Jessica Biggs elected Chicago Public Schools board president

Jessica Biggs secured the top leadership position on the Chicago Public Schools board on Tuesday night.

The former CPS principal defeated Hilario Dominguez, a candidate backed by the Chicago Teachers Union, along with attorney Victor Henderson.

Biggs campaigned with financial and political support from major labor unions, political action committees, and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

She pledged to prioritize student needs over partisan conflict during her tenure.

“I will also work with any mayor, any union and any partner who puts our children first because our students cannot afford to spend its energy fighting over political drama,” Biggs said.

The election follows a period of instability on the current hybrid board, which was appointed by the mayor.

Members of that previous board faced disputes over budget allocations and the dismissal of the CPS chief executive officer.

The Chicago Teachers Union maintains a strong presence on the new board despite losing the presidency.

CTU Vice President Jackson Potter stated that union-supported candidates won at least nine seats and potentially ten.

Potter indicated the union intends to advocate for extending the school closure moratorium, which expires in January.

He criticized the candidate base for the presidency, noting the demographic mismatch in some districts.

“How does a white woman represent a majority-minority district and ensure that those students who have, you know, not received what they deserve with communities that have been neglected for decades get what they need and require?” Potter said. He added that the results show voters rejected large amounts of outside spending, stating, “I would say that reflects the fact that Chicagoans in large do not accept dark money.” The union-backed group does not hold a simple majority on the 21-member board, but education analysts say the bloc can influence specific legislative outcomes. Becky Vevea, bureau chief of Chalkbeat Chicago, noted that certain votes require a two-thirds majority, giving the CTU-aligned group significant leverage. “There are some votes that do require two-thirds majority. And so in that case, this block of CTU-aligned members would be able to, you know, make some waves,” Vevea said. The newly elected board is scheduled to be sworn in early next year, approximately one month before the mayoral election. The results may shape discussions regarding the political influence of the CTU, which played a major role in the campaign for Mayor Brandon Johnson.