Board Bylaws 1-3: Board Members

I. Introduction

This Board Rule provides details regarding Board Members, including Board Member eligibility, selection, terms, and vacancies. It also outlines Board Member authority, compensation, use of equipment, and access to records. The Board Rule also details the role of the Honorary Student Board Member.

II. Board Member Eligibility, Selection, Terms, and Vacancies

• Eligibility

  As per 105 ILCS 5/34-4, to be eligible for election or appointment to the Board, a person shall be a citizen of the United States, shall be a registered voter as provided in the Election Code, shall have been, for a period of one year immediately before election or appointment, a resident of the city, school board member eligibility district, and subdistrict that the member represents, and shall not be a child sex offender as defined in Section 11-9.3 of the Criminal Code of 2012. A person is ineligible for election or appointment to the Board if that person is not in compliance with the provisions of Section 10-9 as referenced in Section 34-3.

  Permanent removal from the city by any member of the Board during the member's term of office constitutes a resignation therefrom and creates a vacancy in the Board. Board members shall not hold other public office under the Federal, State or any local government other than that of Director of the Regional Transportation Authority, member of the economic development commission of a city having a population exceeding 500,000, notary public or member of the National Guard. By accepting any such office while members of the Board, or by not resigning any such office held at the time of being elected or appointed to the Board within 30 days after such election or appointment, shall be deemed to have vacated their membership in the Board.

• Selection and Terms

  As per 105 ILCS 5/34-3(b-15), for purposes of selection of members of the Chicago Board of Education, the City of Chicago shall be divided into 10 school board member eligibility districts, and each of those 10 school board member eligibility districts shall be subdivided into 2 subdistricts as provided in subsection (a) of Section 34-21.10.

  1. Until January 15, 2027
     Each school board member eligibility district shall be represented by one member who is elected at the 2024 general election to a 2-year term that begins January 15, 2025 and one member who is appointed by the Mayor by no later than December 16, 2024 to a 2-year term that begins January 15, 2025. Each elected member shall reside within the school board member eligibility district that the member represents, and each appointed member shall reside both within the school board member eligibility district that the member represents and outside of the subdistrict within which the elected member of the school board member eligibility district resides.

  2. Beginning January 15, 2027
     Each elected member shall reside within the subdistrict that the member represents. Each subdistrict shall be represented by one member who is elected at the 2026 general election. If a member is elected at the 2026 general election to fill the expired term of an appointed member, then the elected member shall serve a 2-year term that begins January 15, 2027. If a member is elected at the 2026 general election to fill the expired term of an elected member, then the member shall serve a 4-year term that begins January 15, 2027.

     If a member is elected at the 2026 general election to serve a 2-year term, then the member elected at the 2028 general election shall serve a 4-year term that begins January 15, 2029. If a member is elected at the 2026 general election to serve a 4-year term, then the member elected in that subdistrict at the 2030 general election shall serve a 2-year term that begins January 15, 2031.

  3. Beginning with the members elected at the 2032 general election
     The members of each subdistrict shall serve two 4-year terms and one 2-year term for each 10-year period thereafter. As determined by lot, the terms of the members representing the subdistricts shall be the following:

     • the members representing 7 subdistricts shall be elected for one 2-year term, followed by two 4-year terms;
     • the members representing 7 subdistricts shall be elected for one 4-year term, followed by one 2-year term, and then one 4-year term; and
     • the members representing 6 subdistricts shall be elected for two 4-year terms, followed by one 2-year term.

  4. Vacancies

     As per 105 ILCS 5/34-3(b-20), all elected and appointed members shall serve until a successor is appointed or elected and qualified.

     Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of an appointed member of the Board, the Mayor shall appoint a successor who has the same qualifications as the member's predecessor to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term.

     Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of an elected member of the Board, the President of the Board shall notify the Mayor of the vacancy within 7 days after its occurrence and shall, within 30 days, fill the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term by majority vote of the remaining members of the Board. The successor to the elected member shall have the same qualifications as the member's predecessor.

III. Board Member Authority

A Board Member has no legal authority as an individual. Board Members, as individuals, do not separately possess the powers that reside in the Board. Board members shall have authority only when acting as a Board legally in session. The Board shall not be bound in any way by any statement or action on the part of any individual Board member, except when such statement or action is pursuant to specific official instructions of the Board.

IV. Compensation and Expenses

• Generally

  As stipulated in 105 ILCS 5/34-4, Board Members shall serve without any compensation. However, Members of the Board may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred while in the performance of their duties upon submission of proper receipts. The process for reimbursement is outlined below. Board Member anticipated expenditures must be discussed with the Board President and/or their designee prior to being incurred, in order to ensure that they are allowable and that the current budget allows for those expenditures.

• Expenses

  Whenever possible, the Board Office staff will create Purchase Orders to cover the cost of registration, travel, transportation, and lodging for conferences and other Board-related business travel, in advance of the travel. Board Office staff will coordinate these expenses on behalf of Board Members.

• Reimbursement

  In the case that a reimbursement is necessary, Board Members must follow the guidelines set forth in Board Policy 507.1 Employee Travel and Work-Related Expense Reimbursement. Per Board Policy 507.1.V.B., all Board Member expense requests for travel, meals, and/or lodging must be approved by roll call vote at an open meeting of the Board.

• Advances and Credit Cards

  Board Members will not be issued advances or credit cards.

V. Use of Equipment and Supplies

Board Members shall be provided with appropriate equipment and supplies for their official use. Equipment shall be acquired in accordance with the District’s Central and Network Office Device Policy. All Board property shall be used in alignment with Board Policy 604.1 Staff Acceptable Use and Board Policy 503.1 Code of Ethics. Equipment must be returned on the last day of service.

VI. Access to Records

• Personnel Records

  Access to District personnel records shall be governed by Board policy and State law, and no Board Member shall be denied documents or information to which they are legally entitled and are required in the performance of the Board member's duties.

  Information obtained from employee personnel records by Board Members shall be used in alignment with Board Policy 503.1 Code of Ethics and only for the purpose of aiding the Members in fulfilling their legal responsibilities in making decisions on such matters as appointments, assignments, promotions, demotions, remuneration, discipline, and dismissal, or to aid the development and implementation of personnel policies, or for other uses as necessary to enable the Board to carry out its legal responsibilities.

• All Other Records or Data

  Board Member requests for any other District records or data shall be made to the Board Office. Board Office staff will work with District staff to fulfill the request according to the process set in place by the District.

• Exemptions

  There may exist documents that the Board will not have access to, which includes, but is not limited to, certain Office of the Inspector General records.

VII. Service on Other Bodies

• Generally

  Board Members are required to serve on two other public bodies. There are also additional opportunities for Board Members to serve on other bodies based on the Board’s memberships on those given bodies. In all cases, when serving on other bodies, Board Members must maintain their fiduciary duty to the Board.

• PBC and CTPF

  The Board must select and approve one (1) Board Member to serve on the Board of Commissioners of the Public Building Commission of Chicago (PBC) and two (2) Board Members to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund (CTPF). These appointments will be made by the Board in alignment with guidelines provided by each of these bodies.

• All Others

  The Board President shall appoint members, as necessary, to serve on other organizations, committees, and/or councils as required by law, Board policy, or as desired by the Board.

  These appointments shall be carried out in accordance with procedures set forth by the Board President or their designee. The Board President shall make a good faith effort to match appointments with the interests and expressed willingness of Board Members to serve and no Board Member will be considered for multiple appointments until every Board Member has been offered and accepted at least one appointment.

  Board members who wish to present a report of activities or updates of these groups to the full Board may do so by working with the Board President to have the item added to the agenda of an upcoming Board Meeting.

VIII. Honorary Student Board Member

105 ILCS 5/34-3(c) grants the Board the authority to appoint a student to the board to serve in an advisory capacity. As such, the Board has established the role of Honorary Student Board Member (herein referred to as “HSBM”).

• Duties

  The Board values student perspectives and strives to ensure that student voice is incorporated in the Board’s decision making. In order to accomplish this, the duties of the HSBM are as follows:

  • represent the CPS student body at the Board’s monthly meetings.
  • serve as an appointed member on a District-level student committee.
  • act as a public representative of the students of the District at various conferences, meetings, and ceremonies, as applicable.

• Restrictions

  1. In alignment with 105 ILCS 5/34-3(c), the HSBM will not have voting privileges, nor can they attend any executive session of the Board.
  2. The HSBM will also not have access to confidential or other protected records, including but not limited to personnel records, student records, and OIG investigative records.

• Support

  The Board will provide the following for the HSBM:

  • a thorough orientation to ensure the HSBM is able to fully understand the role and the work of the Board prior to starting their term.
  • ongoing support with any questions or concerns the HSBM may have throughout their term.
  • a $1,000 scholarship to support the post-secondary educational pursuits of the HSBM at a two- or four-year college or university.

• Eligibility and Selection

  The Board Office will establish and annually review the eligibility criteria and selection process.