A former elementary school principal, the director of a progressive organization, a long-time activist and the leader of a youth organization are vying to represent the 6th District.
With districts that divide Chicago into 10 areas, each one is large and diverse. But the 6th District is unique as it includes the Loop and also parts of Englewood — two of the most economically different neighborhoods in the city.
At a forum last month, one of the four candidates, Anusha Thotakura said she has campaigned from her neighborhood in West Town all the way through 79th Street.
“The things that I’ve learned from people about the challenges that they’re experiencing, that their kids are experiencing in school has made me a better candidate, and that will make me a better board member,” she said.
Thotakura, who spent two years as a middle school math teacher in California and now is the director of Citizen Action/Illinois, is the only 6th District candidate who doesn’t live on the South Side. She’s also the only one who isn’t a parent.
Thotakura has, by far, out-raised her opponents with nearly $370,000 as of Friday, Oct. 25. Her biggest contributions come from Chicago Teacher Union related PACs and from Friends of Ram, the committee of state senator Senator Ram Villivalam, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Andre Smith, who lives in Washington Park, has run for other offices, including alderman and state representative. He runs an anti-violence organization and says he was involved in the fight to bring a trauma center to the University of Chicago.
“I have laid the groundwork for over 30 years of service in the community and outside the community,” Smith told a forum.
Smith has brought in less than $40,000, but two independent expenditure committees that are pro-charter school and anti-CTU have spent another $55,000 supporting him.
Jessica Biggs, who only has about $50,000 worth of small donations, has the deepest experience in education. She spent six years as principal of Burke Elementary, a neighborhood elementary school in Washington Park, and now works for the Southwest Organizing Project, where she runs a project that seeks to address health inequities.
Biggs lives in Bronzeville and has a daughter that attends Galileo Scholastic Academy, which is a magnet school on the near West Side.
Danielle Wallace is an official write-in candidate after choosing to withdraw her name from the ballot rather than defend a petition challenge. She is executive director of Kingdom Avenue, an Englewood organization that offers programs to children and youth. She, her sons and even her parents are alumni of CPS. She has worked in CPS schools as a clerk.
District leadership and finances
During the campaign, the Chicago school board became embroiled in controversy. All members resigned amid a dispute with the mayor over how to handle this year’s budget deficit and whether to fire CPS CEO Pedro Martinez.
Johnson wanted the school district to keep open the possibility of taking a loan, while Martinez asked Johnson to give the district money from special taxing districts called TIFs. Johnson said he will provide all the TIF money he can, but, given political and other considerations, it might not be enough to fill the budget hole.
All of the candidates said they support keeping Martinez and would not take a loan. Thotakura decried the instability it would create if Martinez was fired but notes that her opinion could change later.
Biggs said it means a lot to her that 400 principals and assistant principals signed a letter backing Martinez. And Smith applauded Martinez for holding the line against a loan.
But how would they confront CPS’ budget deficit?
Wallace said the school district needs to diversify revenue and get creative, maybe holding a marathon. “I do not know a soul who would not support a Chicago Public Schools marathon,” she said in a forum.
Biggs and Thotakura both said the state must be pressured to come through with more money. Biggs said she would not only look to the state to provide all the money CPS needs but also call on it to cover the contribution to the CPS teacher pension fund, which it does for other school districts in the state.
Smith is against going to the state. He is calling for an audit of CPS’ $9.9 billion budget. That way board members can know exactly where they might be able to find savings.
School choice and neighborhood schools
Closing schools and moving away from charters, magnet and selective schools are controversial issues across the city. That’s also true in the 6th District, which includes Payton College Prep, one of the city’s hardest selective enrollment schools to get into, and a dozen charter and alternative schools run by private operators.
But there are some differences in the way the candidates see different types of schools.
Smith has received money from the political arm of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools and is endorsed by the Urban Center Action, which is backed by wealthy charter school supporters and business executives. He sends his son to Urban Prep Charter School, the district’s only all-boys school that is dedicated to helping African American students be proud and self-confident.
He is the only one of the three candidates who says he does not support prioritizing neighborhood schools.
“Charter schools offer unique programs and educational opportunities that can benefit a diverse range of students. They provide families with additional options and can drive innovation in education,” he said in our questionnaire.
Wallace said she sees charter schools as a way to support innovation. “I believe that charter schools aren’t the enemy of public schools. Public schools and charter schools are a part of the education ecosystem,” she said in the questionnaire.
But Wallace said CPS must “be intentional about revitalizing our schools that are in deep disrepair.”
Biggs and Thotakura both say they do not support closing schools in general, including charter schools. Biggs notes underperforming charter schools need to be put on remediation plans and that she does not want to add additional charter schools.
Biggs also said she would try to make the process for getting into selective enrollment and magnet schools less overwhelming.
At a forum last month, Thotakura said when it comes to choice schools — charter, magnet and selective enrollment schools — one needs to zoom out and look at the larger issue.
“The real challenge is not, why is there not more access,” she said. “The real challenge is, ‘my child gets into a selective enrollment school or else. ‘ ”
Thotakura said she is hoping that more investment in neighborhood schools will mean the emphasis on going to other schools will decline. Thotakura is endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union.