Jessica Biggs claimed victory Tuesday as the Chicago Board of Education’s president-elect in a historic election that allowed voters to choose all 21 board members for the first time.
The former Chicago Public Schools principal is now tasked with working alongside the 20 other freshly elected members on what’s shaping up to be a divided board. Ten candidates endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union have won or are leading in their school board seat races, while CTU-backed presidential candidate Hilario Dominguez lost his bid, making those backed by the union and those who aren’t nearly an even split.
“I am really excited to get into a room with my new colleagues and to support all of them,” Biggs said. “I think there is a lot of common interest, and I will continue to lean heavily on my experience from leading on our superintendent search, where it was really intentional systems and structures that helped to bring the board together.”
Biggs currently serves as a board member for District 6B; she helped install Macquline King as the district’s CEO.
Biggs will be sworn in as president in January. She said her main, immediate priority is to set clear academic goals.
“I heard from families over and over again that they really want to see this board focused on academic outcomes for our students,” Biggs said. “Then on the financial side, starting to actually bring together the intergovernmental body that can put together a real financial recovery plan to guide the finances of our district.”
Voters on Tuesday also gave input on three education-related advisory questions. Residents showed support for measures like the use of revenue from a millionaire’s tax to increase CPS funding and charging owners of long-term vacant or underdeveloped commercial or investment properties an additional annual fee to support Chicago schools.
The ballot measures are nonbinding and would require action by city or state authorities, but Biggs expressed interest in considering Chicagoans’ support for the proposals.
