats are on the ballot.

Terri Amos, nonpartisan*
Rachel M Burke, nonpartisan*
Jerry Crites, nonpartisan
Samantha Douglas, nonpartisan
Kevin S. Humphrey, Sr, nonpartisan*
Steve (Coach) Tutsie, Independent

MSD of Washington Township

At-large

Leslie Bowles, nonpartisan
Jayia McCray, nonpartisan

District 2

Jocelyn Sisson, nonpartisan

MSD of Wayne Township

Four at-large seats are on the ballot.

Brandon Bowman, Democrat*
Mikeal Gordon, Democrat*
Raimeka Graham, Democrat*
Benjamin Wakefield, nonpartisan*

Speedway Schools is not included in this list because the school board is appointed by the town board, not elected.

MJ Slaby oversees Chalkbeat Indiana’s coverage as bureau chief. Contact MJ at mslaby@chalkbeat.org.

More Republicans than Democrats file for school board races in central Indiana

2026-07-01T11:00:00+00:00

Sign up for Chalkbeat Indiana’s free daily newsletter to keep up with Indianapolis Public Schools, Marion County’s township districts, and statewide education news.

A plurality of school board candidates in central Indiana did not declare a party affiliation ahead of the general election in November, when school board races across the state will be partisan for the first time.

But those who did declare a party tended to declare themselves Republican, with about one-third of candidates identifying with the GOP in candidate filings.

In the nine-county region, about one-third of the 211 candidates are Republicans, while roughly 13% are Democratic and 9% are independent. About 45% of candidates did not declare a party affiliation. Incumbent candidates were more likely to identify as Republican or not have a party listed. Only incumbents in Marion County identified themselves as Democrats.

The filings for central Indiana could shed light on how political partisanship affects school board races. In Marion County, Democratic candidates outnumber Republican candidates. Yet in the more conservative counties that surround the state’s capital, Republican candidates outnumber Democratic ones.

State lawmakers approved partisan school board races last year despite significant opposition from educators and advocates who argued that partisan politics would disrupt inherently nonpartisan activities left to the school board, like selecting a superintendent and approving an annual budget. But some Republican lawmakers who backed the legislation said it would help voters support candidates who align with their values.

The new state law allows candidates to include a political party after their name, leave their political affiliation blank, identify as independent, or state that they do not identify with a party. But candidates who identify as Democrats or Republicans could gain a key advantage.

Under a state law adopted this year, the party whose candidate received the most votes in the county in the most recent election for secretary of state will be listed first on ballots. The party with the second-highest number of votes for that office will be listed second, followed by independent candidates or those affiliated with parties that did not have a secretary of state candidate. Finally, candidates who do not disclose any political affiliation will appear last.

That means in Democratic-leaning Marion County, for example, Democratic school board candidates will be listed before their Republican opponents. But elsewhere in the state, Republican school board candidates will be first on the ballot — which some research suggests could give them an advantage over other candidates.

The move toward partisanship comes as national political polarization has begun to affect state and local races that have typically been less partisan, said Michael Wolf of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics at Purdue University Fort Wayne. In K-12 education, this shift has fueled divisive debates over book bans and mask mandates.

The change could have upsides and downsides, Wolf said. While fewer candidates may be interested in running in partisan races, more voters may cast a vote for school board candidates if they’re aware of the candidate’s party.

“One of the benefits, certainly, of partisan elections is that you probably would have more participation at least in people not skipping that race when they’re voting,” he said.

Party affiliation could bring ballot advantage

Some incumbents say voters have often wanted to know what political party school board candidates belong to.

When Zachary Smith Howard knocked on doors in his first bid for the Franklin Township Community School Corporation board in 2018, the most common question people asked him was his party affiliation, he said.

“I would tell people, ‘This is a nonpartisan race, but I identify with the Republican Party,’” said Howard, who is on the board of the Indiana School Boards Association but spoke to Chalkbeat in his personal capacity. “Most people don’t do the homework on the school board elections, they just don’t.”

Howard is seeking his third term as the sole candidate for the northeast portion of the district. But this time, he filed as a Republican.

Howard considers his Republican affiliation as just another piece of information for Marion County voters in Franklin Township to consider. But he also wishes voters would do more research on what candidates stand for, he said, because there’s more to a candidate than a partisan label.

“My fear is that people will just look at the label and that’s how they’ll make a decision,” he said.

In Westfield, the partisan school board law spurred Gabriel Crawford-Paree to run as a Democrat for the at-large seat on the Westfield Washington school board — even though he opposed making school board elections partisan.

“Filing as a Democrat is my shorthand way to signal to the likely many voters I won’t be able to reach during my campaign that I do support public education,” he said.

His opponent in Hamilton County, Republican incumbent Amber Huff Willis, said she’s seen voters struggle to understand why the school board races are nonpartisan when she’s run for her seat in the past.

Although she declared a party affiliation, she said lawmakers shouldn’t have introduced political partisanship into school board races because it shouldn’t matter.

“I would say nine out of 10 times if you’re involved in a community, you probably understand who does what and who falls where,” she said.

The general election is on Nov. 3.

Amelia Pak-Harvey covers schools for Chalkbeat Indiana. Contact Amelia at apak-harvey@chalkbeat.org.

Indianapolis Public Schools board taps Chris Bultman to represent District 4

2026-06-26T01:07:53+00:00

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Chris Bultman will be the newest member of the Indianapolis Public Schools Board of Commissioners. He will represent District 4, the southwest part of the school district.

The IPS school board voted 5-1 on Thursday to appoint Bultman, the regional director of external affairs at Concept Schools, a nonprofit charter management organization that works with Indiana Math and Science Academies. The board interviewed him and finalist Lindsey Cornett in a public meeting on Wednesday.

Bultman will serve through January, when the newly elected District 4 representative will be sworn in.

Both Bultman and Cornett are running for District 4 in November. Bultman’s appointment means he will have some time on the board ahead of the election, unlike newcomer Cornett. He’ll also have to balance joining the board and campaigning.

Bultman is on the ballot for November. Cornett will be added, said the Marion County Clerks’ Office on Thursday. She was originally denied due to what she said was confusion about whether she met the deadline to file.

Board president Hope Duke Star said she voted for Bultman as a decision aimed at the future, adding that “a year from now, we will need some stability on the board.”

The District 4 seat became vacant when former Commissioner Allissa Impink resigned earlier this month after winning the Democratic primary for Indiana State Senate District 46. During public comment on Wednesday, Impink spoke in support of Cornett.

IPS board members Star, Angelia Moore, Deandra Thompson, Ashley Thomas and Hasaan Rashid voted for Bultman. Board member Nicole Carey voted for Cornett.

Carey said she is concerned about the professional conflict Bultman could face as an IPS board member who also works for a charter organization that aims to enroll students living within the IPS district boundaries.

Star said that even when there is a gray area, she expects all IPS board members to prioritize IPS when they are in their board seats, including Bultman.

Bultman joins the board at a critical time, with five of the board’s seven seats on the ballot in November. It is also the first school board election since the creation of the mayor-appointed Indianapolis Public Education Corporation, which holds key powers for IPS and charter schools.

Voters will also be asked to decide whether to approve a tax increase, or referendum, that would provide funding for IPS and charter schools that opt in.But even if it passes, IPS is still expected to make $20 million in cuts by the 2027-28 school year.

In his Wednesday interview, Bultman said has experience working with students facing challenges outside of school and with helping families make decisions about where to attend school.

He said his priorities would be improving student outcomes and the district’s financial health while also making IPS a destination for families. Bultman said the referendum is also a key challenge facing the district. He also called for collaboration across Indianapolis’ school types with a focus on improving student outcomes.

Bultman will be sworn in during the school board’s next agenda review meeting at 6 p.m. July 28 at 120 E. Walnut St.

MJ Slaby oversees Chalkbeat Indiana’s coverage as bureau chief. Contact MJ at mslaby@chalkbeat.org.

IPS school board interviews 2 applicants for District 4 vacancy

2026-06-25T00:39:15+00:00

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In public interviews, two applicants to be the next member of the Indianapolis Public Schools Board of Commissioners stressed their experience working with students and a desire to engage families and the community with the district.

On Wednesday, the IPS school board interviewed Chris Bultman and Lindsey Cornett to fill the District 4 vacancy ahead of a Thursday vote. The interviews were also a preview of the upcoming campaign season as both finalists said they are running for the District 4 seat in the November election.

The seat representing the southwest part of the school district is vacant after former Commissioner Allissa Impink resigned earlier this month. Impink, who won the Democratic primary for Indiana State Senate District 46, resigned from the school board before the general election, so the IPS District 4 seat would be on November’s ballot.

The appointee will serve until January, when the newly elected member is sworn in. That person will serve the remainder of Impink’s term through the end of 2028.

Bultman is the sole candidate on the ballot, but Cornett said she plans to run as well. She is currently considering appeal options or running as a write-in candidate after her candidate paperwork was denied due to what she said was confusion about whether she met the deadline to file.

Whomever is selected in the meantime will join the school board at a critical time. Five of the board’s seven seats are on the ballot, and voters will also decide whether to approve a tax increase, or referendum, that would provide funding for IPS and charter schools that opt in.

The IPS school board used to have the power to put a tax increase on the ballot, but that’s now under the purview of the mayor-appointed Indianapolis Public Education Corporation, which was created by state lawmakers earlier this year.

This week, IPEC members decided to ask voters for a property tax increase of 37 cents per $100 of assessed value. Even if it passes, IPS is still expected to make $20 million in cuts by the 2027-28 school year.

Meet the applicants for District 4 IPS school board member

Chris Bultman

Bultman is the regional director of external affairs at Concept Schools, a nonprofit charter management organization that works with Indiana Math and Science Academies. He previously worked as a teacher and on the culture team at Indiana Math and Science where he worked with students facing challenges outside of school.

If appointed, he said his priorities would be improving student outcomes and the district’s financial health while also making IPS a destination for families. He also noted that the referendum is a key challenge facing the district.

Bultman said this moment calls for strong collaboration across Indianapolis’ school types and that disagreement is OK as long as the main focus for all schools working together is improving student outcomes.

Lindsey Cornett

Cornett, a writer and editor for congregation engagement at Englewood Community Development Corporation, described herself as a fierce advocate for IPS. She’s also a former Florida public school teacher and mother of three IPS students.

If appointed, Cornett said she would do her part to get the referendum passed and “offer stability, representation, and camaraderie with the residents of our district” during IPS’s time of transition.

She added that channeling the community’s energy and love for Indianapolis and individual IPS schools is a great opportunity for the district. The biggest challenges are finances and holding IPEC accountable, Cornett said. Going forward, she said the focus needs to be on data-driven decisionmaking for student outcomes and making sure schools have the resources they need before new ideas are launched.

Impink attended the meeting and spoke in support of Cornett during public comment.

This is the second time this year the IPS board has filled a vacancy due to a resignation. Hasaan Rashid was appointed to the board in March.

MJ Slaby oversees Chalkbeat Indiana’s coverage as bureau chief. Contact MJ at mslaby@chalkbeat.org.

Marion County school board elections: Tell us what you want to know

2026-06-24T17:36:29+00:00

Sign up for Chalkbeat Indiana’s free daily newsletter to keep up with Indianapolis Public Schools, Marion County’s township districts, and statewide education news.

The 2026 elections could be critical for school districts across the Indianapolis area and the state.

It’s the first time school board candidates can declare a political party affiliation on the ballot. It also could bring a record number of requests from school districts to increase property taxes, as schools across the state struggle with declining enrollment and a loss in revenue from property tax reforms that state lawmakers implemented last year.

And school districts continue to navigate other challenges such as how to implement artificial intelligence in schools and a bell-to-bell cellphone ban for students.

The people elected to school boards will help guide these key decisions including what budget cuts may be necessary if voters reject a proposed property tax increase on the ballot.

We want to hear from Marion County voters about their most pressing issues and questions for prospective school board candidates in the 10 districts across Indianapolis with elected school boards. What do you want to know from the candidates? What challenges do you want to see them address?

Your answers will help shape our upcoming voter guide for Marion County school board elections in partnership with Mirror Indy and WFYI. Let us know what you’d like to know from your candidates below:

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Amelia Pak-Harvey covers schools for Chalkbeat Indiana. Contact Amelia at apak-harvey@chalkbeat.org.

How should Michigan’s next governor improve education? We want to hear from you.

2026-06-23T13:21:31+00:00

Sign up for Chalkbeat Detroit’s free newsletter to keep up with the city’s public school system and Michigan education policy.

Education has become a critical issue in the race for Michigan’s next governor, an election that will determine who has the power to shape policies that improve learning for the state’s 1.3 million public school students.

But how should the winner do it? That’s a question we have for Michigan residents.

Chalkbeat Detroit and the Detroit Free Press are collaborating this election season to cover education issues that are key in the gubernatorial contest. To help shape our coverage, we’re asking you to take a few minutes to fill out the survey below. Your feedback is critical to ensuring we understand what issues are important.

This is a difficult time for education in Michigan. On the National Assessment of Educational Progress, just 24% of Michigan fourth graders who took the exam were considered proficient in reading, compared to 30% nationally.

Meanwhile, in 2025, just 38.9% of Michigan’s third graders were proficient in English language arts on the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress.

Math performance has been just as troubling.

Gubernatorial candidates have their own ideas about what it will take to improve Michigan schools, ranging from paying teachers more to replicating what other, more successful, states like Mississippi have done.

What do you think Michigan should do?

Lori Higgins is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat Detroit. You can reach her at lhiggins@chalkbeat.org.

IPS seeks applicants to fill vacant District 4 school board seat

2026-06-16T19:33:38+00:00

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Applications are open to fill a vacancy on the Indianapolis Public Schools Board, with the board selecting an appointee next week.

The school board’s District 4 seat, which represents the southwest part of the school district, is vacant after Commissioner Allissa Impink’s resignation took effect June 15. Impink won the Democratic primary election for Indiana State Senate District 46 in May. She resigned before the general election so the school board seat would be on November’s ballot, reducing the time an appointed member will be on the board.

The appointee will serve on the board until January when the newly elected member is sworn in. That person will serve the remainder of Impink’s term through the end of 2028.

The November election is a critical one for the IPS board, with five of seven seats on the ballot. It also comes as the district faces financial challenges and after the board lost some authority to the new Indianapolis Public Education Corporation. Established by state lawmakers earlier this year, IPEC now holds key powers over district and charter schools, including school accountability, buildings, transportation, and some financial matters.

To qualify for appointment to the IPS board, applicants must live in District 4 and have lived within the IPS school district for at least a year. They also must not have a felony conviction unless it was pardoned, reversed, vacated, or set aside.

Applications and resumes are due by 5 p.m. on June 23, and the school board will meet in executive session that day to select three finalists.

Finalists will have public interviews at 6 p.m. on June 24 at the district central office, 120 E. Walnut St. The board will vote on an appointment during its action session at 6 p.m. on June 25, and the appointee will be sworn in that evening.

It’s possible that whoever is appointed could also run for election in November. Potential school board candidates have until noon on June 18 to file. As of Tuesday afternoon, no candidate has filed to run in District 4, according to the Marion County Election Board’s candidate list.

Due to resignations, school board seats representing District 2 — which is now represented by Hasaan Rashid, who was appointed by the board in March — and District 4 are on the November ballot. Also on the ballot are three IPS board seats slated for election: District 3, currently represented by Hope Duke Star, District 5, represented by Nicole Carey, and an at-large seat held by Angelia Moore.

See the application for IPS District 4 commissioner here.

MJ Slaby oversees Chalkbeat Indiana’s coverage as bureau chief. Contact MJ at mslaby@chalkbeat.org.

Why this Indianapolis-area district is changing the start and end times for school days

2026-06-15T17:14:27+00:00

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When students in Decatur Township head back to class this August, they’ll start and end their days at new times.

The changes, which come with benefits for students and staff such as more sleep for middle school students and time for teacher professional development, are also in part, due to financial pressures schools face.

Changing start and end times means going from six different schedules to three, allowing for fewer bus routes and more savings to the district. School leaders said they are still implementing changes, but expect “impactful savings” to the district’s roughly $6.7 million transportation budget for this calendar year.

The priority is always how to best support students, said Scott Collins, superintendent of the Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township. Additional benefits to the time changes are for high schoolers to end their day earlier and to align schedules for grade levels.

Yet, Collins also acknowledged that the money aspect can’t be untangled from those decisions.

Decatur Township schools are not alone in responding to less property tax funding due to changes at the state level and wanting to show fiscal responsibility to voters ahead of a potential tax increase, known as a referendum, vote in November.

School leaders in Decatur anticipate $3 million less in property taxes this year due to property tax reform. And additional state changes also mean the district is considering putting a tax measure on the ballot a year earlier than planned.

“We’re trying to save dollars now so we don’t have to ask for as much money in the future,” Collins said. “We want to be good stewards.”

And a big part of that for Decatur is busing – a key service that more than 70% of students in the district use daily during the school year. Plus, more than 1,100 of the district’s roughly 6,500 students use the bus each week for after-school activities like athletics, band, and clubs, Collins said. He added that buses are crucial for Decatur schools due to limited access to public transportation and limited ability to have walk zones for students.

Currently, the district uses a portion of its referendum dollars to pay for transportation costs, including salary and benefits for bus drivers, monitors, and mechanics. Without referendum funds, Collins said the district would have to consider additional busing changes such as walk zones and cutting after-school buses.

The district is considering a tax measure rate of roughly 27 cents per $100 of assessed value that would replace the current rate of roughly 29 cents starting in January if approved by voters.

In order to be on the ballot in November, the school board must approve and send the ballot question to the state Department of Local Government Finance no later than July 22.

MJ Slaby oversees Chalkbeat Indiana’s coverage as bureau chief. Contact MJ at mslaby@chalkbeat.org.

Voter guide: Where the 2026 Colorado Republican Party gubernatorial candidates stand on education

2026-06-12T21:44:46+00:00

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Where do Colorado’s gubernatorial candidates stand on education issues?

Chalkbeat Colorado analyzed the education records of the candidates ahead of the primaries on June 30. The field includes two Democrats and three Republicans.

Read about each of the three Republican Party candidates below:

State Rep. Scott Bottoms

What is Bottoms’ record on education?

Bottoms, 55, has served as a Colorado state representative since 2023. The Colorado Springs resident is pastor of the Colorado Springs Church at Briargate and a U.S. Navy veteran.

Bottoms called the state’s education system “broken” in an interview with KUNC.

During his three years as a state representative, Bottoms has sponsored three bills related to transgender youth, including one that would have banned the participation of transgender students in gendered sports unless they were co-ed. All three bills failed.

Voter guide: Where the 2026 Colorado Democratic Party gubernatorial candidates stand on education

In a Colorado Sun questionnaire, Bottoms has said he supports Initiatives 108, 109 and 110.

Initiative 108 would require a person convicted of trafficking a child for sexual servitude to serve life in prison. Initiative 109 would require student athletes to participate on teams that match their sex assigned at birth. And Initiative 110 would prohibit surgeries for children under age 18 that alter their biological sex characteristics.

The Bottoms campaign did not respond to requests for an interview before deadline, or say whether he would enroll Colorado in the new federal education tax-credit program.

What is Bottoms’ platform for education?

Supporting parents’ right to direct their child’s education.
Offering tax incentives for stay-at-home parents and caregivers.
Pushing for curriculum transparency and allowing for school boards to reject “state-imposed ideologies.”
Protecting kids from politicized content, boosting online safety, and ensuring students can only compete in gendered sports based on their sex assigned at birth.
Reforming family courts, education, and healthcare, as well as addressing grandparents’ rights, after-school programs, and parental issues.

State Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer

What is Kirkmeyer’s record on education?

Kirkmeyer, 67, is a Weld County resident who has a bachelor of science in education from the University of Colorado Boulder. She’s spent most of her career working as a dairy farmer and small business owner.

Kirkmeyer’s first year in the Colorado Senate was in 2021, and she has served on the Senate Education Committee. She also spent four years on the powerful Joint Budget Committee, which helps craft the state budget.

Kirkmeyer has been an active member of the state legislature, filing over 300 bills. Many have involved education.

Kirkemeyer sponsored bipartisan laws to create a task force to study the statewide K-12 education accountability system, establish a grant program to help schools affected by the mineral and gas industry create park-like environments at schools, and allow high school students to take four-year university courses off campus.

She’s often talked about the need to protect state education funding through difficult budget cuts, although she’s against tax increases.

This year, she was part of a group of lawmakers that filed the state’s School Finance Act ahead of the state budget. The school funding bill didn’t get considered until after the state budget, but district leaders said the early filing allowed them to provide more feedback on their needs before its passage.

Kirkmeyer has said she will vote yes on Initiatives 108, 109 and 110.

In a Colorado Public Radio interview, Kirkmeyer highlighted that she helped end the budget stabilization factor, which allowed lawmakers to divert money away from education for other priorities. Lawmakers ended the practice in 2024, though Kirkmeyer said the state still underfunds education.

Kirkmeyer’s campaign didn’t respond to requests for an interview before deadline, and didn’t answer a question about her position on the new federal education tax credits.

What is Kirkmeyer’s platform for education?

Requiring at least 65% of state funding to be spent in the classroom.
Ensuring programs are backed by evidence before funding can continue.
Supporting district efforts to ban cellphones in classrooms.
Ensuring every high school has a police officer on site.
Equipping schools with camera systems that have artificial intelligence weapons-detection systems to speed up threat detection and public safety officials’ reaction times.

Victor Marx

What is Marx’s record on education?

Marx, 60, is the founder and CEO of All Things Possible, a nonprofit humanitarian ministry. The Colorado Springs resident is also an author who has written two books about his life.

In interviews, Marx has focused on his leadership experience as a political outsider. He has little documented experience with education issues and hasn’t said much about them in interviews.

In an interview with Colorado Public Radio, Marx said he wants to make it easier for families to pay for childcare. And in campaign videos, Marx has said he wants to help young people stay in Colorado after they’ve gone to college.

Marx said in a Colorado Sun candidate questionnaire that he supports Initiatives 108, 109 and 110.

Marx’s campaign didn’t respond to requests for an interview, and didn’t say what his position is about the new federal tax credits for education.

What is Marx’s education platform?

The one major mention of an education policy on his campaign website calls to direct the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment to expand apprenticeship programs, as well as create workforce pipelines in construction, technology, energy, and other fields.

His website says Marx wants to provide incentives to employers that sponsor apprenticeships through tax benefits and recruitment support. He also wants to guarantee that apprentices have pathways to enter various fields.

Jason Gonzales is a reporter covering higher education and the Colorado legislature. Chalkbeat Colorado partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage. Contact Jason at jgonzales@chalkbeat.org.

Voter guide: Where the 2026 Colorado Democratic Party gubernatorial candidates stand on education

2026-06-12T21:42:10+00:00

Sign up for Chalkbeat Colorado’s free daily newsletter to get the latest reporting from us, plus curated news from other Colorado outlets, delivered to your inbox.

Where do Colorado’s gubernatorial candidates stand on education issues?

Chalkbeat Colorado analyzed the education records of the candidates ahead of the primaries on June 30. The field includes two Democrats and three Republicans.

Read about each of the Democratic Party candidates below:

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet

What is Bennet’s record on education?

Bennet, 61, who resides in Denver, has served as a United States senator since 2009. Education has been a pillar of his political career, including during an unsuccessful 2019 presidential campaign.

Bennet’s education experience started in 2005, when he was hired as superintendent of the state’s largest school district, Denver Public Schools.

Under Bennet, Denver Public Schools shut down low-performing and underenrolled schools, expanded school choice, and allowed more charter schools to operate in the district. The changes he made helped improve student academic achievement, but some remain controversial to this day.

Voter guide: Where the 2026 Colorado Republican Party gubernatorial candidates stand on education

Bennet left Denver Public Schools when he was appointed to fill an open U.S. Senate seat in 2009. In Congress, he helped usher in the Every Student Succeeds Act, which succeeded the No Child Left Behind Act and is the primary federal law governing K-12 education.

He serves on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and notably voted against the appointment of Betsy DeVos to be U.S. education secretary in 2017.

Bennet has said Colorado needs to make childcare more affordable, including by creating a dedicated funding source and using underenrolled schools to house early childhood programs. He also said he believes Gov. Jared Polis’ focus on kindergarten and early childhood has been a success.

Bennet’s campaign said he doesn’t support private school vouchers or public funds going to private or religious schools.

But Bennet believes rejecting a federal program that would provide tax credits for donations to scholarship-granting organizations “could be short sighted and put millions of dollars that could help kids in Colorado at risk.” He believes Colorado should wait until rules for the programs are finalized before making a decision, his campaign said.

What is Bennet’s platform for education?

Raising wages for Colorado educators.
Increasing the number of educator training programs, including apprenticeships.
Improving statewide resources and training for teaching math and reading.
Tackling student mental health challenges, curbing violence in schools, and creating more opportunities for kids to get outdoors.
Making Colorado the first state where every student will earn a living wage after high school by increasing the number of career training and college classes offered in high school, and boosting access to apprenticeships and industry credentials.

Bennet said he wants to be an education governor

In an interview, Bennet said he would be an education governor who understands that school district officials need state funding and support.

He highlighted his record in Denver Public Schools, where he said he helped raise academic achievement, improved graduation rates, and curbed the dropout rate. A 2024 study by the University of Colorado Denver’s Center for Education Policy Analysis backs up some of his claims.

Bennet said he still believes that the state’s education system needs changes.

“I think in Colorado we have the opportunity for the whole country to pursue quality at scale, pursue rigor at scale, and give teachers and school districts the support they need to be able to deliver for our kids,” he said.

Attorney General Phil Weiser

What is Weiser’s record on education?

Weiser, 55, who lives in Denver, has served as the state’s attorney general since 2019. As attorney general, Weiser has focused on school safety and student mental health.

Weiser’s office leads the state’s Safe2Tell program, which allows students to anonymously report violent threats. He’s also helped oversee the program’s expansion.

Weiser issued grants to help curb student cellphone use in schools, even before state lawmakers required districts to create policies about it.

He also oversees the Office of School Safety and the Office of Gun Violence Prevention and sought to provide training to teachers and school administrators as gun laws have evolved.

Weiser recently backed a state law that requires school districts to publicly display how they help at-risk students and issued grants to combat youth vaping.

He’s also said that technical education should expand to more districts. He backed the creation of youth apprenticeship program CareerWise Colorado a decade ago.

Weiser has been active in suing the Trump administration, including several lawsuits related to education and childcare.

And Weiser has said he would not participate in the federal tax credit program if elected. He said he believes it would take money away from public education.

What is Weiser’s platform for education?

Preserving funding for effective prenatal and early childhood programs.
Creating strategies for childhood mental health.
Increasing funding for childcare access to make it more affordable.
Increasing funding for teacher pay.
Expanding apprenticeships, career and technical education, and low-cost job training options.

Weiser wants to support schools and student safety

In an interview, Weiser said the state is not spending enough money to help students.

He said kids are struggling with mental health issues, a lack of access to early childhood education, and scant career and technical educational offerings.

Weiser said he would fund new education programs through changes to the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. These shifts would require taxpayer approval.

As governor, he hopes to also increase the number of mentorship opportunities that benefit kids.

“When I’m governor, I’m going to make a full-throated commitment to invest in our kids’ future from cradle to early childhood education to career workforce skills,” he said.

You’re invited: Hear about the changes for schools this election and what they mean for students

2026-06-09T19:44:27+00:00

Sign up for Chalkbeat Indiana’s free daily newsletter to keep up with Indianapolis Public Schools, Marion County’s township districts, and statewide education news.

School board elections won’t look the same in Indiana this year.

At the ballot box, voters could see new partisan labels for school board candidates. More voters than usual could be faced with a decision on whether they should approve a tax increase, known as a referendum, for their local schools. And before Election Day, candidates and school leaders also have decisions to make about their campaigns.

The outcomes in November could have a lasting effect on students and schools.

Join us on Wednesday, July 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center for a panel discussion on these issues.

We’ll dive into the changes around school decision-makers and school funding to ask: What’s at stake for students and families across the state?

Moderated by Chalkbeat Indiana reporter Aleksandra Appleton, the panel includes:

David Roof, director of the Center for Economic and Civic Learning at Ball State University
Terry Spradlin, executive director of the Indiana School Boards Association
Ashley Thomas, member of both the Indianapolis Public Schools board and the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation.

The event is in partnership with the Indiana Historical Society and is free, but RSVP is encouraged. Get your ticket here.

Doors open at 6 p.m. The panel starts at 6:30 p.m. Food and childcare will be provided. Free parking is available in the Indiana Historical Society lot off of New York Street.

Update, July 1: This story was updated to clarify that parking will be free for panel attendees.

MJ Slaby oversees Chalkbeat Indiana’s coverage as bureau chief. Contact MJ at mslaby@chalkbeat.org.

The Voting Rights Act reshaped school boards. What will happen after the Supreme Court weakened it?

2026-05-26T12:59:58+00:00

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The Voting Rights Act has for decades given parents and others a pathway to change the institutions that have the most day-to-day control over American schools: their local school boards.

But the Supreme Court’s April decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which has kicked off a rush of partisan redistricting that threatens Black representation in Congress, could make it harder to demand changes in how school boards are organized going forward.

The impact of that law has been sweeping. More than 320 Voting Rights Act complaints between 1982 and 2024 dealt with school board elections, according to a database created by Chris Seaman, a law professor at Washington and Lee University.

School boards accounted for more than a fifth of all Section 2 voting rights cases during that time period, Seaman found.

Many of those challenged at-large elections — which allow everyone in a community to vote for every seat on a board. This setup can make it difficult for communities of color to elect their preferred candidates, especially in places where a white majority votes in a bloc.

Some 3.6 million children currently attend school in a district shaped by one of those challenges, a Chalkbeat analysis found. But at-large elections remain the most common school board structure in the United States.

Legal experts agree that it will be more difficult now to claim that a particular electoral system violates the rights of minority voters. In the aftermath of Callais, conservative legal groups are gearing up to challenge state voting rights laws that have provided additional tools to reshape school boards. Some even see an opening to challenge past settlements — especially in cases where school districts voluntarily made changes to improve racial representation.

The Supreme Court’s weakening of the Voting Rights Act will likely lead to “a decrease in minority representation, and school boards will not be exempt,” Seaman said. Most public school students are children of color, while most school board members are white. While the Voting Rights Act does not guarantee the election of candidates of color, it has given minority communities the opportunity to elect candidates responsive to their concerns. Limited research has shown school board members of color make a difference in student discipline, superintendent hiring, and academic outcomes.

But unfair student discipline or low test scores don’t create Voting Rights Act violations, said J. Christian Adams, a conservative election lawyer and former Justice Department official who served on President Donald Trump’s failed 2017 voter-fraud commission.

There’s nothing fundamentally better or worse about single-member or at-large school board districts, said Adams, now president of the Public Interest Legal Foundation. But under the Callais ruling, “if a school district says we’re going to single-member districts to elect minority representatives, that would violate the constitution. That’s over. That’s done.”

Callais focused on partisan redistricting in legislative races. The Supreme Court’s conservative majority said party considerations — wanting Republicans or Democrats to win more seats — could justify drawing maps that dilute minority voters’ voice.

That could mean the decision has less impact in nonpartisan school board races. It will take time and more lawsuits to fully understand the effects.

“To the extent that the Voting Rights Act has any vitality left after Callais, I think it’s likely to be in these local races like school boards,” said Justin Levitt, an election law expert and professor at Loyola Marymount University.

How racism fueled at-large school board elections

At-large school board elections are a legacy of Progressive-era reforms that sought to reduce the power of machine politics and cronyism over education governance.

In northern cities, these changes reduced the political power of immigrant enclaves. In the Jim Crow South, they prevented Black communities from electing their own school board representatives, when those residents could vote at all.

As Memphis schools takeover looms, city faces further voting power struggle

Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, first passed in 1965 and repeatedly amended, provided grounds to challenge at-large elections for local government offices that potentially dilute the votes of minority groups.

A handful of attorneys in Texas and Alabama filed dozens of challenges to at-large school board elections in the 1980s and 1990s, accounting for the majority of cases. Often, school districts agreed to settle when faced with just the threat of a lawsuit.

These challenges changed who decided to run for office, who won seats on school boards, and how resources were allocated in districts across the country.

“There are really important decisions that impact students of color that benefit from the perspective of school board members of color,” said Carrie Sampson, an associate professor of educational leadership at Arizona State University who studies school boards.

And these challenges continue in the modern era.

Just last year, Wicomico County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore agreed to replace its hybrid system, which included at-large and single-member districts for both county council and school board, with seven single-member districts, two of which are majority Black. The changes occurred in response to a 2023 lawsuit by Black voters supported by the Maryland branches of the ACLU and the NAACP.

The lawsuit described a long history of discrimination and racially polarized voting that blocked Black candidates from winning at-large seats. When the governor appointed members, the Wicomico school board often had two Black members. After switching to an elected board in 2016, the board has only had one Black member at a time — always elected in the single majority-Black district.

“They kept claiming that we didn’t need to sue them, that they would have done it if we just asked nicely,” said Deborah Jeon, legal director of the Maryland ACLU. “But we had been asking nicely for two decades. It was only once we sued that they came to the table.”

School boards might defend at-large seats creatively

Whether school districts will continue to come to the table or instead fight to maintain at-large elections is an open question.

Even in communities with hard-fought, racially polarized school board elections, those divisions may not fall neatly along party lines. That means advocates can still make arguments about vote dilution and other unfair practices.

But Levitt, who advised the Biden administration on voting issues, said he expects more school districts to find other race-neutral justifications for their electoral systems, for example that at-large elections produce candidates who will look out for the interests of all students.

“I think you’ll see a lot of creativity,” he said.

Callais also requires “a strong inference that intentional discrimination occurred” in setting up a particular voting system, and not just a discriminatory effect or outcome.

Colorado lawmakers reject attempt to move away from at-large school board elections

Adams said school boards that might have settled in the past could now open themselves up to counterchallenges that they drew districts designed to advantage one racial group. He reads Callais as allowing such a remedy only when a court finds recent evidence of discrimination in voting.

“A school district would be very foolish to think that a settlement will bring them peace, because the next people they’ll hear from will be suing over an illegal racial gerrymander,” he said.

Even school districts that discuss racial balancing during regular redistricting processes, as Denver did in 2024, could open themselves to a lawsuit, he said. The meeting minutes would be “gold” in proving racial motives.

Challenges to school board elections confront new standard

Two decades ago, Hazleton, Pennsylvania, made national headlines for adopting sweeping anti-immigrant legislation as new arrivals transformed the demographics of the coal country city. Those laws were found to be unconstitutional, but Hispanic residents say they continue to face discrimination, including in school.

In 2024, Aleida Aquino and Brendalis Lopez filed a lawsuit challenging the Hazleton Area School District’s at-large election system with support from the University of California Los Angeles Voting Project.

Hispanic voters account for some 40% of registered voters in the district, according to the lawsuit. Two-thirds of students are Hispanic. At least six Hispanic candidates have run for school board since 2019, yet no Hispanic candidate has won a seat on the nine-member board.

The Supreme Court’s voting rights decision could reshape local government across Texas

Moving to single-member districts could allow the Hispanic community concentrated in the city of Hazleton to elect a representative who might be more responsive to their concerns about unfair discipline practices, limited translation services for parents, and other disparities, the lawsuit says.

But unlike many school districts in this situation, Hazleton hasn’t settled and is fighting to maintain its at-large elections. Now the lawsuit will be heard under the higher standard created by Callais.

Neither Superintendent Brian Uplinger nor the school board president responded to a request for comment from Chalkbeat. In a statement issued when the lawsuit was filed, Uplinger defended the district’s record of serving Latino students.

Bernadette Reyes, senior counsel with the UCLA Voting Project, said Callais runs counter to the history of the Voting Rights Act and congressional action. The ruling has made the road ahead more difficult for lawsuits like the one in Hazleton.

“But it’s important that these challenges continue,” Reyes said. “Those folks challenging it need to adapt to the higher standard.”

Erica Meltzer is Chalkbeat’s national editor based in Colorado. Contact Erica at emeltzer@chalkbeat.org.

Allissa Impink to resign from IPS board, leaving 5 of 7 board seats up for election on November ballots

2026-05-19T23:00:00+00:00

Sign up for Chalkbeat Indiana’s free daily newsletter to keep up with Indianapolis Public Schools, Marion County’s township districts, and statewide education news.

Allissa Impink will resign as an Indianapolis Public Schools commissioner in June, teeing up a November election where a significant majority of the IPS school board seats are on the ballot.

Impink, who won the Democratic primary for Indiana State Senate District 46 earlier this month, announced on Tuesday that she plans to resign from the school board effective June 15. Tuesday is also the first day that candidates can file to run for school board this November.

With Impink leaving her seat early, five of the seven seats on the IPS school board will be up for election on Nov. 3. It is shaping up to be a key election for the board as the district faces financial challenges and a loss in power due to the new Indianapolis Public Education Corporation or IPEC.

Impink called serving on the school board “one of the greatest honors of my life,” and said resigning before the November election allows her to ensure “the community retains its voice” in who replaces her on the school board. It’s highly likely that Impink will be unopposed for state senate.

Impink, a former IPS teacher, was elected to the school board in 2024 to represent IPS school board District 4, the southwest part of the district. The IPS board has seven members who serve staggered four-year terms.

If a board member resigns, the board must appoint someone by majority vote within 30 days to fill the position until the next school board election. Voters will then select someone to finish the term if needed.

By resigning ahead of the election, Impink ensures her seat will be on the ballot in November, shortening the time for an appointed board member to a few months and an elected replacement would serve until 2028. If she waited to resign until after the November election, the appointed member would serve until 2028, the next school board election year and when Impink’s term was slated to end.

“As a strong supporter of the democratic process, I am encouraging qualified, passionate community members to file to run for school board so that IPS families have a direct say in who leads them through the remainder of the term ending in 2028,” Impink said.

Impink is the second IPS board commissioner to resign this year. Gayle Cosby, who represented District 2 and was also elected in 2024, announced her resignation in March, citing ongoing health challenges. The board appointed Hasaan Rashid to fill the vacancy until this year’s election.

This means both District 2 and 4 will be on the ballot in November along with the three IPS board seats already slated for election in 2026: District 3 currently represented by Hope Duke Star, District 5 represented by Nicole Carey, and an at-large seat represented by Angelia Moore.

Guide: How to run for school board

The election comes at a time when the IPS board is navigating a substantial loss in power under a new law that created IPEC, which has key powers for district and charter schools including school accountability, buildings, and transportation as well as some finances. Three members of the IPS school board are also members of IPEC, per state law. Those are Star, Ashley Thomas, and Deandra Thompson.

This year is also the first year that school board candidates can add their party affiliation to the ballot if they choose to do so. Potential school board candidates have until noon June 18 to file.

Impink won the primary election for state senate handily with 68.46% of the vote in a three-candidate race, per election results. No Republican candidates ran in the primary election. However it is still possible for a challenger to file to run in the general election.

District 46 includes downtown, the near eastside, and southern parts of Indianapolis and is currently represented by Andrea Hunley, a former IPS principal, who is running for Indianapolis mayor in 2027.

Impink said she looks forward to using her “strong and passionate voice for IPS and public education throughout Indiana at the state level.”

“I will use every tool available to me to protect and strengthen public schools across Indianapolis and the state of Indiana,” she said.

Voter registration for the November election is open through Oct. 5. You can register or check your status here.

MJ Slaby oversees Chalkbeat Indiana’s coverage as bureau chief. Contact MJ at mslaby@chalkbeat.org.

Memphis 2026 school board primary election: live updates

2026-05-06T04:56:39+00:00

Sign up for Chalkbeat Tennessee’s free newsletter to keep up with statewide education policy and Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

Incumbent Joyce Dorse Coleman is holding on to her District 9 seat on the Memphis-Shelby County school board by a lead of fewer than 30 votes, according to unofficial results from the Shelby County Election Commission posted Tuesday.

It’s the tightest race in the first Democratic primary election for the MSCS board. T.L. Harris, who was convicted of a felony drug conviction 20 years ago while employed as a Memphis cop, is poised to secure the District 6 Democratic nomination by fewer than 200 votes.

The unofficial election results still need to be certified. But both incumbent candidates are in the lead for their seat nominations, with Michelle McKissack holding over 65% of the District 1 votes and Dorse Coleman holding around 32% of the votes.

Longtime lawyer Tanya Frey holds the lead for District 8 with more than 60% of the vote.

The May 5 election pales in significance compared to previous years because of the Republican-led state takeover that will restrict the locally elected board’s power. Top GOP leaders will soon appoint a nine-member oversight board that will have final say on key budget and staffing decisions in MSCS, including hiring and firing the superintendent. The takeover measure still must be signed into law by Governor Bill Lee.

That state-appointed board must be appointed by July 1, before new local school board members assume office on Sept. 1. Harris and Frey each have to face an independent challenger in the Aug. 6 general election to earn their spots on the local board.

All but one candidate, Damon Curry Morris in District 9, said they opposed a takeover in a Chalkbeat survey. The majority of candidates said they would work collaboratively with the oversight board to prioritize student success.

There’s still a chance MSCS will file a lawsuit against the state takeover legislation — the board voted to hire a lawyer in early April and the county commission passed a resolution to fund that legal action Monday. That’s because the governor signed into law a bill that blocks the district from using public funds to pay for the lawsuit.

Republican lawmakers have long said they’re modeling MSCS’ takeover after a 2023 state intervention in Houston, where one of the first decisions made by state education leaders was to replace the superintendent. The new Houston leader overhauled district curriculum, cut 1,500 central office positions, and implemented a teacher pay model based on test scores.

District 1 board election: Here’s what you need to know

McKissack is running against two MSCS teachers, one with decades of experience and the other in her early career.

Dolores Missy Rivers served as a district teacher for 26 years, and spent the last year as the interim director of the Memphis-Shelby County Education Association. Hailey Marie Thomas started teaching in 2021 and now works as a literacy instructor at MSCS charter school Beacon College Preparatory.

McKissack has been on the board since 2018. She was one of three members to vote against firing former Superintendent Marie Feagins in January 2025.

Here are the unofficial election results, as of 11 p.m. Tuesday:

McKissack, 65.4%
Rivers, 17.9%
Thomas, 16.3%

District 6 board election: Here’s what you need to know

Five Democratic candidates are running to fill the MSCS board seat being vacated by former teacher union leader Keith Williams.

Marinda A-Williams is a former private school and Germantown teacher, while Juliette Eskridge taught in MSCS for 20 years. Stacey Kelly works as a college advisor for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

Harris, the current frontrunner, led a youth violence prevention program for three years. Contessa Humphrey, the final candidate, did not respond to Chalkbeat’s survey.

The primary winner will face independent challenger Frederick Dewayne Tappan in the Aug. 6 general election.

Here are the unofficial election results, as of 11 p.m. Tuesday:

A-Williams, 27.9%
Eskridge, 24.6%
Harris, 29%
Humphrey, 6.3%
Kelly, 11.7%

District 8 board election: Here’s what you need to know

Two Democratic candidates are vying to fill the District 8 seat being vacated by Amber Huett-Garcia. The winner will face MSCS school librarian Leigh Ann Scarbrough, an independent candidate, in the Aug. 6 general election.

Frey, the current frontrunner, worked as a Memphis-based lawyer for over 20 years and now runs Terra Firma Consulting, an organization that advises nonprofits on leadership decisions.

Ayleem Connolly taught high school Spanish in MSCS from 2015 through 2023 and chaired East High’s language department for two years.

Here are the unofficial election results, as of 11 p.m. Tuesday:

Connolly, 38.5%
Frey, 60.9%

District 9 board election: Here’s what you need to know

Dorse Coleman, a longtime MSCS board member, is facing four Democratic candidates for the District 9 seat.

Jonathan Carroll doesn’t have any business ties to MSCS, but he’s led local and state parent-teacher associations. Incumbent Dorse Coleman has been on the board since 2018 and served as the chair last year.

Tamara Jordan taught in local charter school networks for 15 years and served as the dean of Freedom Preparatory Academy. Curry Morris is the only 2026 candidate in favor of the state takeover of MSCS and worked closely with Nashville lawmakers to develop the bill.

Louis Morganfield III is the building engineer at Ida B. Wells Academy, a beloved MSCS school that will close at the end of this year.

Here are the unofficial election results, as of 11 p.m. Tuesday:

Carroll, 21.1%
Dorse Coleman, 32.3%
Jordan, 31.8%
Morganfield, 6.7%
Curry Morris, 7.5%

Bri Hatch covers Memphis-Shelby County Schools for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Reach Bri at bhatch@chalkbeat.org.

Indiana State Senate District 46 primary election: IPS board member Impink wins

2026-05-06T03:22:43+00:00

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Indianapolis Public Schools board member Allissa Impink is the unofficial winner of the Democratic primary for Indiana State Senate District 46, which could likely tee up a vacancy on the school board.

Unofficial election results with 100% of vote centers reporting showed that Impink had 68.46% of the vote, Sam Glynn had 12.02%, and Clif Marsiglio had 19.52% in the Democratic primary. Results are unofficial until May 15, after provisional and military ballots are counted. The Marion County Election Board will certify the results on May 18.

In a victory statement, Impink promised to focus on community voices, including “parents who are juggling their jobs, childcare, and paying their bills.”

“As I’ve said from the very beginning, the challenges we face are not separate issues. They are deeply connected,” she said. “And for far too long, families have been left to navigate systems that don’t work together.”

No Republican candidates ran in the primary election for the seat that includes downtown, the near eastside, and southern parts of Indianapolis. But it is still possible for a challenger to run against Impink in the November general election. If she wins that race, it would create an opening on the IPS school board. Impink’s current school board term ends in 2028. Board members would appoint a new member to finish her term, and the seat would be up for election in 2028.

Board members recently did the same process to fill the District 2 seat after Gayle Cosby announced her resignation in March. The board appointed Hasaan Rashid to fill the vacancy.

Impink, also a former IPS teacher, was elected to the school board in 2024 to represent District 4, the southwest part of the district. She previously told Chalkbeat that if elected in November, she “will be still carrying that baton of valuing public education.”

On her campaign website, Impink said she supports a moratorium on new charter schools and fully funding public schools, as well as supporting educators and making sure “every student has the opportunity to succeed.” She added that she wants to make sure that IPS is “fully reimbursed for transportation, facilities, and special education services provided to innovation schools.”

Transportation and facilities for district and charter schools are within the purview of the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation. The new body appointed by the mayor will provide state lawmakers with an update on plans for both in November before fully taking over management of transportation and buildings in the 2028-29 school year.

State Senate District 46 is currently represented by Andrea Hunley, a former IPS principal, who is running for Indianapolis mayor in 2027.

Four seats on the IPS school board are up for election in November: Hope Duke Star’s District 3 seat, Nicole Carey’s District 5 seat, Angelia Moore’s at-large seat, and the special election for District 2 represented by Rashid.

MJ Slaby oversees Chalkbeat Indiana’s coverage as bureau chief. Contact MJ at mslaby@chalkbeat.org.

Indianapolis high school students spend school day as poll workers during Primary Election

2026-05-05T20:17:28+00:00

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Cuylen Roberson slept through his 4 a.m. alarm on Tuesday — but he had three more set, just in case.

The Lawrence North High School senior woke up excited to serve as a poll worker on Primary Election Day, despite the rain that fell as he and four other students made their way to the high school to set up the voting site in the gym.

“I was nervous about it, but I was also excited,” Roberson said, recalling the legal aspects of the training he completed. “It just felt nice to do something to help where I’m needed.”

State law allows 16- and 17-year old high school students to serve as a clerk for an election, and lets minors with a GPA of at least 3.0 to do so, with the permission of their school principal and a parent or guardian. Like adult poll workers, these students also get paid for their time and can earn up to $180 for the day in Marion County.

Election offices across the state have used the law to help fill critical election roles. As a poll clerk, students can help set up voting sites and check voters in to receive their ballot. The job is a civic-minded way for students to get paid.

At Lawrence North, senior Alia Massey waved residents through the check-in process with the confidence of someone who has been working elections for years. She credits her civic engagement to her mother.

“Every chance that I get, my mom always pulls me in her room or she just stops and talks about something,” said Alia, who plans to join the military after graduating in May. “She’s like, ‘Okay, you need to watch this, because you need to actually know what’s going on.’”

Though Alia and most of the other student workers at the high school are already 18, they found out about the opportunity to work a poll site through a visit from the League of Women Voters to their school.

At the other end of the check-in table, Lawrence Central High School junior Jameon Gibson listed acceptable forms of identification to voters who trickled in.

“Is it going smoothly?” one woman asked him as she showed her identification.

“It is,” he said.

Lawrence North senior Kylie Atkinson said she wanted to experience what it would be like to assist in the voting process. Often, she said, it feels like she and her peers can’t be politically involved because of their age.

“If I get the experience myself, I can explain it to other people and explain how to do it to other people,” she said. “But I think it’s really important that you have all demographics represented in any kind of democracy.”

Amelia Pak-Harvey covers Indianapolis and Lawrence Township schools for Chalkbeat Indiana. Contact Amelia at apak-harvey@chalkbeat.org.

Newark’s low turnout in school board elections might be sending the wrong message to city leaders

2026-04-23T20:00:16+00:00

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A tiny fraction of Newark residents control the outcome of its school board elections every year. And they keep picking the same people.

Moving Newark Schools Forward, the mayoral-backed slate that has dominated every Newark school board race since 2016, is slated for another win this year. And low voter turnout may be contributing to the lack of change and sending the wrong message to school board members about accountability.

This year, roughly 3% of Newark voters turned out for the April 21 election. And just 2% of Newark’s new 16- and 17-year-old voters — 36 people — showed up to the polls, according to unofficial counts from the Essex County Superintendent of Elections office on Wednesday.

Low turnout in school board elections is something “every community in the state” deals with, said Micah Rasmussen, the director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University. But in Newark, where the mayor’s slate has won every election in the last 10 years, Rasmussen says disengaged voters might be sending a signal to board members that they don’t have to answer to anyone.

“When the public is checked out, and the public’s not interested, then I think it says to school board members, you don’t have to answer to the public,” Rasmussen said. “And I think that’s a real problem. It’s not the message the public should want to be sending.”

Historically, voter turnout in Newark’s school board election has been low, with participation hovering around 3% to 4%. Last year, overall turnout was 3.47%, slightly lower than the 3.94% rate among the city’s youth, with only 73 showing up to vote in the first year of teen voting.

That’s a problem for Newark’s school community that fought hard for local control of its schools and continues to demand more transparency in district decisions. The question isn’t just which candidate wins, but whether Newark’s school community can create meaningful change if voters don’t show up to the polls.

“The bottom line is, when more voters are opting not to participate than to participate, I think it sends a really bad signal to the people that you want to hold accountable,” Rasmussen said.

Members of the Moving Newark Schools Forward slate have been largely silent on specific plans to address issues in New Jersey’s largest school system. The slate, which includes current board president Hasani Council, Quamid Childs, Mark Comesañas, and Jordy Nivar, has broadly focused on improving student mental health and expanding existing district policies.

At a teen-led candidate discussion hosted by the Youth Power Action Coalition in March, the mayoral-backed contenders committed to supporting, listening to, and engaging with Newark’s students.

Since the city lowered the voting age in school board elections to 16, Newark teens have been pressing board members to get more student feedback. The youth coalition of Newark students had previously urged board members to work with them and proposed increasing student oversight over policies around mental health and school facilities. But the school board rejected their proposals in February.

Students who attended the Youth Power Action Summit on April 11, 2026 heard from Newark school board candidates during a youth-led discussion. From left to right: Amanda Ebokosia, founder of The Gem Project, school board candidates John Farrell, Lisa Gray, Quamid Childs, Jordy Nivar, and Mark Comesañas.

Even among the few teens who tried to vote this year, the process wasn’t easy, and some encountered confusion at polling sites, questions about their voting eligibility, and jammed machines. Research shows that those who are voting at 16 are more likely to vote later in life than their peers, but negative experiences can hinder their likelihood to participate in elections.

Yolanda Johnson, who launched a write-in campaign this election cycle, understands why the community may not want to turn out for the school board election

“People are saying that their vote doesn’t count. That their vote doesn’t matter. Like, we have an entire school board right now that’s the mayor’s slate, and it’s wrong. That is not what democracy looks like,” said Johnson, a four-time school board candidate and education advocate who fought for Newark’s control of schools.

Johnson said she had no plans to run in the 2026 race until community members asked her to. She launched her write-in campaign after the deadline to secure a spot in the April race and urged city voters to write her name in on the ballot. Those ballots are still being counted, so it’s not clear how much support she received from voters.

But when it comes to boosting overall turnout, especially among new teen voters, Johnson added that board members need to listen and engage with residents so they feel part of the process.

“If you make the students feel like they’re heard and empower them and educate them, provide them with the tools, you’ll get more students involved. And you’d get the adults too,” Johnson said.

Rasmussen, the political expert, agrees and adds that for Black and Latino communities like Newark, “it’s even more important” that voters show up for school board elections, especially as research shows that higher turnout in those elections is associated with better student outcomes.

“People are skeptical about the power of voting and the impact of voting,” Rasmussen said. “But I promise you that the way that anybody in this country is taken seriously is by voting.”

Jessie Gomez is a reporter for Chalkbeat Newark, covering public education in the city. Contact Jessie at jgomez@chalkbeat.org.

Newark’s teen voters were eager to cast a ballot. But they had to fight to actually participate.

2026-04-22T18:26:20+00:00

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Teenager Fatoumata Bah joined her peers on Tuesday to vote in the Newark school board election, where the city’s 16- and 17-year-olds could participate for a second year in a row.

What the 17-year-old didn’t expect was how much time and effort it would actually take to vote.

“I thought I was at the right location, but I was told that I wasn’t. And then when I was finally at the right place to vote, the machine jammed when I tried to scan my ballot,” said Bah, a senior at Science Park High School.

Meanwhile, 16-year-old Cidell Torto was told by a poll worker that she was too young to vote.

“She literally told me you’re 16, you can’t vote,” said Torto, a junior at Science Park, who had to have an adult intervene to vouch for her voting right.

As Bah and Torto tried to cast their ballots on Tuesday, they were met with confusion at polling sites, questions about their voting eligibility, and jammed machines. The two teens, along with their Youth Power Action Coalition peers, had been busy knocking on roughly 3,000 doors in the lead up to the Newark Board of Education election to inform their community about the upcoming race –– but they hadn’t counted on encountering those barriers.

A Science Park High School junior holds her "I Voted" sticker after voting for the first in the Newark school board election.

The youth coalition of more than 200 Newark students spent weeks raising awareness about the election, getting their peers registered, organizing a civic engagement event for teens, learning and educating other youth about the role of school board members, and hosting virtual civic workshops to engage young voters. The teens had previously urged board members to work with them and proposed increasing student oversight over policies around mental health and school facilities. But the school board rejected their proposals in February.

The mayoral-backed Moving Newark Schools Forward slate appeared headed to victory on election night. The slate, made up of current board President Hasani Council and his running mates Quamid Childs, Mark Comesañas, and Jordy Nivar this year, has won every election since 2016. Their win would mark the second year the nine-member Newark school board is made up entirely of candidates who ran under the slate.

Less than 3% of the city’s registered voters participated in the Tuesday election as of April 21 , according to unofficial results posted online that do not include provisional ballots.

Two years ago, city leaders celebrated making Newark the first city in New Jersey to lower the voting age for school board elections. But when it came to welcoming young voters like Bah and Torto to the polls on Tuesday, that energy didn’t last long.

After a high-profile push to register 16- and 17-year-old voters last year, teen registration has dropped, with 1,524 signed up this year – down from last year’s 1,772 in 2025, according to the Essex County Superintendent of Elections on Tuesday. Newark Public Schools also launched a Vote 15+ campaign last year, the first time teens could vote, to register student voters and hosted state and city officials to encourage teen participation. This year, state, city, and district officials made no visible effort to register teen voters or promote youth participation.

Buses parked outside Bethany Baptist Church to take Newark’s 16- and 17-year-olds to their polling site on April 21, 2026 in Newark, N.J.

“There is just so much that people don’t see about getting youth to the polls,” said Amanda Ebokosia, founder and CEO of The Gem Project, a nonprofit organization that aims to strengthen youth civic engagement.

She, along with student leaders, organized a “Ride to the Polls” event on Tuesday to ensure young voters had transportation to get to their voting site. That effort in itself took days to coordinate, as they had to get parental consent for students to ride buses and ensure students were fed and knew what to expect in the voting process.

The group of roughly 20 students that participated in “Ride to the Polls” dealt with other challenges at voting sites, such as teens having a hard time obtaining provisional ballots and dealing with poll workers who were misinformed about the youth vote, Ebokosia said.

Ebokosia said she was thankful for the adult volunteers who tagged along to help teens vote since they were able to advocate for them. She said at least one teen in her group did not receive a ballot ahead of the April 21 election.

Jessie Gómez is a reporter for Chalkbeat Newark, covering public education in the city. Contact Jessie at jgomez@chalkbeat.org.

Newark school board election 2026: Teens encounter voting challenges as mayoral-backed slate leads Tuesday

2026-04-22T02:27:05+00:00

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Incumbent Hasani Council and his running mates Quamid Childs, Mark Comesañas, and Jordy Nivar appeared headed to victory on Tuesday night in the Newark Board of Education election, according to preliminary election results.

The four candidates are part of the Moving Newark Schools Forward slate, a political group backed by Mayor Ras Baraka, Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz, and other state and local lawmakers. Council, Childs, and Comesañas would serve three-year terms, while Nivar would serve a one-year term.

Among all nine candidates, Council led with 3,160 votes, or 25% of total votes; Childs with 2,675 votes, or 21%; Comesañas with 2,674 votes, or 21%; and Nivar with 1,956 votes, or 47%, according to the official results.

If the leading candidates hold onto the win, the nine-member Newark school board will be composed entirely of members who ran for elections under the Moving Newark Schools Forward slate for a second year in a row.

As of 9:23 p.m. Tuesday, Lisa Gray, a former Newark Public Schools employee with over 20 years of experience as a school social worker, and John Farrell, a charter school teacher, trailed behind the mayoral slate for a three-year term with nearly 12% of votes, according to the results. Both were followed by Tawheed Peters, a Newark parent, who received 8% of the votes.

Latoya Jackson, a four-time school board candidate, was closely behind Nivar for the one-year term and received nearly 37% of the votes. She was followed by Tammy Hollaway, who received nearly 16% of the votes, according to Tuesday results.

Newark teens voted for the second time in a school board election

On Tuesday evening, a few students told Chalkbeat they had trouble voting. Students reported issues with getting provisional ballots or being redirected to other polling locations, and one had to remind poll workers that 16-year-olds were allowed to vote.

Newark students gathered at Bethany Baptist Church to catch a ride to their polling locations on Election Day in Newark, N.J. on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

After school on Tuesday, roughly 20 teens showed up at Bethany Baptist Church to catch a ride to the polls, an initiative sponsored by the Youth Power Action Coalition.

Preston Beckham, a 16-year-old sophomore at Bard High School Early College, said he was nervous to vote for the first time in an election. He wasn’t sure what the process would be like, but he was glad to be joined by his peers and Newark adult volunteers.

“I want to see how my vote can impact schools. This is my first time officially voting for anything so I’m just nervous but really excited for this experience,” Beckham said.

Newark Public Schools students weren’t the only ones voting in Tuesday’s election.

Aaron Meighoo, a 16-year-old junior at the Essex County Donald Payne School of Technology, was also excited to vote, although he knows the Newark school board doesn’t make decisions for his school. His siblings attend Newark Public Schools, and as a former public school student, Meighoo said he was voting to ensure his siblings have a better school experience than he did.

“I can say that from when I was in Newark Public Schools in middle school, there were a lot of things I personally didn’t like and things I don’t agree with. And if I can’t make any change for me, at least I can help my little brothers,” Meighoo said.

Qawy Drayton, also a 16-year-old junior at the Essex County Donald Payne School of Technology, said he also has siblings who attend the public schools and hopes that his vote can help them have a better experience.

“My brother is in high school, he is a sophomore and he’s told me so many things about his school that he doesn’t like. So I want to make change for him,” Drayton said.

Those teens were joined by Malcolm X Shabazz high school seniors Shayla Zachary and Brenda Checo, who said they did not make the deadline to register to vote but wanted to show their support for the teen voting experience.

“I’m going to come back next year to vote, so I wanted to see the process in action,” Zachary, 18, said. “If you really want to make a change, like the school food, the building infrastructure, then I would tell my peers to vote. Don’t complain — just vote.”

Election Day got off to a slow start

On Tuesday morning, Newark’s bustling Broad Street in downtown was business as usual, with no campaign signs posted on lamp posts or outside City Hall as in previous years. If you didn’t stumble upon a polling place with signs reading “vote here” in English and Spanish, you’d be hard-pressed to find any sign of an election.

At 10:30 a.m., poll workers at the Old First Presbyterian Church said they had not seen a voter since doors opened at 7 a.m. Schools are in session, but they hope to see a few more people after school and closer to the end of the day.

At a school board debate in March, the nine candidates in this year’s race have pledged to revise and expand on district policies such as mental health, boost academic achievement, draw more community feedback on district decisions, and improve district transparency.

Overall, 161,585 Newark residents are registered to vote in this year’s April school board election. That’s a pattern advocates say limits how much of a say community voices have in district decisions.

Last year, Newark Public Schools launched a Vote 15+ campaign to register student voters and hosted state and city officials to encourage teen participation. This year, the district made no visible effort to register teen voters or promote youth participation for the April 21 election.

While the election energy is low, that silence is stark in contrast to what’s at stake.

The Newark school board plays a key role in shaping New Jersey’s largest school district and makes decisions that impact more than 41,000 Newark Public Schools students.

On Monday, dozens of Great Oaks Legacy Charter High School students marched to Newark City Hall to cast their mail-in ballots.

But where the public school district felt short, some charter school students stepped up. On Monday, dozens of Great Oaks Legacy Charter High School students marched to Newark City Hall to cast their mail-in ballots, while others marched in solidarity despite not yet being eligible to vote. That march reflected months of student-led civic engagement at the charter school driven by the school’s Student Advocacy Club, and initiatives led by the Youth Power Action Coalition, convened by The Gem Project.

“This was a proud moment for our school and for Newark,” said Jared Taillefer, CEO of Great Oaks Legacy Charter School and a Newark resident who also casted his vote Monday morning. “Our students are learning that their voice matters right now.”

For advocates, the dip in teen registration is also concerning because students are directly affected by school board decisions, but historically have had little say in them. Amanda Ebokosia, founder and CEO of The Gem project, said getting youth to the polls isn’t just about enthusiasm, but it’s about cultivating a tradition of civic participation from an early age.

“You have to show up more than once, and you have to want to prioritize it more than once, not when it’s hot and shiny,” Ebokosia said. “It’s also about having a commitment to young people, and I think that more could have been done, definitely when it comes to prioritizing the youth vote.”

Adding to the city’s low political engagement, the Board of Elections website still listed polling locations from the prior year on Election Day.

Parents, students, and advocates say they want their new board to improve school lunches, add more translation services to the district and board meetings, and hold Superintendent Roger Leon accountable for his spending decisions, among other demands.

But advocates say it’s been a challenge to boost voter turnout around school issues in Newark. Historically, voter turnout in the Newark school board election has been low, with participation hovering around 3% to 4%. Last year, just under 4% of city residents voted in the election, with only 73 teens showing up to vote.

Tuesday’s election may also be falling victim to voting fatigue. In the runup to the school board election, state and national political attention was focused on the April 16 special election to fill Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s seat in the 11th Congressional District, which includes parts of Essex County. Locally, Newark’s May 12 municipal race has been front and center in the landscape, with candidate posters and signs displayed across the city.

That flood of political activity may be drowning out the school board race entirely.

Jhamar Youngblood, a Newark mayoral candidate, said it doesn’t feel like an election is happening today, with few people talking about it. Youngblood believes the city could do more to promote the school board race, but he also feels it’s a strategy to keep residents disengaged “so they can do whatever it is they want.”

“We just need more courageous people to talk about what’s happening, because that’s the only way, historically, that we’ve seen some type of accountability in our city,” Youngblood said.

Ebokosia, the founder of The Gem Project, thinks teen voters can be the courageous voice the city needs to enact change. But for that to happen, leaders need to work together to create consistent efforts to boost teen voter turnout and remove the barriers that limit them from voting, including a lack of information about the school board election.

”We have to make an honest assessment as to who we are actually making this a priority for. If we’re not making it a priority, how can we work together to ensure that as many young people know about this election?” Ebokosia said.

Polls closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Jessie Gomez is a reporter for Chalkbeat Newark, covering public education in the city. Contact Jessie at jgomez@chalkbeat.org.

Voter guide: Here are the Democratic Memphis school board candidates running in District 6

2026-04-16T22:57:40+00:00

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Five candidates are seeking the Democratic nomination for the District 6 seat on Memphis-Shelby County’s school board this May, as state lawmakers continue to push for a district takeover that would usurp local authority.

All are running to fill the seat held by former teachers union leader Keith Williams since 2022. Five candidates will compete in the district’s first political primary on May 5. The winner of that race will go up against independent candidate Frederick Dewayne Tappan, a longtime pastor at Eureka Truevine Baptist Church, in the Aug. 6 general election.

Early voting in the primary begins on April 15.

Marinda A-Williams is a former private school and Germantown teacher who has experience in state-level politics. Juliette Eskridge taught in MSCS for 20 years, and Stacey Kelly works as a college advisor for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. T.L. Harris, who served prison time for a felony drug conviction, led a youth violence prevention program for three years and now advocates for cameras in MSCS classrooms. Contessa Humphrey, the final candidate, did not respond to Chalkbeat’s survey.

District 6 covers 28 schools and around 12,000 students in Southwest Memphis, a region that MSCS leaders say will likely be targeted for school closures in the next few years due to chronic underenrollment and aging buildings.

At most schools, Black students make up more than 95% of the student population, and almost 70% of students are considered economically disadvantaged.

Students in District 6, which includes Whitehaven High School and Havenview Middle School, test slightly below MSCS’ districtwide averages on state reading and math tests. That ranges from a 60% proficiency rate for both subjects at John P. Freeman Optional to a 6% proficiency rate at Geeter K-8.

Use our interactive map to see if you’ll be voting in this district based on your home address. And read full responses from District 6 candidates to a Chalkbeat survey here:

Marinda A-Williams

A-Williams is a former teacher assistant and educator in local private schools and the Germantown suburban school district. She represented Memphis on the Tennessee Democratic State Executive Committee when she was 23 years old, setting policies and goals to manage local parties.

A-Williams ran for a position on the Memphis City Council in 2019, but did not win the seat. She believes there should be a third option between a state takeover of MSCS and complete local control. Her collaborative governance model mirrors a local accountability plan passed by current board members in March.

“The state should allow potentially newly elected leadership the opportunity to demonstrate improvement and reconsider any takeover after elections so the community has a voice in the future of its schools,” A-Williams said.

She also believes the district should expand its career and technical education programs to boost student attendance by establishing a connection between school and future jobs.

Most important MSCS issue to address: Literacy and public trust

“Too many students are not reading at grade level, and families are concerned about transparency, contract oversight, and the responsible use of resources. I would prioritize evidence-based literacy instruction starting in early grades, expand tutoring and targeted support, and align curriculum investments with proven learning science. At the governance level, the board must enforce strong financial transparency and contract oversight.”

Juliette Eskridge

Eskridge taught in MSCS for around 20 years, serving as a teacher and project manager for multiple schools including Hamilton Elementary and Mitchell High.

She now works at Project STAND, a school-based mentoring program for at-risk students established in 2017 that operates in MSCS.

“I’m such a team person,” Eskridge said. “My ambition would be (the board) as a team, and being cohesive and wanting to work through whatever our challenges are.”

Eskridge says she wants the board to be proactive in seeking feedback from parents and the community before making decisions and be more transparent about issues early on.

Most important MSCS issue to address: State takeover

“The most important thing right now, and I think that’s being missed from the state level, are the students. That’s what this needs to be about: making sure our children are equipped. I haven’t really heard any deep concern or details about our students. And I’m concerned because the state has had opportunities to take over our schools before, and they sent them back to us. And they didn’t really improve anything.”

T.L. Harris

Harris has lived in the Whitehaven neighborhood for over 30 years. Federal court records show that in 2006, he pleaded guilty to a felony drug charge while working as a Memphis police officer. He’s since qualified to run for office after having his civil rights restored.

For three years, Harris led five community centers for the Memphis Gun Down summer program in neighborhoods such as Frayser and Raleigh. He was in charge of providing the entertainment and security for those gathering places in an effort to reduce youth crime rates.

“I know what it feels like to not have anything. I understand the mindset of those individuals,” Harris said. “You have to have a candidate that’s not afraid to walk in some of the roughest parts of Memphis and go there with intention to say, ‘Let’s pull these children out. Let’s give them an opportunity.’”

Harris previously told Chalkbeat that he works as the chief financial officer of Wallhaven Family Healthcare. But that business does not have an online presence, and Chalkbeat has been unable to locate any related records.

Harris wants to pilot putting cameras in MSCS classrooms to increase school security and identify “blind spots” in teaching practices.

“Why wouldn’t you have a camera in the classroom if you want to know what’s really going on?” he said. “Because fights do happen in classrooms. We all know this. People get hurt in classrooms; people steal stuff.”

Most important MSCS issue to address: Literacy

“Too many children are leaving third grade without strong reading skills, and when students cannot read well, every subject becomes harder. To address this, I support strengthening early literacy instruction, expanding tutoring and intervention programs, and providing teachers with the resources and training they need to help struggling readers.”

Contessa Humphrey

Humphrey did not return Chalkbeat’s candidate survey in time for publication.

Stacey Kelly

Kelly has nearly 14 years of experience working in the corporate sector for First Tennessee Bank and another 14 years working as a third-party partner in MSCS schools.

She served as project manager for RISE Memphis, facilitating financial education classes for middle and high school students across five local schools. Then she became a college advisor at Overton High School, her alma mater, to help students with FAFSAs and applications through the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, work she still does.

“Working within the school system for 14 years, I’ve been able to see the gaps,” Kelly told Chalkbeat. “I’ve been able to see things that students may need, that the faculty and staff due to budgeting are not having.”

Kelly said she’s also seen the need for more transparency between school system leadership and staff, plus the community at large.

Most important MSCS issue to address: Academic achievement

“Too many of our students are not reading on grade level or performing at proficiency in math, which directly impacts graduation rates, college readiness, workforce development, and long-term economic stability in Memphis.”

Note: This story has been updated to include information about T.L. Harris’ 2006 federal drug conviction and inconsistent employment information.

Bri Hatch covers Memphis-Shelby County Schools for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Reach Bri at bhatch@chalkbeat.org.

Memphis school board candidate pleaded guilty to a federal drug charge 20 years ago, court records show

2026-04-16T22:26:57+00:00

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A candidate for the Memphis school board was convicted on a felony drug charge while serving as a city police officer two decades ago, court records show.

T.L. Harris, who is running in the Democratic primary to represent District 6 on the Memphis-Shelby County School Board, pleaded guilty to attempting to possess with the intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine in 2006. Federal court records show that Harris, who was 32 at the time, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison.

The Shelby County Election Commission confirmed that Harris qualified to run for office after having his civil rights restored in a local court. Harris says he is a candidate dedicated to student safety with a history of working with at-risk youth at local nonprofit organizations.

“Every time I tell my story, I feel like I’m saving a young Black male or female,” Harris told Chalkbeat. “Because I’ve been in the belly of the beast, and I’ve come out of it, and that’s where I am now.”

Harris posted a video to social media this week discussing his criminal history after details of the federal case were posted on social media. While Harris told Chalkbeat he has long been open about his criminal history, he has not mentioned it in his campaign materials and called the resurfacing of his 2006 conviction a “campaign smear.”

Federal investigators began probing Harris’ financial records in 2004, when he was a Memphis Police officer, after receiving tips from Shelby County jail inmates about alleged narcotics trafficking, according to federal court records.

Harris was indicted by a federal grand jury on three counts in February 2006 after being caught helping a federal informant deliver a cocaine purchase in a sting operation, court records say. In October 2006, Harris pleaded guilty to a single count of attempting to possess with the intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine after helping federal prosecutors build a case against another Memphis cop.

Federal court records show that Harris was sentenced in 2007 to serve 51 months in prison and 60 months on supervised release after his prison sentence. His supervised release term was terminated early in 2013 after a supportive report from probation officials, who said Harris posed “no identifiable risk to public safety,” according to court records.

Harris says that voters in his district “respect and understand redemption.” Since he’s been out of prison, Harris said, he’s dedicated his life to serving children who grew up in poverty and facing hardships like he did.

“I can speak to these kids that are thinking about committing crimes, or they have committed crimes, to say, ‘Let’s get you back on track with your life,’” Harris said. “Who else can talk about that?”

Chalkbeat reporting also revealed inconsistencies in information Harris has provided to media and voters about his professional background and campaign endorsements.

While Harris initially told Chalkbeat he works at Walhaven Family Healthcare, he has alternatively called the business Whitehaven Family Healthcare and Memphis Family Healthcare in interviews and campaign posts on social media.

On Wednesday, Harris declined to provide details about the community healthcare center he says he leads as the chief financial officer. Businesses by those names do not have an online presence, and Chalkbeat has been unable to locate any records. Harris has not responded to follow-up questions.

Harris’ campaign has been endorsed by the teachers group Memphis-Shelby County Education Association, city council member Pearl Eva Walker, and labor union Memphis AFSCME Local 1733.

Maurice Spivey, a senior staffer at the local union, told Chalkbeat that Harris did not discuss his criminal conviction in interviews with AFSCME before receiving the endorsement. Charlotte Fields, president of M-SCEA, said the same. Walker did not reply to Chalkbeat’s requests for comment.

Harris’ social media campaign accounts also cite an endorsement from Keith Williams, the incumbent District 6 board member who is not seeking reelection. In a video posted last week on Facebook, Williams called Harris his “successor” at a campaign event. But Williams told Chalkbeat in a call Thursday that he hasn’t endorsed any candidate in the race.

Chalkbeat Tennessee Bureau Chief Melissa Brown contributed to this story.

Bri Hatch covers Memphis-Shelby County Schools for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Reach Bri at bhatch@chalkbeat.org.

Newark gave 16-and 17-year-olds the right to vote two years ago. They are still learning their power.

2026-04-15T21:45:00+00:00

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Judah Ancion, a 16-year-old junior at Essex County’s Donald M. Payne School of Technology, found out he could vote in Newark’s school board election from a teacher’s offhand comment last month — only a few weeks before the April 21 election.

Over the weekend, Denisha Kotey, a 19-year-old freshman at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, just learned that there’s even a school board election happening in her city.

Their realizations come two years after Newark’s 16- and 17-year-olds got the right to vote in school board elections, becoming the first city in the state to do so. That historic move prompted former Gov. Phil Murphy, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, an award-winning rapper, and other elected officials to rally students at the city’s School of Data Science and Information Technology to pitch youth voting as a model for the rest of the state.

But even with the push, only 73 teens voted in their first school board election last April, in a city where nearly 7,300 teens are eligible to vote and overall turnout already hovers around 3% to 4% every year.

This year, that momentum has faded even more, overshadowed by the city’s May municipal race and Newark school funding debates. But for the second year in a row, student organizers and other advocates are pushing to turn new voting rights into real participation and prove that student votes can shape decisions in Newark schools.

Assatta Mann, community organizing manager for the New Jersey Institute of Social Justice, said building the youth vote in Newark will take time. She called it “a muscle that needs to grow” while pointing to the barriers keeping students from the polls, including limited access to voting sites and a lack of understanding about the school board’s role.

“Many of the young people who are registered and who do know about the election want to take advantage of this right to vote. But their polling locations are not at their schools, where they’re spending a lot of their time at,” Mann said. “There’s also no in-person early voting, for example, so it’s not even like, young people could then go and use the weekend to vote.”

Both Ancion and Kotey said they only began to understand the role of the Newark Board of Education at Saturday’s Youth Power Action Summit, which brought together more than 50 students for a day-long event organized by a student coalition to boost awareness of teen voting rights and civic participation. The group convened by The Gem Project, a nonprofit organization focused on strengthening youth civic engagement, has spent months alongside teens canvassing, hosting virtual civic education workshops, holding voter registration competitions, and informing 16- and 17-year-olds about their right to vote.

Students who attended the Youth Power Action Summit on April 11, 2026 also heard from Newark school board candidates during a youth-led discussion. From left to right: Amanda Ebokosia, founder of The Gem Project, school board candidates John Farrell, Lisa Gray, Quamid Childs, Jordy Nivar, and Mark Comesañas.

They are one of the few groups working to get students to the polls for the April school board election.

“Oh my gosh, there’s so many things going on. [The city] is finally letting students vote for stuff, they’re the majority, and they’re finally letting this happen,” Kotey said. “But people are not as involved as they should be.”

For students like Ancion and Kotey, that gap is playing out in real time. Newark’s nine-member school board makes decisions that affect more than 41,000 students on issues from curriculums to funding priorities. Teens with the Youth Power Action Coalition have urged board members to work with them and have proposed increasing student oversight over policies around mental health and school facilities. But their proposals were rejected by the city school board.

While Newark expanded voting rights to give teens a voice in those decisions, low turnout has so far limited how much weight that voice carries.

Kanyinsola Oreoluwa Owolabi, a 16-year-old junior at Science Park High School, said she attended Saturday’s Youth Power Action Summit to encourage her peers to vote, even though she can’t vote herself because of her citizenship status.

“Even if you believe that it won’t be impactful, for me, it’s more like getting a view of whom you’re letting run your society,” Oreoluwa Owolabi said.

That message resonated with Collins Esubonteng, also a 16-year-old junior at Science Park High School. He said the summit made him feel included in civic discussion around the upcoming school board race, and it was something he had never experienced in school before.

“It was a lot of fun, but for the most part, it was very informative. We’re all learning. We all learned about the system,” Esubonteng said, “I feel like there was just a lot for us here today. We’re going to see a lot of people voting.”

The Youth Power Action Summit held on April 11, 2026 brought together more than 50 students for a day-long event organized by a student coalition to boost awareness of teen voting rights and hear from Newark school board candidates.

The Youth Coalition is also working to give young people ages 16-24 free rides to polling places. The challenge remains in reaching those young voters.

Ancion, the junior at Essex County’s Payne Tech, wasn’t able to register to vote in time before the March 31 deadline. But after leaving the summit on Saturday, he feels inspired to lead his own voting initiative next year and bring change.

“So it’s just understanding how it all works and just gaining that basic expertise so I can apply everything I learned outside of here,” Ancion said.

Jessie Gómez is a reporter for Chalkbeat Newark, covering public education in the city. Contact Jessie at jgomez@chalkbeat.org.

Early voting is underway for Memphis’ first partisan school board primary

2026-04-15T11:00:01+00:00

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Memphis voters begin choosing today among 15 Democratic candidates vying for four open school board seats in the district’s first political primary.

Early voting has started for the May 5 primary race in Districts 1, 6, 8, and 9. No Republican candidates qualified to run this year, but two independents will challenge the Democratic nominee in Districts 6 and 8 in the Aug. 6 general election.

That means the Memphis-Shelby County Schools representative for Districts 1 and 9 will be decided by the Democratic primary. Both elections include incumbents who have been on the school board since 2018: Michelle McKissack and Joyce Dorse-Coleman, respectively.

The other candidates, ranging from seasoned MSCS teachers to a local lawyer and parents’ rights advocate, are joining the pool during a time of looming shifts in district leadership.

Senate Republicans are expected to take the next step in advancing their state takeover plans for MSCS in the coming days. Republican leadership appears set to adopt a version close to Rep. Mark White’s 2025 proposal that would create a board of managers that would take away key responsibilities from the local board, including budget and superintendent decisions.

Republican lawmakers launched the takeover effort last year after the controversial firing of former Superintendent Marie Feagins last January. Current board members voted unanimously to hire Roderick Richmond, a 30-year district employee, as the new permanent leader late last month.

Check out our interactive map tool to find out which MSCS board district you’ll be seeing on your ballot. And before casting a vote, read all about the candidates in our comprehensive profiles here:

With so much at stake, we want to hear from you about who you’re voting for and why. What do you think is important about these elections? What questions do you still have that we can help answer?

Bri Hatch covers Memphis-Shelby County Schools for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Reach Bri at bhatch@chalkbeat.org.

Voter guide: Here are the Democratic Memphis school board candidates running in District 8

2026-04-14T14:43:36+00:00

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Two Democratic candidates will compete for the Memphis school board District 8 nomination in the first district political primary this spring.

Ayleem Connolly, a former MSCS teacher and language department chair, and Tanya Frey, who’s spent over 20 years as an employment and nonprofit lawyer, will appear on the May 5 primary ballot. A third independent candidate, MSCS school librarian Leigh Ann Scarbrough, will challenge the Democratic nominee in the Aug. 6 general election.

Early voting in the primary begins on April 15.

The District 8 seat will be vacated by Amber Huett-Garcia as she makes a bid for county commissioner. The winning candidate will likely face the effects of an impending state takeover led by Tennessee Republican lawmakers to strip the local school board of its main responsibilities.

District 8 covers 10 schools, including the White Station and Kate Bond buildings, that serve around 9,500 students. Less than half of those students come from low income families, which is a rarity in Memphis-Shelby County Schools, and less than 60% are Black.

The region is split in two, encompassing East Memphis and Shelby Farms along with the Northeast corner of the county above Bartlett and Lakeland. Its schools significantly outperform district averages in reading and math proficiency at around 40% proficient for each. Only one school, the Dexter School, falls below the district proficiency averages by a few percentage points.

Use our interactive map to see if you’ll be voting in this district based on your home address. And read full responses from District 8 candidates to a Chalkbeat survey here:

Ayleem Connolly

Connolly taught in MSCS from 2015 through 2023 as a Spanish teacher in Oakhaven, Trezevant, and East high schools. She served as East High’s language department chair for two years.

As someone who grew up in the Dominican Republic before moving to Memphis in 2014, Connolly is passionate about expanding access to postsecondary education, especially for immigrant students and families.

“A lot of students approached me as a teacher looking for secondary education, but because they were undocumented, they didn’t have access to it,” she said.

Connolly wants to make a comprehensive guide listing scholarships and programs that support immigrant families. She also wants to invest more in student support services, including mental health interventions, and expand paid parental leave for teachers from six to 12 weeks.

“It personally affected my family. It put financial constraints,” she said. “You need to use your sick days and disability to cover for the remaining time.”

Most important MSCS issue to address: Student well-being

“I would focus on serving the children: improving children’s personal well-being, including nutrition, mental health services, and protection from overzealous federal law enforcement. Teachers cannot teach a child who is in distress — and psychological distress is all too common today.”

Tanya Frey

Frey has worked as a Memphis-based lawyer for 21 years, with time spent at Autozone and ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

She now runs Terra Firma Consulting, an organization that advises nonprofits on leadership decisions. That means she advises boards in her daily role.

“And I’m advising CEOs on how to hold members of boards accountable, build their boards to make them better,” she said. “Those are skills that matter when you are serving on a board, particularly of this capacity.”

Frey has three sons who went to Richland Elementary school, one of whom is a junior at East High. The eldest graduated from Middle College High School, and the youngest attends a Germantown public school called Houston High.

She says it’s important for the school board to set clear academic goals and funnel money into the classroom.

“Every decision should come back to one question: Does this lead to better outcomes for students?” Frey said.

Most important MSCS issue to address: Board governance

“We have strong educators and real progress, but not enough clarity or consistency across the system. The board’s role is to set clear priorities, align resources, and stay focused on what

improves results for students.That’s the work I do every day — helping boards stay focused, make clear decisions, and staying accountable to the organizations they serve.”

Bri Hatch covers Memphis-Shelby County Schools for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Reach Bri at bhatch@chalkbeat.org.

Voter guide: Here are the Memphis school board candidates running in District 9

2026-04-14T14:43:27+00:00

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The five candidates running for Memphis’ District 9 school board seat range from a longtime incumbent and former board chair to the sole state takeover advocate on the 2026 ballot.

All are running in the district’s first school board Democratic primary on May 5 to fill the seat held by current vice chair Joyse Dorse Coleman since 2018. This election comes as state lawmakers are moving to create a board of managers that could take away local authority and key board functions.

Early voting begins on April 15.

The five District 9 candidates include Coleman, a former board chair, and Damon Curry Morris, a vocal parent advocate and pro-state takeover candidate. Jonathan Carroll is a local Democratic party leader running as a school system outsider, and Louis Morganfield is the building engineer at Ida B. Wells Academy. Tamara Jordan has more than a decade of experience teaching in and leading local charter schools.

District 9 covers around 12,000 students and their families living between Memphis’ Cooper Young neighborhood and Germantown. The 24 schools, including Overton High and Colonial Middle, educate a student group that is 60% economically disadvantaged. Around one in three students is Hispanic, and 65% are Black.

Elementary students in District 9 slightly exceeded MSCS average math proficiency rates on the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program, or TCAP, last year. But they lagged behind the district average for literacy by a few percentage points.

Use our interactive map to see if you’ll be voting in this district based on your home address. And read full responses from District 9 candidates to a Chalkbeat survey here:

Jonathan Carroll

Carroll has served on the executive committees of the Shelby County and Tennessee Democratic Party since 2013 and 2022 respectively. He’s the four-year president of the neighborhood association in Normal Station, where he’s lived since 1995, and works for an apartment safety nonprofit called SafeWays.

Carroll doesn’t have any ties to MSCS, a distinction that he says separates him from his running mates.

“I have never taken a paycheck directly or indirectly from the school system or worked for a contractor that does,” Carroll told Chalkbeat. “I can bring that outsider perspective and look at things and see how they can be improved.”

Caroll led his son’s Parent-Teacher Association at Middle College High School for over three years and volunteered on the statewide PTA as the legislative affairs chair for one year. He’s a graduate from the University of Memphis.

In the face of an impending state takeover of MSCS, Carroll says it’s important for school board members to commit to working together and put vendettas aside.

Most important MSCS issue to address: Lack of public trust

“I would work to rebuild that trust by working with disparate groups across the city, holding multiple town halls with other school board members and city and county leaders where we will listen to the needs of the parents and students, and showing that the school system we deserve is here for them.”

Joyce Dorse-Coleman

Dorse-Coleman has a long-running tenure on the Memphis-Shelby County school board, beginning in 2018 as a member and serving as the chair last year. She also introduced the resolution to fire former Superintendent Marie Feagins last January, which sparked backlash from community members and state leaders.

She says she sticks around on the board to counter false perceptions of the district and its leaders.

“We have amazing people in our district,” Dorse-Coleman said. “We just also have a few naysayers that make things seem like we’re the worst of the worst. And I know that’s not true.”

She grew up in Orange Mound and attended Melrose High School, which is part of District 9. Dorse-Coleman is an advocate for local, state, and federal education leaders to help fund school initiatives including teacher recruitment and retention.

Most important MSCS issue to address: Lack of funds

“If we had more funding, we wouldn’t have to worry about closing schools. Buildings could be fixed up…We would be able to hire more teachers and pay the teachers that we have, because they seriously deserve more.”

Tamara Jordan

Jordan has been an educator for 15 years, working in charter school systems including Gestalt Community Schools, which participated in the now defunct, state-run Achievement School District. Gestalt was the first network to pull out of the state-run ASD in 2017 by closing the two schools it managed.

She also taught at Freedom Preparatory Academy, and eventually served as dean through 2023.

Jordan says she wants to run an audit on MSCS’ curriculum to make sure it’s aligning with state standards and assessments. That could help better reflect students’ literacy abilities, she said.

“Think about a student that’s been taking tests and doing work all year, and they get a test that they‘ve never seen, like they don’t know how to answer the questions,” Jordan said. “We’re not teaching to the test, but we do want (students) to be familiar with the test.”

Most important MSCS issue to address: Facility deficits and state takeover

“I would address the facility deficits by pushing for a proactive approach to the deferred maintenance budget. An audit of all assets with fidelity would need to happen, so that repairs can be prioritized based on risk ROI. Also, I would push for routine inspections of critical systems: such as, HVAC and plumbing. As far as the State takeover threats, I would suggest pushing a plan that is catered to each individual school to present to the Tennessee General Assembly.”

Damon Curry Morris

Morris is the only candidate across all four district races who’s in favor of an impending state takeover of MSCS. He says he’s advocating for parents and students who support the intervention and has met with the Republican lawmakers sponsoring these efforts in Nashville throughout the last year.

“I was heavily involved in it, and no other candidate can say that,” he told Chalkbeat. “My strength is diplomacy. Once they fired (Feagins), the only thing that the district continued to do, the board members continued to do, was fuel the fan of those fights. Now my job was to go up there to minimize the impact.”

Morris is a regular speaker at Memphis school board meetings, often criticizing decisions that he says lead to a lack of trust in the district. In August, Morris was arrested outside of the school board building, The Daily Memphian reported, for allegedly violating a restraining order against him by current member Stephanie Love.

Morris called the incident a “ploy” to keep him from running on the school board.

“Let’s be fair here, I’m not the most popular candidate amongst the elite, the people who have been [in the district] for 20 or 30 years,” he said.

Morris told Chalkbeat that the restraining order is still active, but Love, the Shelby County Public Defender, and Morris’ lawyer did not respond to requests for confirmation.

Morris worked as a substitute teacher in Memphis City Schools starting in 1999. He also was a behavioral specialist at Treadwell Middle School in 2005 for 12 years and now home-schools and tutors students.

Most important MSCS issue to address: Lack of public trust

“We have to be real about how we got here and the contributing factors. The enrollment has plummeted because of some of the board’s actions and this opened the door for a state intervention.”

Louis M. Morganfield III

Morganfield serves as the building engineer for Ida B. Wells Academy, a beloved school in South Memphis that board members voted to close at the end of this year. He told Chalkbeat Tennessee that the school should serve as a model for the district because of its small class sizes, which he says could help improve the district’s low literacy rates.

“You can’t continue to do the same thing over and over again that you have been doing for the last 30 years, and scores only improve by an inch or a half an inch at a time,” Morganfield said. “With small class sizes, you’re able to meet the children where they are.”

He said reducing class sizes would mean hiring more teachers and assistants, an issue that MSCS already struggles with.

“We need to change the culture,” Morganfield said. “We need to listen to our teachers.”

Most important MSCS issue to address: Literacy

“We can’t do what we want to do to raise the scores if you don’t engage with the parents, to teach the parents how to help their children.”

Bri Hatch covers Memphis-Shelby County Schools for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Reach Bri at bhatch@chalkbeat.org.

Voter guide: Here are the Memphis school board candidates running in District 1

2026-04-14T14:43:21+00:00

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The three candidates running to represent District 1 on the Memphis school board have deep ties to the school system as teachers and key leaders.

All will be on the May 5 primary ballot as Democrats, including incumbent Michelle McKissack, who’s been on the board since 2018. Dolores Missy Rivers, former head of a local teachers union, and Hailey Marie Thomas, an early career educator, are running as challengers.

Early voting begins on April 15.

This is the first political primary election for the Memphis-Shelby County school board and the last chance for members elected in 2018 to serve again under new term limits. The 2026 race also comes as Republican lawmakers in Nashville push forward a state takeover of MSCS that would strip the board of some key responsibilities.

District 1 spans downtown Memphis and Cooper Young, covering 24 schools with more than 10,500 students. At most of the schools, Hispanic students and English learners are less than 5% of the student body. And while the district’s literacy and math proficiency rates slightly exceed MSCS averages, there’s a wide range of school performance.

Only 7% of A.B. Hill Elementary students achieved proficiency on last year’s Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program, or TCAP, and less than 5% did the same for math. But at Idlewild Elementary, those proficiency rates were 71% and 62% respectively.

Use our interactive map to see if you’ll be voting in this district based on your home address. And read full responses from District 1 candidates to a Chalkbeat survey here:

Michelle McKissack

McKissack has served on the Memphis school board representing District 1 since 2018. She was one of three members who voted against the controversial firing of former Superintendent Marie Feagins in January 2025.

McKissack is a graduate of White Station High School, as are her three sons. Her daughter is a ninth grade student there.

“And so I’ve just got all of this positive association with our public school system,” she told Chalkbeat. “I did debate whether I would continue for one more term. But I felt there was more work to do … I wasn’t ready to pass the torch.”

McKissack started her advocacy in 2003 as a parent at Downtown Elementary, where she wrote the bylaws for the school’s Parent-Teacher Organization. She currently serves as the vice president of the Tennessee School Board Association.

“I was in the trenches as a regular person, as a parent, just wanting to give back,” she said. “But then I didn’t stop there. I didn’t stop with our local school board. I wanted to see how things were happening across the state of Tennessee.”

Most important MSCS issue to address: Literacy

“My biggest concern is continuing to stay student-focused and improving literacy among our students, especially ensuring that students are reading on grade level by the end of third grade.”

Dolores Missy Rivers

Rivers started her work in MSCS as a teacher on a provisional license at Doubletree Elementary School. She stayed in the district as an educator for 26 years, spending most of those years at Ross Elementary, and retired in 2023.

Rivers then served a one-year term that ended in February as the interim director of the Memphis-Shelby County Education Association, one of two teachers groups in the district.

“People understand my work and they know my work in the community,” she said. “Teachers know what I have done. I didn’t just wake up and just say, ‘Hey, I’m gonna run for school board.’ I’ve always done this work.”

Rivers is an advocate for increasing teacher pay and offering tuition support, especially to Memphis students, to become educators. She thinks MSCS should expand its Innovation Zone approach, which targets low-performing schools by placing strong principals in struggling schools and providing more practical teacher training.

Most important MSCS issue to address: Teacher recruitment and retention

“When teachers are paid fairly and feel respected for their profession, districts are better able to attract strong candidates and retain experienced educators who know how to help students succeed. However, pay is only part of the solution. We must also improve working conditions by protecting instructional time, reducing unnecessary testing and paperwork, and ensuring teachers have the resources and support they need in their classrooms.”

Hailey Marie Thomas

Thomas is an early career educator who started working at Larose Elementary, a District 1 school, in 2021. She’s now a literacy instructor at MSCS charter school Beacon College Preparatory.

Thomas says she has a realtime perspective into what teachers and students need to succeed, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’m seeing the issues that are impacting people daily,” she said. “All of the issues that educators have been complaining about for years have stayed the same, but with this group of children, all of those issues have been exacerbated.”

Thomas says teachers need better pay and more support in handling classroom discipline. She’s also against school closures and consolidations because class sizes are too big and unmanageable already.

Most important MSCS issue to address: Low enrollment

“A lot of our money from the public schools are being transferred to the charter schools when our numbers go down. And a lot of parents want to go to charter schools. They want to go to private schools, because they’re not satisfied with the results that MSCS is providing. Once we do things to improve our numbers, we get access to more funding.”

Bri Hatch covers Memphis-Shelby County Schools for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Reach Bri at bhatch@chalkbeat.org.

Newark will elect a new school board in less than 2 weeks. Here’s what parents, students, and others want.

2026-04-13T18:00:00+00:00

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Newark voters head to the polls on April 21 to elect four members to the city’s Board of Education, which makes key decisions for New Jersey’s largest school district.

But what does the community want those new board members to prioritize once they take their seats?

At a debate last month, the nine candidates vying for four seats pledged to tackle several issues, including fixing aging school buildings; expanding student mental health resources; improving transparency; and including parents, teachers, and students in district decisions.

This year’s school board race is the second time the city’s 16- and 17-year-olds will cast their vote in the election. Last year, only 73 teens voted in the April election despite targeted efforts to get the city’s more than 7,000 eligible youth voters to the polls.

Chalkbeat asked parents, students, teachers, and advocates the same question: What should the new board focus on first?

Their answers touch on some of the most pressing challenges for the district, which serves more than 41,000 students across 65 schools and will run on a $1.6 billion budget next school year. Nearly six years after regaining local control of schools, community members say they still want more input in decisions that shape education in Newark.

Here’s what members of the city’s education community told Chalkbeat what they want to see from the incoming school board members. They have been edited for length and clarity.

Emmanuel Adeola is also a member of the Youth Power Action Coalition in Newark.

Emmanuel Adeola

Junior at Bard High School Early College

Get student feedback

“Students are the school district’s consumers. It makes sense to want to get student feedback because it’s just requiring that you listen to our concerns. And also, there has to be a better way to talk to students. I know sometimes students may not want to listen to adults, but a lot of us can vote now, so how can board members help us understand what’s happening and also listen to us?”

John Abeigon was first elected as president of the Newark Teachers Union in 2015.

John Abeigon

President of the Newark Teachers Union

Boost teacher collaboration with principals and district leaders

“What I would be hoping to get from whoever the new elected board members are, is that we continue to work towards strengthening the collaboration that we’re already creating between teachers and the public school district. We want teachers to be the ones creating the instruction happening in classrooms. Unified instruction, unified learning, unified teaching.”

Alexander Schuetz

Alexander Schuetz is the Chair of the Newark Education Workers Caucus.

Chair of the Newark Education Workers Caucus

More investment in student needs

“We’re an enormous district with a really wide variety of needs. We are really leaning in both words and in cash into the top performing students. We are building these hyper-specialized high schools. We are building evermore, it seems, gifted and talented approaches and internship opportunities, which I don’t have any problem with, of course. But I do not see that same energy being put into our students with the most needs.”

“Our students whether they have a disability or not, or come from another country, so many of our students are just on the back foot from the start, based on the resources they have access to. I would like to see a board that can sort of pause in this victory lap of expansion and take a look at the larger masses of students who feel like they’re being left behind.”

Deborah Smith Gregory urged Newark residents to vote in the upcoming city elections during the 2026 NAACP Newark school board candidate forum.

Debra Smith-Gregory

President of the NAACP Newark

Holding the superintendent accountable

“I want the incoming school board members to work with the current board members to ensure that the best interests of students are put first and that means holding the superintendent accountable for his decisions. I think a prime example is their intent to spend nearly $500 million leasing a building for young people in the East Ward, a building the district will not own until after 30-years. Board members should be asking questions about that.”

Inés Aguilera's daughter is a student at Hawkins Street School located in the East Ward of Newark, New Jersey.

Inés Aguilera

East Ward mom of a third grader at Hawkins Street Elementary School (translated from Spanish)

Fix school lunches

“My daughter tells me she doesn’t have enough time to eat her lunch. Sometimes she brings home the entire lunch I packed for her, or sometimes with only a bite into her sandwich. I also think that the quality of school food isn’t good and the fruits are not good, that’s why I pack my daughter’s lunch every day. And it’s also important to make sure that younger students, especially those whose teeth may be growing in, have their fruits cut up for them. Many of them can’t bite into those hard apples.”

Ade’Kamil Kelly

Ade’Kamil Kelly ran under the "Prioritizing Newark's Children" slate in the 2025 Newark school board election.

Two-time Newark school board candidate

Transparency and fiscal responsibility

“I really would like the board to focus on fiscal responsibility, especially because we’re looking at a budget that just got approved that cuts 30 teachers. Can we tighten up our fiscal responsibility, because all eyes are literally on Newark right now? And I really hate that we constantly have to have the same conversation year after year about the same fundamental things. Even when you look at how the new, proposed Riverfront Elementary School for the East Ward went before everybody, it wasn’t a transparent process that everyone can feel good about. So it’s just a lot of continuous missed opportunities for the school board to just say things clearly to the public.”

Rafael Chavez works with Spanish speaking parents in Newark.

Rafael Chavez

Organizer for New Labor, a Newark-based immigrant rights group

Translation services during Board of Education meetings

“The biggest issue is the lack of translation at board meetings. That’s why some of the parents, actually, maybe most of the parents who don’t speak English don’t really go to those meetings because they don’t understand them. They don’t have a translation there. They throw ridiculous barriers at us, and Spanish-speaking families can’t participate.”

Chesha Hodge

Chesha Hodge leads the Coalition for Healthy Food in Newark Schools, a Greater Newark Conservancy Initiative.

Director, Coalition for Healthy Food in Newark Schools, a Greater Newark Conservancy Initiative

More student involvement in school food decisions

“Students are starting to understand and learn that their voice matters, especially here in Newark, where 16- and 17-year-olds now get to vote in the school board elections. We want to make a way for students to not just have these really basic food conversations, but we also want them to be included in these higher-level conversations that are taking place on the local and state level. Let’s just tap into the power that is our youth right now.”

Jessie Gómez is a reporter for Chalkbeat Newark, covering public education in the city. Contact Jessie at jgomez@chalkbeat.org.

Why there are no education elections on your primary ballot

2026-04-07T18:50:17+00:00

Sign up for Chalkbeat Indiana’s free daily newsletter to keep up with Indianapolis Public Schools, Marion County’s township districts, and statewide education news.

Early voting is underway for the Indiana primary elections, but there are no education-specific items on the ballot.

In previous years, referendums — where school districts ask voters for extra funding through property taxes — could appear on primary ballots. But lawmakers changed that last year. Lawmakers also changed school board elections from nonpartisan to partisan but didn’t add primary elections for those positions.

Here’s what’s different at the ballot box and what to expect:

Partisan school board elections don’t include primary races

After years of attempts to make school board elections partisan, lawmakers approved the change that allows candidates to have a party affiliation but didn’t include primary races.

Instead, school board candidates will choose if they want to select a political party, identify as an independent, or be nonpartisan in the general election. School board elections are not included in straight party voting, and multiple candidates could have the same affiliation.

The change faced opposition from people who said partisan politics would be a distraction from the school board’s duties. Supporters countered by saying politics already influence schools.

While there aren’t any primaries, a candidate’s affiliation can be challenged and removed from the ballot if the candidate didn’t vote in the last two primary elections or get written certification from the county party chairman that the candidate is a party member. Candidates across the state can file to run from May 19 to noon on June 18.

This November will be the first for partisan school board elections. School boards statewide, including in Marion County, will have seats on the ballot. Each school board determines the number of seats and if the seats represent areas within the school district’s borders or are at-large. For Indianapolis Public Schools, four seats are up for election, including one special election to fill a seat after a board member resigned.

Fewer opportunities for schools to ask voters for tax increases

School districts can ask voters to approve tax increases for specific needs such as operating costs, construction, or safety measures through referendums. These dollars supplement the local property tax dollars that schools receive along with state and federal funding.

In the past, school districts could ask voters to approve increases during the primary or general election of any year. In 2025, lawmakers changed the rule to be only the general election of a statewide election year after the November 2025 election.

There could be more referendums on the ballot this November given the limits on timing as well as funding constraints on districts, including property tax reform and sharing those funds with charter schools.

Whether or not to put a referendum on the ballot is determined by school districts, except in Indianapolis where the new Indianapolis Public Education Corporation will decide. IPS’s current operating referendum expires this year, and without that funding, the district could be out of money by next year, per IPS documents.

School boards must send their ballot questions no later than July 22 to the state Department of Local Government Finance. The department then has until noon Aug. 1 to decide if it’s approved.

What to know about voting in 2026 Indiana election

Early voting for the primary elections started on April 7 and ends at noon on May 4. Primary election day is May 5, and polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time.

For the general election, voter registration opens on May 19 and ends Oct. 5. Early voting starts Oct. 6. On election day, Nov. 3, polls are open from 6 a.m .to 6 p.m. local time.

You can check your voter status and register to vote as well as look up polling places and sample ballots at indianavoters.in.gov.

This article was updated to include deadlines for putting referendums on the November ballot.

MJ Slaby oversees Chalkbeat Indiana’s coverage as bureau chief. Contact MJ at mslaby@chalkbeat.org.