Chicago Board of Education votes 18–1 to appoint Dr. Macklin King as permanent superintendent/CEO
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Summary
The Chicago Board of Education on March 30 voted 18–1 to appoint Dr. Macklin King as permanent superintendent and CEO. The decision followed public testimony from union leaders, elected officials and community members and concluded with King pledging to prioritize student experience and funding for the district's 315,000 students.
The Chicago Board of Education voted 18–1 on March 30 to appoint Dr. Macklin King as the district's permanent superintendent and chief executive officer, approving a resolution that also authorized the CEO's employment contract.
The vote followed a public comment period in which union leaders, principals, elected officials and community members urged the Board to confirm King. Jackson Potter, vice president of the Chicago Teachers Union, said the district faces "a nearly billion dollar deficit" and urged officials to push state leaders for more funding. Diane Palmer, president of SEIU Local 73, told the Board that King has "listened, I mean really listen, to the men and women who show up every single day." Alderman Desmond Yancey and other elected officials also voiced support.
During the Board's discussion, members praised King's experience in schools and her engagement with communities and state leaders. Member Gutierrez said she had observed King's leadership growth and community outreach. Member Custer cast the sole recorded no vote; the resolution was otherwise approved by the remaining members present.
After the roll call, Dr. Macklin King accepted the appointment and outlined priorities for her permanent term. King described her experience in Chicago Public Schools as a student, teacher and school leader, and pledged to center students in the district's five-year strategic plan. "I pledge to be the most vocal advocate for the funding of the 315,000 students within our schools," King said, and said she would continue to focus on curriculum rigor, sustaining recent gains in math and literacy and building a representative cabinet.
Votes at a glance RS2 — Resolution to appoint chief executive officer and approve CEO employment contract (Dr. Macklin King): Passed, roll call 18 yes, 1 no (Member Custer). The roll call was taken on the record.
What happened next The Board recessed for a closed session earlier in the agenda and reconvened to vote on RS2. After King's remarks — which were translated into Spanish for the record — a motion to adjourn carried and the special meeting concluded.
Why it matters The appointment gives the district a permanent CEO while the Board and administration confront multi-year budget pressures and community demands for more school-based supports. Supporters at the meeting urged the Board and King to prioritize transparency, staffing stability and greater mental-health resources as the district develops its FY27 budget and implements its strategic plan.
