The Chicago school board elected Angel Vélez as its new vice president on April 8, following a 9-7 vote among members. Vélez, a diversity, equity and inclusion consultant who was appointed to the board last year by Mayor Brandon Johnson, replaces former vice president Olga Bautista, who stepped down last month.
The selection of Vélez is significant as the board approaches a period of transition with all seats up for election this November. The vice president’s role includes presiding over meetings if the president is absent.
Vélez was appointed by Johnson in August to represent subdistrict 9a, which covers South Side neighborhoods from Canaryville to Auburn Gresham. He received support from other members aligned with the mayor, including appointees Cydney Wallace, Debby Pope, Norma Rios-Sierra, Ed Bannon, Michilia Blaise and Karen Zaccor, along with elected members Jitu Brown and Ebony DeBerry. Elected member Yesenia Lopez was also nominated for vice president and received votes from members who have been more critical of the mayor’s office: Che “Rhymefest” Smith, Therese Boyle, Ellen Rosenfeld, Carlos Rivas, Jennifer Custer and Jessica Biggs. Both Vélez and Lopez voted for themselves.
In an interview prior to his election as vice president, Vélez spoke about his hope for greater unity on the board. “If we unite, we can ask for more funding,” Velez said. “If we stay divided, not a lot is going to get done.” He explained that he chose not to sign a recent letter urging soon-to-be permanent CEO Macquline King to hire more Latinos in her cabinet because he felt it would be better for board members and organizations to first speak directly with King about their concerns.
Currently Mayor Johnson appoints 11 out of the board’s 21 members—including its president—but has not yet named a replacement for Bautista. His office did not respond to requests for comment regarding this vacancy.
Looking ahead, all seats on the Chicago school board will be contested in elections this November before transitioning into a fully elected governing body starting next January.
