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  "path": "/education/2026/05/18/race-is-on-for-chicagos-first-fully-elected-school-board",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-18T23:05:48.877Z",
  "site": "https://www.wbez.org",
  "textContent": "<p>LaPamela Williams was one of dozens who lined up early Monday morning to submit the signatures she gathered to run for a seat on what will soon be Chicago’s fully elected school board.</p><p>Williams, a realtor, is running to represent subdistrict 5A on the city’s West Side. She hoped being among the first to file nomination petitions with city officials would get her better placement on November’s ballot.</p><p>It's her first time running for office. Already, she said, the signature-gathering process has been “eye opening” because it allowed her to gauge which issues matter the most to her would-be constituents. Some of her own priorities include increasing financial literacy instruction and finding ways to keep students from missing too much school.</p><p>“If I am able to get onto the board I can take that and look for practical solutions for the community,” Williams said.</p><div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-center> <div class=\"Enhancement-item\" data-crop=\"\"> <figure class=\"Figure\"><a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-1d0000\" name=\"image-1d0000\"></a> <picture data-crop=\"medium\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/bea957d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+0/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F6a%2Fda%2Fcfc8ddd54a4fafafdd5b4c9949d8%2Fschoolboardpres-260522-04.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cf96cd3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+0/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F6a%2Fda%2Fcfc8ddd54a4fafafdd5b4c9949d8%2Fschoolboardpres-260522-04.jpg 2x\" loading=\"lazy\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"275\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/70e7624/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F6a%2Fda%2Fcfc8ddd54a4fafafdd5b4c9949d8%2Fschoolboardpres-260522-04.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"LaPamela Williams\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/70e7624/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F6a%2Fda%2Fcfc8ddd54a4fafafdd5b4c9949d8%2Fschoolboardpres-260522-04.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2dda7b8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+0/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F6a%2Fda%2Fcfc8ddd54a4fafafdd5b4c9949d8%2Fschoolboardpres-260522-04.jpg 2x\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/70e7624/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F6a%2Fda%2Fcfc8ddd54a4fafafdd5b4c9949d8%2Fschoolboardpres-260522-04.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" > </picture> <div class=\"Figure-content\"><figcaption class=\"Figure-caption\"><p>LaPamela Williams is running to represent a West Side subdistrict on the Chicago School Board. Increasing financial literacy instruction and curbing chronic absenteeism are top priorities for her as a candidate.</p></figcaption><span class=\"line\"></span><div class=\"Figure-credit\"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Williams was among 50 people, including prospective school board candidates, incumbents and supporters, who waited outside the Chicago Voter Supersite in the Loop for the doors to open at 9 a.m. As they filed their petitions, it marked the official start of this year’s Chicago School Board races.</p><p>Many candidates said they planned to focus on increasing students’ reading and math scores, ensuring the board operates independently and improving the district’s financial transparency as part of their campaigns.</p><p>Whoever is elected will also have to tackle the district’s ongoing financial troubles, declining enrollment and federal probes by the Trump administration. Federal agencies have threatened to withhold funding for the district and launched investigations into CPS for its plan to improve academic outcomes for Black students and its policy that allows transgender students to use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity.</p><p>The city held its first school board elections in 2024 but only 10 seats were up for grabs that year. This year, all 20 seats as well as the citywide board president position will be decided by voters.</p><p>Candidates for school board are required to submit at least 500 signatures, while those running for board president need at least 2,500. They have until May 26 to file their petitions. Each candidate in line Monday morning presented stacks of paper to election officials to confirm they had enough signatures.</p><div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-center> <div class=\"Enhancement-item\" data-crop=\"\"> <figure class=\"Figure\"><a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-900000\" name=\"image-900000\"></a> <picture data-crop=\"medium\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d4b3a7b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+0/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb6%2F03%2F63e1f86c4e81a2774886d18a535e%2Fschoolboardpres-260522-12.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/348e9ce/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+0/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb6%2F03%2F63e1f86c4e81a2774886d18a535e%2Fschoolboardpres-260522-12.jpg 2x\" loading=\"lazy\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"275\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/32bef07/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb6%2F03%2F63e1f86c4e81a2774886d18a535e%2Fschoolboardpres-260522-12.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"Victor Henderson\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/32bef07/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb6%2F03%2F63e1f86c4e81a2774886d18a535e%2Fschoolboardpres-260522-12.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f493e25/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+0/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb6%2F03%2F63e1f86c4e81a2774886d18a535e%2Fschoolboardpres-260522-12.jpg 2x\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/32bef07/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb6%2F03%2F63e1f86c4e81a2774886d18a535e%2Fschoolboardpres-260522-12.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" > </picture> <div class=\"Figure-content\"><figcaption class=\"Figure-caption\"><p>Attorney Victor Henderson was first in line Monday morning to submit a petition to run for president of the Chicago School Board. </p></figcaption><span class=\"line\"></span><div class=\"Figure-credit\"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Victor Henderson, a trial attorney who is running for school board president, was the first person through the doors. One of his campaign organizers had waited in line since 11 p.m. Sunday to save the spot for Henderson, who relieved the organizer around 20 minutes before doors opened.</p><p>Being first “speaks to our dedication, speaks to our commitment, speaks to the message we want to send,” Henderson said. For his campaign, that includes a focus on increasing students’ academic performance and improving the district’s financial transparency.</p><p>Other candidates for president — current board members Jennifer Custer and Jessica Biggs, as well as education consultant and former board member Sendhil Revuluri — also submitted their paperwork Monday morning.</p><p>At least a dozen other current school board members were also in line to submit their nominating petitions, including Yesenia Lopez, who represents subdistrict 7B on the city’s Southwest Side. Lopez, who came with her parents, hopes that the new crop of elected board members can build a rapport with one other.</p><p>“It's important that we develop relationships with one another, that we understand one another” and decide what the priorities are for the district, she said. For her, that means supporting English learners, students with disabilities and community schools, which provide support for families beyond academics, such as health services.</p><div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-center> <div class=\"Enhancement-item\" data-crop=\"\"> <figure class=\"Figure\"><a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-ab0000\" name=\"image-ab0000\"></a> <picture data-crop=\"medium\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9642007/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+0/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbe%2Fe6%2F944d144b4cfda66cff029482780f%2Fschoolboardpres-260522-08.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/038e9cf/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+0/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbe%2Fe6%2F944d144b4cfda66cff029482780f%2Fschoolboardpres-260522-08.jpg 2x\" loading=\"lazy\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"275\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/65be6cb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbe%2Fe6%2F944d144b4cfda66cff029482780f%2Fschoolboardpres-260522-08.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"Yesenia Lopez stands in line to file her nominating papers for the Chicago School Board.\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/65be6cb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbe%2Fe6%2F944d144b4cfda66cff029482780f%2Fschoolboardpres-260522-08.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/68f402a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+0/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbe%2Fe6%2F944d144b4cfda66cff029482780f%2Fschoolboardpres-260522-08.jpg 2x\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/65be6cb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbe%2Fe6%2F944d144b4cfda66cff029482780f%2Fschoolboardpres-260522-08.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" > </picture> <div class=\"Figure-content\"><figcaption class=\"Figure-caption\"><p>At least a dozen incumbents, including Yesenia Lopez, stood in line Monday morning to file their paperwork to run for a seat on the Chicago School Board.</p></figcaption><span class=\"line\"></span><div class=\"Figure-credit\"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Ellen Sherratt, an education consultant, is also running for office for the first time. She’s vying to represent subdistrict 4A on the North Side. She wants to make sure the district’s budget is balanced and people know what’s in it, as well as invest more in teacher recruitment.</p><p>Gathering enough signatures was “hard work,” she said, but it gave her the chance to hear many community members want the board to be “operating in service of students and not in service of politics.”</p><p>“It was a really incredible experience that I think everybody who is a mission-driven person should do at some point in their life,” Sherratt said.</p><div class=\"RelatedList Enhancement\" data-module data-align-center> <div class=\"RelatedList-title\">Related</div> <ul class=\"RelatedList-items\"> <li class=\"RelatedList-items-item\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2026/04/16/chicagos-school-board-election-is-coming-heres-what-to-know-and-whats-at-stake\" >Chicago’s school board election is coming. What to know, what’s at stake.</a> </li> <li class=\"RelatedList-items-item\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-school-board/2026/02/19/big-money-expected-to-flow-in-novembers-historic-chicago-school-board-race\" >Big money expected in November’s historic Chicago school board race</a> </li> <li class=\"RelatedList-items-item\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2025/12/08/few-residents-know-chicago-will-have-a-fully-elected-school-board-poll-finds\" >Most residents don’t know Chicago is moving to an elected school board, poll finds</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p></p>",
  "title": "Race is on for Chicago’s first fully elected school board",
  "updatedAt": "2026-05-18T23:05:48.877Z"
}