🎒 Chicago gets a new school board (again)

CTA President’s Next Gig is at West Side Hospital

Dorval Carter will be CEO of St. Anthony’s Hospital after he retires from the CTA later this month. Carter’s departure comes amid a regional transit financial cliff, slowly improving service, and longstanding criticism about the transit agency’s overall rider experience. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

Disappointing Revenue at Bally’s Casino

The temporary casino in River North has brought in $63.2 million in new tax revenue for the city in the 16 months it’s been open, much of which came from the $44 million in flat fees Bally’s agreed to pay. City officials said they still believe they could hit the jackpot with the permanent casino in River West, which is set to open next year. [WTTW]

How Do LA Fires Compare to Great Chicago Fire?

While both cities had gone months without rainfall and faced limited resources, the fires in LA County have already destroyed at least seven times more land than the 1871 fire in Chicago. [NBC Chicago]

• Chicago chefs are hosting fundraisers this month for restaurants in LA and California wildfire and disaster relief. [Instagram]

Chicago Has a Pro Pickleball Team

Chicago Slice is considered among the best professional pickleball teams in the nation. The four-person co-ed team has 28 owners — including Cubs owner Tom Ricketts and supermodel Heidi Klum. [Block Club]

• And if you’re more of an amateur than pro, pick up a paddle and play around town. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

Chicago’s new school board will be inaugurated Wednesday as CPS CEO Pedro Martinez is on the way out and as contract negotiations continue with the Chicago Teachers Union.

The 21-person board will consist of 10 members Chicagoans voted for in the fall and 11 members appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson. Those appointees live in opposite subdistricts of the elected members.

The hybrid body will be in place until the board is fully elected in 2027.

So who are the people responsible for hiring and firing the CPS CEO and approving the district budget? Let’s meet a few of them.

🗳️ = elected

➕ = appointed

District 2, Far North Side

🗳️ Ebony DeBerry

The CTU-backed community organizer and Rogers Park resident won the city’s most expensive school board race.

➕ Debby Pope

The retired teacher and former CTU staffer will remain on the board after Johnson first appointed her in the fall after the previous board resigned en masse amid tension between the mayor and CPS CEO and over budget concerns.

District 4, North Side

🗳️ Ellen Rosenfeld

The CPS employee beat out five other candidates to represent the wealthy lakefront district. Rosenfeld had been endorsed by a mix of Democrats and pro–charter school groups.

➕ Karen Zaccor

The retired teacher backed by CTU was the runner-up in the November race. Johnson appointed Zaccor, who is also an activist and former Local Schools Council member.

District 5, West Side

🗳️ Aaron ‘Jitu’ Brown

The education activist ran uncontested to represent the district stretching from West Loop to Austin. Brown also participated in the 2015 hunger strike to reopen Dyett High School in Bronzeville.

➕ Michilla Blaise

Blaise dropped out of the school board race in September only to be appointed to Johnson’s interim board in October. The political consultant will stay on the hybrid board.

District 8, Far Southwest Side

🗳️ Angel Gutierrez

Voters decided overwhelmingly to elect the nonprofit consultant to represent the district covering Bridgeport to West Lawn. Gutierrez was outspent by his CTU-backed opponent.

➕ TBD

As of Monday afternoon, Johnson has not announced his final appointment.

District 10, South Side

🗳️ Che ‘Rhymefest’ Smith

The rapper and songwriter may have been the biggest name in the race for Chicago’s first elected school board, but the four-way race was still competitive. Smith urged the interim school board not to fire Martinez late last month.

➕ Olga Bautista

Bautista is another interim board appointee sticking around to stay on the hybrid board. The Southeast Side environmental activist was on a mayoral transition team in 2023 and ran for 10th Ward alder in 2015.

Board President

➕ Sean Harden

Johnson first appointed the South Side native to his interim board after Rev. Mitchell Johnson was asked to leave following controversial social media posts. Harden is staying on to lead the hybrid board.

In addition to finding a new CEO, this board will have to face financial problems so steep that at least one watchdog group is floating the idea of a state takeover of the district.