{
  "id": 9535378,
  "title": "Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 10a, South Side",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/chicago-school-board-election-2026-the-race-in-district-10a-south-side",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-24T10:19:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Chalkbeat",
    "slug": "chalkbeat",
    "url": "https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2026/09/24/school-board-election-2026-district-10a-candidates-voter-guide/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Chicago's 2026 school board election, District 10a on the South Side is the focus of the story. This district, which includes schools like Kenwood Academy High School and Murray Language Academy Elementary School, is home to some of the South Side's most sought-after schools. The district also contains several neighborhood schools that have been experiencing declining enrollment.\n\nChe \"Rhymefest\" Smith, a Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist turned activist and politician, is the only candidate in this year's election for District 10a. Smith, who won a seat on the school board two years ago, emphasizes that his connections in the community led him to his position, rather than money or endorsements from the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU). He is known for his anti-CTU stance and has received endorsements and donations from groups that oppose the union. However, he has defended accepting financial support from various sources, stating that they have never asked him to vote in a specific manner.\n\nTameka Walton, a nonprofit leader and former Local School Council member, is the only other candidate running in this election. She is running as a write-in candidate after her name was removed from the ballot. Walton, a parent and executive director of a nonprofit working with children experiencing trauma, emphasizes her commitment to creating safe and welcoming spaces in Chicago Public Schools (CPS) for students and parents. She has received the endorsement of the CTU, despite being targeted by some within the union. Her opponent, Smith, has defended accepting financial support from various sources, including the Service Employees International Union Illinois State Council and the Common Ground Collective, which are not affiliated with the union.",
  "summary": "This story was reported and published in collaboration with WBEZ, the Chicago Sun-Times, and Block Club Chicago, a nonprofit newsroom covering Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods. Stay informed with Chalkbeat Chicago’s newsletter , WBEZ and the Sun-Times’ education newsletter , and Block Club Chicago’s newsletters . When Che “Rhymefest” Smith won a seat on the school board two years ago, he proudly…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Chalkbeat",
        "title": "Chicago School Board Election 2026: The race in District 6a, downtown Chicago",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/chicago-school-board-election-2026-the-race-in-district-6a-downtown",
        "published": "2026-09-24T10:11:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}