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In a split decision, the Chicago school board on Wednesday chose a diversity, equity and inclusion consultant appointed to the board last year by Mayor Brandon Johnson as its new vice president.
The board voted 9-7 for Angel Vélez to replace former board vice president Olga Bautista, an appointee who stepped down last month. The vice president performs the duties of the board president, such as presiding over meetings, if the president is absent.
Johnson appointed Vélez — who has also studied education policy — last August to fill a vacancy ahead of a pivotal budget vote. Vélez represents subdistrict 9a, which covers South Side neighborhoods that span from Canaryville to Auburn Gresham.
Vélez earned support for his vice presidency from other board members who have been more aligned with Johnson, including appointees Cydney Wallace, Debby Pope, Norma Rios-Sierra, Ed Bannon, Michilia Blaise and Karen Zaccor, as well as elected members Jitu Brown and Ebony DeBerry.
Elected board member Yesenia Lopez was also nominated for vice president and earned votes from elected board members who have been more critical of the mayor’s office: Che “Rhymefest” Smith, Therese Boyle, Ellen Rosenfeld, Carlos Rivas, Jennifer Custer, and Jessica Biggs.
Vélez and Lopez each voted for themselves.
The board did not discuss the vote further.
In a recent interview, Vélez spoke about his desire for more unity on the board. Vélez, who is Black and Latino, said he didn’t sign on to a letter last week pushing soon-to-be permanent CEO Macquline King to hire more Latinos in her cabinet because he felt it was more divisive than helpful. He said it would have been better for board members and organizations to first speak with King about the demands.
“If we unite, we can ask for more funding,” Velez said. “If we stay divided, not a lot is going to get done.”
The mayor currently appoints 11 of the board’s 21 members, including the president. He has not yet named a replacement for Bautista, and his office did not respond to a request for comment.
All 21 seats on the board will be up for election this November, and the board will be a fully elected governing body starting next January.
Reema Amin is a reporter covering Chicago Public Schools. Contact Reema at ramin@chalkbeat.org.
