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Chicago Board of Education Prepares to Launch New Agenda Review Standing Committees

September 10, 2026

Finance and Audit, Operations and Student Success Committees elect chairs and vice chairs

The Chicago Board of Education (Board) is preparing to launch its Finance and Audit, Operations, and Student Success Agenda Review Committees. 

During the Board’s September 10, 2026, Agenda Review Committee Meeting, each of the three new Agenda Reviewing Standing Committees (ARSCs) elected a chair and vice chair. Beginning in October, the committees will convene to review business items before they are considered by the full Board.

  • Finance and Audit: Board Vice President Dr. Angel L. Velez, Dist. 9A, chair; Board Member Ed Bannon, Dist. 1A, vice chair

  • Operations: Board Member Debby Pope, Dist. 2B, chair; Board Member Anusha Thotakura, Dist. 6A, vice chair

  • Student Success: Board Member Ebony DeBerry, Dist. 2A, chair; Board Member Jennifer Custer, Dist. 1B, vice chair

The Finance and Audit Committee will review Chicago Public Schools (CPS) budget, audit and other financial matters. The Operations Committee will review capital, facilities, and other operational matters. The Student Success Committee will review education and programmatic matters related to student success.

The standing committee members are:

  • Finance and Audit Committee: Board President Sean B. Harden, At-Large; Board Vice President Dr. Angel L. Velez, Dist. 9A; Angel Gutierrez, Dist. 8A; Norma Rios-Sierra, Dist. 3A; Ed Bannon, Dist. 1A; Jitu Brown, Dist. 5A; and Carlos A. Rivas, Jr., Dist. 3B.

  • Operations Committee: Emma Lozano, Dist. 7A; Anusha Thotakura, Dist. 6A; Ellen Rosenfeld, Dist. 4B; Michilla Blaise, Dist. 5B; Debby Pope, Dist. 2B; Yesenia Lopez, Dist. 7B; and Connie L. Anderson, Dist. 10B. 

  • Student Success Committee: Jennifer Custer, Dist. 1B; Therese Boyle, Dist. 9B; Jessica Biggs, Dist. 6B; Ebony DeBerry, Dist. 2A; Dr. Che “Rhymefest” Smith, Dist. 10A; Cydney Wallace, Dist. 8B; and Karen Zaccor, Dist. 4A.

“I’m very pleased that we have the standing committee structure now in place,” said Board President Sean B. Harden. “Launching these committees represents another important step in the Board’s continuous efforts to strengthen our governance practices and improve how we conduct business. Over the past year, we have invested considerable time researching best practices from across the country and developing processes that address the unique needs of this Board, which is one of the largest governing bodies for a public school system in the nation.” 

Each committee consists of seven Board members, a Chair and a Vice Chair. The standing committees are advisory and are designed to allow members to examine matters within their respective areas more closely and provide recommendations to the full Board. They do not vote on items and may not take final action on behalf of the Board. 

In accordance with the Illinois Open Meetings Act (OMA), standing committee meetings will be open to the public. Visit the Board’s website at cpsboe.org/meetings for the meeting schedule and additional information. 

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