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Chicago SD 299 CPS

Cook County • • • RCDT: — • Captured: 2026-05-16
Red findings: 0  •  Yellow/Orange: 0
District Report
Compliance Matrix
Board Members
Administration

Chicago Public Schools - SD 299 - 12-Section District Report

Date: 2026-05-16 RCDTS: 15-016-2990-25-0000 County: Cook

Domain: https://www.cps.edu/ Statute: 105 ILCS 5/Article 34 Transition: PA 102-0177

1. Identity

Largest IL K-12. ~324,000 students; ~635 schools; ~22,000 teachers. 21-member Board. CEO not Superintendent.

2. Board

21 members: 10 elected Nov 5 2024 + 11 mayor-appointed. President Sean Harden. See board_members.md.

3. Agendas & minutes

Native PDFs at cps.edu. ~135-160 meetings 2017+. See agendas_minutes/.

4. Financials

FY26 ~9.9B. ESSER ~2.8B. Levy ~3.4B FY24. CIT PTELL-exempt. See financials/.

5. Policy manual

CPS uses its own system at policy.cps.edu (NOT IASB PRESS). See policy_manual/.

6. Admin staff

CEO Pedro Martinez (term ended June 2025; King interim). See admin_staff/.

7. School admins

~635 schools - FOIA + ISBE ESR + LSC. See school_admins/.

8. Data & reporting

IAR ELA 22 / Math 17 FY24. Chronic abs ~35. PPE ~22,800. EBF Tier 2. See data_reporting/.

9. Bonds (EMMA)

~8B+ outstanding (largest IL school issuer). Series 2015A-2024A. Moody Baa2 / SP BB+. See bonds_emma/.

10. Compliance flags

OMA/PRA at scale; TIF (Chicago 130+ TIFs); Bond UoP (15c2-12); ESSA CSI/TSI; CTPF ~14B unfunded. See compliance_flags/.

11. Locations

See locations/locations.txt.

12. Manifest & next steps

See manifest.json. Items requiring FOIA/headless-browser retrieval listed.

CPS Compliance Flags — Chapter XII Matrix Applied

District: City of Chicago SD 299. RCDTS 15-016-2990-25-0000. Governing: 105 ILCS 5/Article 34.

OMA / PRA Risk

  • 21-member Board + committees. 5 ILCS 120/2.02 non-agenda votes; 5 ILCS 120/2(c) closed sessions.
  • Quorum 105 ILCS 5/34-4 = 11 of 21.
  • Verify roll-call vs posted agenda for every action.

    • TIF (Chap XI)

    65 ILCS 5/11-74.4. 130+ TIFs. CPS rep required on every JRB. Silence = fiduciary breach.

    Bonds Chap VI

    105 ILCS 5/34-22, 23, 24, 22.5; PA 96-0890. ~8B outstanding. Rule 15c2-12 UoP.

    ESSA Chap VIII

    20 USC 6311(d). CPS 100+ CSI / 200+ TSI schools FY23. Verify interventions.

    FAPE Chap VII

    20 USC 1400 IDEA. ~50,000 IEP students. ISBE corrective action history (Maximus).

    Pension - CTPF

    Chicago Teachers Pension Fund (separate from TRS). ~14B unfunded. 40 ILCS 5/Article 17.

    Procurement / MBE/WBE

    30 ILCS 575 + CPS Goal X. Verify thresholds and waivers.

    SEI 5 ILCS 420/4A-101

    All 21 Board members - annual filing Cook County Clerk by May 1.

    Chicago Board of Education — City of Chicago School District 299

    District: City of Chicago School District 299 (Chicago Public Schools)

    RCDTS: 15-016-2990-25-0000

    County: Cook

    Governing statute: 105 ILCS 5/Article 34 (Chicago-specific Article)

    Transition statute: Public Act 102-0177 (transition to fully-elected by 2027)

    Sources:

  • https://www.cps.edu/about/board-of-education/
  • https://www.cps.edu/about/board-of-education/board-members/

    • GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE — UNIQUE IN ILLINOIS

    CPS is the ONLY Illinois K-12 district with a 21-member Board. Every other public K-12 district operates under 105 ILCS 5/Article 10 (7-member elected boards). CPS operates under 105 ILCS 5/Article 34.

    Transition phases (PA 102-0177):

  • Pre-2025: 7-member Board, all appointed by the Mayor.
  • 2025-2026 (current, hybrid): 21 members — 10 elected (Nov 5, 2024) + 10 appointed by the Mayor + 1 Board President appointed by the Mayor. Seated Jan 15, 2025.
  • 2027 onward: 21 members all elected (Nov 2026 election).

    • Article 34 board powers

  • Appoint/remove the CEO of CPS (105 ILCS 5/34-3) — "CEO," not "Superintendent."
  • Levy property taxes (105 ILCS 5/34-53).
  • Approve annual budget (105 ILCS 5/34-43).
  • Issue GO, Working Cash, and Capital Improvement Tax bonds (105 ILCS 5/34-22; PA 96-0890 Modern Schools Across Chicago).
  • Adopt CPS Policy Manual (not IASB PRESS).
  • State Aid via EBF (105 ILCS 5/18-8.15).

    • CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS (seated Jan 15, 2025; VERIFY against cps.edu)

    > Reconstructed from Nov 5 2024 election certifications (Chicago Board of Election Commissioners) and Mayor Brandon Johnson's appointment announcements (Dec 2024 – Jan 2025). The live cps.edu board page is JS-rendered and returned an Error page to scripted user-agents during this audit — re-verify before publication.

    >

    > HARD RULE: City/neighborhood only — no street addresses.

    President (Mayor-appointed)

  • Sean Harden — Board President. Neighborhood: Chicago — Roseland/Pullman area (Far South Side). Appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson. Serves at Mayor's pleasure (transitional, 105 ILCS 5/34-3).
  • Training (OMA, PRA, SEI, Loyalty/Harassment): TO VERIFY (PAC + Cook County Clerk).

    • Elected Members (10 — Nov 5, 2024)

    District Name Neighborhood (Chicago) Notes
    1 Jennifer Custer Edison Park / Norwood Park (NW Side) Elected 11/5/2024
    2 Ebony DeBerry Rogers Park / Edgewater (Far North) Elected 11/5/2024
    3 Carlos A. Rivas Jr. Logan Square / Avondale (N/NW) Elected 11/5/2024
    4 Ellen Rosenfeld Lincoln Park / Lake View (N Side) Elected 11/5/2024
    5 Aaron "Jitu" Brown Austin / East Garfield Park (W Side) Elected 11/5/2024
    6 Anusha Thotakura Near West / South Loop Elected 11/5/2024
    7 Yesenia Lopez Little Village / Pilsen (SW) Elected 11/5/2024
    8 Angel Gutierrez Brighton Park / Archer Heights (SW) Elected 11/5/2024
    9 Therese Boyle Beverly / Mt. Greenwood (Far SW) Elected 11/5/2024
    10 Che "Rhymefest" Smith Chatham / Greater Grand Crossing (S Side) Elected 11/5/2024

    Terms: 4-year for full-term seats; transitional 2-year for half the seats to create stagger per PA 102-0177 § 10(b). Verify each on certificate of election.

    Training compliance — ALL elected members:

  • OMA (5 ILCS 120/1.05) — within 90 days of office, then annually.
  • PRA (5 ILCS 140/3.5).
  • SEI (5 ILCS 420/4A-101) — annual by May 1 to Cook County Clerk.
  • Anti-Harassment (5 ILCS 430/5-10.5).
  • Status: TO VERIFY via PAC, Cook County Clerk, Office of the Board.

    • Appointed Members (10 — Mayor Brandon Johnson; 2-yr transitional terms to Jan 2027)

    Name Appointing Authority Neighborhood (Chicago) Notes
    Olga Bautista Mayor Brandon Johnson South Chicago (SE Side) Environmental organizer
    Michilla "Kyla" Blaise Mayor Brandon Johnson South Side Parent advocate
    Frank "Frankie" Niles Thomas Mayor Brandon Johnson West Side Pastor
    Debby Pope Mayor Brandon Johnson North Side Retired CPS teacher; CTU-aligned
    Rafael Yañez Mayor Brandon Johnson Southwest Side Former CPD officer
    Norma Rios-Sierra Mayor Brandon Johnson Northwest Side LSC veteran
    Karen Zaccor Mayor Brandon Johnson Uptown (N Side) Education organizer
    Emma Lozano Mayor Brandon Johnson Humboldt Park (W Side) Pastor / immigration advocate
    Mary Gardner Mayor Brandon Johnson South Side TBD
    (10th seat) Mayor Brandon Johnson Chicago VERIFY

    > Appointed roster shifted multiple times Oct 2024 – Feb 2025 (Mayor Johnson's October 2024 mass-resignation of the prior fully-appointed Board, followed by re-appointments). Re-verify via City Hall press releases.

    Training compliance: same four items — TO VERIFY.

    AUDIT FLAGS — BOARD-LEVEL (Chapter XII matrix)

  • OMA at scale — 21 members + committees = high risk (5 ILCS 120/2.02 non-agenda votes; 5 ILCS 120/2(c) improper exec session). Cross-reference posted agendas vs. roll-call.
  • Quorum (105 ILCS 5/34-4): 11 of 21. Verify every recorded vote.
  • SEI (5 ILCS 420/4A-101): FOIA Cook County Clerk for every member; missing = fine + potential removal.
  • Nepotism (105 ILCS 5/10-23.8 / 34-21.9 equivalent): Cross-ref surnames vs. CPS employee roster (ISBE ESR).
  • Bond authority (105 ILCS 5/34-22): Every OS on EMMA must align with use of proceeds. SEC Rule 15c2-12 continuing disclosure.
  • TIF objection duty (65 ILCS 5/11-74.4-5(n)): CPS sits on every Chicago TIF Joint Review Board. Chicago has 130+ active TIFs diverting ~$500M-$700M/yr from CPS' share of property taxes. Silence = fiduciary breach.
  • Mayor-appointed members + political contributions: Cross-ref ISBE Form D-2 contributions to Mayor Johnson's campaign by appointed members.

    • SOURCES

  • https://www.cps.edu/about/board-of-education/board-members/
  • https://web.archive.org/web/2025/https://www.cps.edu/about/board-of-education/board-members/
  • https://chicagoelections.gov/en/election-results-specifics.html
  • https://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/mayor/press_room.html
  • https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/
  • 105 ILCS 5/Art. 34 — https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=010500050HArt%2E+34
  • Public Act 102-0177 — https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/102/102-0177.htm

    • RE-VERIFICATION REQUIRED

    Re-pull from cps.edu via headless browser (Playwright) or Wayback. Cross-check:

  • Chicago Board of Election Commissioners — 2024 General Election certified results.
  • Mayor's Office — Dec 2024 / Jan 2025 appointment press releases.
  • CPS Office of the Board minutes for Jan 15, 2025 inaugural meeting.

    • CPS Senior Leadership / Admin Staff — District 299

    Sources: https://www.cps.edu/about/leadership/ ; https://www.cps.edu/ ; https://www.cps.edu/about/departments/

    > CPS uses CEO (not Superintendent) under 105 ILCS 5/34-3. Cabinet structure under the CEO is set by Board rule, not by statute.

    CEO & CABINET (verify against cps.edu/about/leadership)

    Role Name Notes / Source
    Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pedro Martinez Appointed Sept 29 2021 by Board; under fire from Mayor Johnson 2024; Board voted in Dec 2024 to terminate without cause effective June 18 2025 (lawsuit pending). Successor: Macquline King (interim CEO announced 2025) — VERIFY.
    Chief Education Officer Bogdana Chkoumbova Per cps.edu/about/leadership/
    Chief Operating Officer Charles Mayfield Per cps.edu
    Chief Financial Officer Mike Sitkowski (Acting/Chief Budget Officer in prior cycles); current CFO — VERIFY cps.edu/about/finance/
    Chief Talent Officer Ben Felton (recent) — VERIFY cps.edu
    Chief Portfolio Officer TBD — role manages school portfolio cps.edu
    Chief of Schools (Networks) Multiple — see Network Chiefs below cps.edu/schools/networks
    General Counsel Ruchi Verma — VERIFY cps.edu/about/departments/law-department
    Chief Information Officer TBD — VERIFY cps.edu/it
    Chief Communications Officer TBD cps.edu/communications
    Inspector General (independent of Board per 105 ILCS 5/34-13.1) Will Fletcher (recent) — VERIFY cps.edu/oig

    NETWORK / CHIEF OF SCHOOLS STRUCTURE

    CPS organizes schools into ~15 geographic "Networks" (Networks 1-15 plus Independent Schools Office (ISO), Office of Innovation and Incubation, and Office of Strategic School Support Services). Each Network has a Network Chief / Chief of Schools managing roughly 25-40 schools. VERIFY current chiefs from cps.edu/schools/networks.

    Network Geographic focus Chief
    1-15 Various (e.g., Network 11 = Far Southwest, Network 14 = Bilingual ENL focus) VERIFY
    ISO (Independent Schools Office) Selective enrollment + magnet VERIFY

    DATA / FOIA CONTACTS

  • FOIA Officer: CPS Law Department — FOIA@cps.edu (per cps.edu/about/departments/law-department/foia)
  • Public Records: https://www.cps.edu/about/departments/law-department/freedom-of-information-act-foia-information/
  • Office of Inspector General: https://www.cpsoig.org/

    • AUDIT FLAGS

  • CEO transition (Martinez → King interim) overlaps FY26 budget adoption — audit continuity of contract obligations.
  • Network Chief turnover should be tracked: each Network manages ~$200M+ in school-level operations.
  • General Counsel signs every bond Official Statement — Rule 15c2-12 personal liability flag.
  • IG independence: 105 ILCS 5/34-13.1 requires IG independence from Board. Cross-check IG annual report (cpsoig.org).

    • > Verify the full cabinet from a live cps.edu fetch via headless browser; this site renders critical content via JS and rejects scripted user-agents.

    Illinois Statewide School District Compliance & Equity Audit 2026 | auditor@illinoisschooldistrict.org | IllinoisSchoolDistrict.org