Jitu Brown and Jousef Shkoukani are pictured. A photo of Kernetha Jones was unable to be obtained. [Photos from campaign social media]

Just one candidate is officially on the ballot in the Chicago Board of Education race in District 5 — Aaron "Jitu" Brown, an activist for education and national director for the Journey for Justice Alliance. Brown was part of the hunger strikes in 2015 that helped thwart plans to close Walter Dyett High School in Bronzeville.

From left to right on each row: Karen Zaccor, Ellen Rosenfeld, Kimberly Brown, Thomas Day, Carmen Gioiosa and Andrew Davis. [Photos from campaign websites/social media]

A six-way race to represent District 4 on the partially elected Chicago Board of Education features Karen Zaccor, Ellen Rosenfeld, Kimberly Brown, Thomas Day, Carmen Gioiosa and Andrew Davis, but two candidates are far out-fundraising the other four.

The district includes Lincoln Park, Lake View, North Center and the majority of Uptown.

Jason Dónes and Carlos Rivas are running to represent District 3 on the partially elected Chicago Board of Education.

Jason Dónes and Carlos Rivas are running to represent District 3 on the partially elected Chicago Board of Education. District 3 is more than 60 percent Hispanic and includes parts of Humboldt Park, most of Hermosa and Avondale, Logan Square, Belmont Cragin, Irving Park East and Belmont Gardens. 

From left on both rows, Maggie Cullerton Hooper, Ebony DeBerry, Kate Doyle and Bruce Leon are running for District 2 on the Board of Education. [Campaign photos]

Ebony DeBerry, Maggie Cullerton Hooper, Kate Doyle and Bruce Leon are competing to represent District 2 on the partially elected Chicago Board of Education next year. District 2 includes the North Side neighborhoods of Edgewater, West Ridge, Albany Park, Rogers Park, Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, Andersonville, Peterson Park and Budlong Woods.

The second district race’s fundraising limits were lifted last week after Leon reported a $150,000 loan to his campaign. In all but two of the school board races, contribution limits have been lifted as a result of the amount of money being raised.

From left, Jennifer Custer and Michelle Pierre. [Campaign photos]

Jennifer Custer and Michelle Pierre are running for the District 1 seat on the Chicago Board of Education in a race that pits the interests of the teachers union against charter school supporters. District 1 covers parts of Edison Park, Norwood Park, Portage Park, O’Hare, Dunning and Mayfair. 

The first district race’s fundraising limits were lifted earlier this month after the state elections board determined more than $100,000 had been spent by independent groups to support Pierre. In all but two of the school board races, contribution limits have been lifted as a result of the amount of money being raised.

Mayor Brandon Johnson presides over a City Council meeting in April 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council will meet on Wednesday at 10 a.m. to consider final approval of two major bond refinancing ordinances recently passed by the finance committee that are key to the city getting its budget shortfall under control.

Alderpeople have also called for two special meetings in the afternoon — one that covers the shakeup at the Chicago Board of Education and another that represents the latest effort to save the city’s recently decommissioned acoustic gunshot detection technology ShotSpotter.