4 takeaways from the WTTW Chicago school board president forum

Four candidates for Chicago Board of Education president participated in a live WTTW forum on September 15, 2025, to discuss their governance plans for the district if elected in the upcoming November election. The candidates are Jessica Biggs, Hilario Dominguez, Victor Henderson, and Sendhil Revuluri. They addressed past controversies, proposed solutions for CPS's budget challenges, and weighed in on school closures.

Biggs, a current school board member, defended herself against allegations of misconduct, claiming her firing in 2018 was retaliation for speaking out against a CPS custodial contract and special education services denial. She emphasized the need for community input in decision-making and vowed to advocate for increased state funding for CPS.

Dominguez, the former deputy political director for the Chicago Teachers Union, supported the board's decision to assume additional state funding and pushed for progressive tax revenue increases. He also advocated for analyzing CPS's budget with outside financial experts and suggested repurposing unused school space for community needs instead of implementing mass closures, which he believed erodes trust among families.

Henderson, an attorney and board member for Urban Prep Charter School, did not take a stance on school closures, stating that he supports having conversations with community members to determine the best course of action. He questioned the accuracy of CPS's budget figures and called for outside experts to assess how the district spends its money, urging tax increases only when Chicagoans are confident that funds are used appropriately.

Revuluri, a former board member under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, expressed concerns over the district's budgeting process, stating that it was designed to appease special interests. He prioritized student needs, arguing that many students receive an impoverished education and advocated for repurposing underutilized school space for health clinics and food pantries.

Regarding past controversies, Revuluri acknowledged that the district's budgeting this year may have been influenced by outside interests and advocated for focusing on student requirements.