Here’s what to know about the race in District 9B, including the candidates and their campaign platforms.
The district
District 9B is located on the Far Southwest and Far South sides of Chicago, covering Beverly, Mount Greenwood, Morgan Park and West Pullman and parts of Roseland and Washington Heights. By racial demographics, the population is approximately 69% Black, 24% white, 5% Hispanic and 0.5% Asian.
The district boasts 45 schools in all, with more than two dozen neighborhood elementaries, a regional gifted center for grades 1-8, a handful of fine and performing arts schools, charter options and a selective enrollment high school in Brooks College Prep.
The school board member currently representing District 9B is Therese Boyle, who was elected by voters in the 9th District in 2024.
The candidates
Two candidates are running in District 9B: Incumbent Therese Boyle and her challenger, Katherine Dunneback.
Boyle is a retired school psychologist. Dunneback is a speech-language pathologist.
Therese Boyle
What are your top three priorities if elected?
- Secure long-term financial stability for Chicago Public Schools.
- Ensure programs and services support increased student outcomes.
- Prioritize the safety and well-being of students and staff.
Do you support continuing the moratorium on school closings? YES / NO
I believe a discussion must take place. I want to listen to the voices of school communities. Listen to taxpayers. Hear from a panel of experts. What should be our plan to address steadily declining enrollment? How do we maintain our aging buildings and reduce our debt? How do we provide robust academic programming to low enrollment schools?
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Do you support the Chicago Board of Education’s decision this summer to budget an additional $150 million in state funding to reverse layoffs and prevent a spending freeze? YES / NO
I supported the budget presented by Superintendent (Macquline) King and the CPS financial experts. Our cost to borrow increased because lenders cite a lack of budgetary discipline. Students lose and taxpayers lose in this game of chicken.
Should Chicago Public Schools continue raising its property tax levy to the legal limit? YES / NO
The only major tax CPS has the authority to levy is the property tax, and CPS has raised it to the max for many years. However, to address its massive structural deficits, CPS will need additional funding from the state or a new source of revenue it can control. Raising property taxes will not solve the CPS deficit.
Katherine Dunneback
What are your top three priorities if elected?
- Sustainable and equitable funding for neighborhood schools.
- Stopping the closure and consolidation of public schools.
- Reducing testing and screen time within schools.
Do you support continuing the moratorium on school closings? YES / NO
The Sustainable Community Schools approach is a research-based way to support students both by providing multiple resources to meet their needs, but also by meeting the needs of their families. Implementing this model is more beneficial to communities than closing or consolidating schools.
Do you support the Chicago Board of Education’s decision this summer to budget an additional $150 million in state funding to reverse layoffs and prevent a spending freeze? YES / NO
Layoffs and spending freezes should be avoided. CPS board members should meet with legislators about its revenue needs. Springfield passed the Evidence-Based Funding law. We need to hold them to their promises. If we can have a budget that depends on TIF money, we can do everything we can to make more state funding a reality.
Should Chicago Public Schools continue raising its property tax levy to the legal limit? YES / NO
Currently, the only way to meet the budgetary needs of CPS is to take the maximum levy. A vote for this should not be a vote any board member is in favor of as it continues to put more financial burden on those who cannot afford it. Property tax increases should be a last resort.