Mayor Brandon Johnson reveals Chicago School Board appointees in contentious news conference

CHICAGO - Mayor Brandon Johnson revealed six interim appointees to the Chicago School Board during a heated news conference marked by protesters and confrontations with reporters.

The appointments come days after the entire board announced their resignations, causing upheaval in Chicago Public Schools.

"I'm confident that these new candidates will work to lead CPS into the world class school system that our children deserve," Johnson said during the news conference Monday at a South Side church led by Bishop Larry Trotter, an influential Black Chicago pastor who has praised Johnson and his efforts in education.

The appointees were as follows: 

• Olga Bautista, co-executive director of the Southeast Environmental Task Force
• Michilla Blaise, chief of staff for 16th District Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar
• Mary Gardner, West Side community organizer
• Rev. Mitchell L. Ikenna Johnson of Hyde Park
• Deborah Pope, former teacher in Chicago Public Schools
• Frank Niles Thomas, U.S. Air Force veteran and former chairman of a Local School Council

The new board could carry out Johnson's wishes to fire CPS CEO Pedro Martinez and have the district take out a high-interest loan to pay for teacher raises, pay for worker pensions, and help fund a new Chicago Teachers Union contract.

The outgoing board members, whose resignations will take effect at the end of the month, were handpicked by Johnson in 2023, months after he took office. They haven't said publicly why they are resigning. The CTU said Martinez has not worked hard enough to secure more state funding for schools.

Over the weekend, 41 City Council members signed an open letter, criticizing Johnson for creating chaos in CPS. They called on the mayor to hold council hearings before making these changes, but Johnson said he has seven people who are ready to replace the school board. 

"City Council can have as many hearings as they want, there is only one person that has the authority to make appointments, that's the mayor," Johnson said.

"For the Board of [Education] to be forced out because they're unwilling to fire the CEO, who's being fiscally responsible, it's a shocking turn of events right in the middle of a contract negotiation. I mean, this is the third-largest school district in America and we need to provide steady leadership and this throws a wrench in all of that," Ald. Bill Conway (34th) said.

Early voting opened last week in Chicago. Voters are choosing 10 elected school board members. The other 11 members will be appointed by Johnson. They will take office in mid-January, replacing the interim board that is named today.

On Saturday, State Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago), a progressive who led the legislative effort for an elected Chicago Board of Education, floated the notion that the state might have to intervene in the current CPS crisis.

"The level of state oversight necessary for the district will be informed by the decisions made by the Mayor and his administration in the coming weeks," Williams’ statement read. "I will continue to talk with Chicago families and my colleagues to evaluate what additional guardrails may be needed to ensure policy decisions are consistent with the best interests of Chicago students and communities."

The school board passes the roughly 325,000-student district's budget, confirms its CEO, and approves its policies and contracts.

Before the new board members were announced, protesters in the church waved signs that said "Fire Brandon" and chanted "Not Legit!" in reference to the appointments. They were led out before the mayor started speaking.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.