Chicago School Board Race Offers Contrasting Visions on Funding
Incumbent Ebony DeBerry and challenger Hector Morales offer contrasting visions for funding and arts education in the race for Chicago Board of Education.
Ebony DeBerry and Hector Morales are competing for a seat on the Chicago Board of Education. Early voting for the November 3 election begins October 1, with 46 candidates vying for 21 seats across the city.
DeBerry, the incumbent elected in 2024 with 43% of the vote, is a former CPS teacher and lifelong Rogers Park resident. She is endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union. Her challenger, attorney Hector Morales, is backed by the Common Ground Collective and The Urban Center. Morales also attended CPS schools and recently earned a degree in sound arts.
Context and Contrast
DeBerry emphasizes progressive taxation to solve the district's budget problems. She argues the current system overburdens homeowners and the middle class. "We have to find ways to make corporations, millionaires, and billionaires pay their fair share," DeBerry said. She wants CPS to adopt multiyear budgets that plan for rising wages and maintenance. DeBerry also seeks tighter state policies on charter schools, citing the disruptive Acero charter closures in spring 2025.
Morales focuses on using existing resources more effectively. "Board members need to make sure we’re using what we got now, before we start asking folks for more money," he stated. His central policy is integrating music and arts into the core curriculum. He was inspired after teaching electronic music to students at Gale Elementary School.
The race reflects broader debates. The Chicago Teachers Union strongly supported Mayor Brandon Johnson's proposed corporate head tax, which was attacked by ad campaigns last winter.
Background and Community Ties
Both candidates have deep roots in the district. DeBerry is a former CPS student, teacher, and parent. Her son graduated from Northside College Prep in 2021. She taught pre-K through first grade for CPS in the early 2000s and later in Evanston and Arlington Heights. Her work with ONE Northside informs her focus on family engagement, and she wants to establish a youth advisory council.
Morales attended Senn and Roberto Clemente high schools before graduating from Truman Middle College. He is an attorney for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services with a private practice in business law. Music became accessible to him in his 30s through a circuit bending class, leading him to repurpose his niece's broken keyboard to create electronic music.
District 2a is one of Chicago's most culturally diverse areas. The Rogers Park neighborhood alone is home to families speaking more than 80 languages. The Common Ground Collective, which backs Morales, is a nonprofit affiliated with groups heavily funded by billionaire Michael Sacks. It says it aims to engage voters around effective progressive policies.
Voter Information
Early voting starts October 1 at two downtown locations: the Supersite at 137 S. State St. And the Board of Elections office at 69 W. Washington St. Sites in all 50 wards open on October 19. On Election Day, November 3, polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Some elected board members will serve two-year terms, while others will serve four-year terms. Voters will select a school board president and a district representative. Chicago Public Schools serves approximately 305,000 children across more than 600 schools.
Early voting for the Nov. 3 general election begins Oct. 1 at the Downtown Voting Supersite at 137 S. State St.
