La'Mont Raymond Williams (District 9)

Section 1 - Basic Information & General Questions

Candidate's Name 

La'Mont Raymond Williams

District 9

Campaign link lamontraymondwilliams.com

Are you a current or recent CPS parent, grandparent, or guardian/caregiver? None

Are you a CPS graduate? Yes

Have you ever served on a Local School Council (LSC)? No

Have you ever served on a Parent Advisory Committee (PAC)? No

Have you ever served on a Bilingual Advisory Committee (BAC)? No

Have you ever served on a Community Action Council (CAC)? No

Have you ever worked in a CPS school? No

How long have you lived in the district you are running to represent?

36 years, not including when I attended college in Iowa. I was born and raised in the Auburn Gresham and Ashburn neighborhoods.

Describe your CPS experience. 

I was born and raised on the South side of Chicago in the same district I am running to represent on the CPS Board, District 9. I am a proud CPS alum of Clissold Elementary, Ogden Elementary, and Lincoln Park High School. I attended Clissold Elementary school’s Montessori program from kindergarten through fifth grade. I transferred to Ogden Elementary to attend its pre-IB program from sixth grade through eighth grade. I tested into Lincoln Park High School’s IB program for high school where I completed both the CPS curriculum and IB curriculum successfully. I experienced the best of CPS while my neighbors, and even my siblings, did not. I would not be where I am or have the career I have if I did not have the academic foundation these opportunities afforded me. This inequity in our academic experiences, and the widening in disparity between public education based on where you live, is why I am running to represent all the 9th District families.

Why are you running for the Board of Education? 

I am running because our students deserve better. I am running to represent the working class and middle-class families of the 9th district, families like my own. I am running to uphold the fiduciary duty as a member of the CPS Board to be responsible with taxpayer money. I am running to tirelessly work to mitigate the increasing CPS budget deficit projected to reach over $700M. I am running because current CPS students suffer the consequences of inadequate funding and inadequate resources, leading to cutting basic services like busing for elementary students and resources for special needs students, due to mismanagement. I am running to address the current, and growing, budget deficit plaguing CPS and to ensure financial stability at CPS. I am running because in public education is often the only option for families in the 9th district and I want to make sure if public education is their only option, it is the BEST option. I am running because I represent nearly 35,000 students, 81.6% of whom are African American and come from working and middle-class families. I am qualified for this unique position, and I am ready to serve on day one.

What is the most pressing challenge our district is facing? 

The most pressing issue facing CPS is the looming budget crisis facing CPS. Currently CPS has a projected budget deficit of $505M with an increasing likelihood it will balloon to over $700M. CPS cannot continue to run with a deficit of over $500M. This affects our credit rating, which affects how we can leverage our short term and long term debt. I propose an overall audit of CPS’ budget including an audit of CPS’ debt obligations. Additionally, I propose honest and robust discussions with the City, State, and federal elected officials to implement new and creative revenue streams. For example, I plan to, whether elected or not, reengage our State elected officials regarding the usage of “vice funds” such as the Illinois lottery, etc., to supplement the glaring budget holes at CPS. Many candidates have a “why” they ran for office. I am the only candidate detailing “how” I plan to address these issues with solutions.

Section 2 - Board Responsibilities & Commitments

How will you interact with CPS students and families in your district to ensure that the voices of the most impacted are heard and understood?

I want to increase public participation in CPS Board meetings. Additionally, I intend to put forth recommendations allowing for more access to CPS Board meeting minutes while abiding by the Open Meetings Act. I will advocate for additional audits of CPS’ budgetary process to ensure more transparency and education into the budgeting process at CPS. I believe in communication, collaboration, and action. Personally, if elected, I will prioritize frequent visits to the schools within my district, and across the city, to meet with local school councils, students, parents, teachers, stakeholders, etc. to discuss issues in real time. Additionally, I will implement frequent collaboration through meetings, surveys, and other means to ensure I educate my district on items up for discussion and votes at the Board level, while allowing me to communicate directly with my constituents. Direct communication is the best path towards ensuring my Board votes align with the will of my District. I will attend LSC meetings regularly and create a communication system, via a newsletter, office hours, social media, etc., to allow parents to directly communicate with me. Additionally, I will hold frequent office hours, both in person and virtually, to be accessible to parents and constituents.

What specific actions will you take to address and repair the historical harms within Chicago Public Schools, and how will you ensure that students, parents, and educators are actively engaged in the healing and trust-building process?

Intentional engagement is the best way to address and begin to cure historical distrust and apathy towards government, specifically the CPS Board. I plan to address and close the intransigent achievement gap by breathing life and power into the State legislation mandating the Black Student Achievement Committee. I propose reallocating funds to the formation, implementation, and sustainability of this committee at the CPS Board level. I plan to advocate and act to implement the Whole School Safety Plan, specifically the recommendations for improving access to resources for students and parents relative to mental health resources. I plan to support measures for increasing accessibility for our English Language students. I will advocate zealously on behalf of students with special needs and diverse learners. I will engage students, parents, teachers, staff/faculty, LSCs, and community stakeholders transparently and honestly to insure everyone in the 9th district is aware of issues at the board level and any, and all, data, information, and facts I used to make any informed decision and vote. I will engage my district regularly so the 9th District will be invested in the CPS Board process.

What is your understanding of the Board’s relationship with Local School Councils? How will you collaborate  with LSCs in your district?

LSCs are the first line in governance of a given school with the most direct interaction with their school’s community. For example, LSCs can approve the school based academic plan. LSCs can also approve budgetary resources. I plan to interact and engage closely with the LSCs governing the 95 schools in my district.

List the Board committees you intend to join and describe any new Board committees you will propose.

I intend to join the Special Education Advisory Committee. I propose creating a Finance Committee to address the looming financial crisis, specifically the increasing budget deficit. Additionally, I propose creating a legislation and intergovernmental affairs committee to better assist CPS with discussing pressing CPS issues with our Federal, State, and County elected officials. This dialogue is key to finding new and sustainable revenue funds beyond taxing Chicagoans more.

How will you prioritize your time to ensure you give your role on the Board of Education the attention it deserves?

I currently serve as Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry’s Chief of Staff and General Counsel. Many of my daily duties involve data analysis, reviewing governmental reports, advising on the County budget and our office budget, and interacting with constituents throughout Cook County. These duties align seamlessly with the duties and responsibilities I will have as a member of the CPS Board. Therefore, it will not require me to drastically realign and reconfigure my existing schedule to perform these duties to the best of my ability. I will prioritize my time to insure I devote the time needed to fully inform myself of all issues which come before the board and require my informed decision and vote.

Section 3 - Budget & Facilities

What are your thoughts on the current proposed district budget for SY24-25? As a board member, where would you look to increase funding and where would you make budget cuts?

The CPS budget is bloated in areas but contains opportunities to alleviate this bloat from the budget to relieve the taxpayers' burden on taxpayers, while not harming our students or the District. However, both the State and federal government can and should do more to support the third largest public school district in the Country. I intend to pursue both local and non-local solutions. CPS' Board must look at how it allocates funding throughout CPS for the entire district. CPS allocates funds well in some areas but there are opportunities for efficiency which helps our suffering taxpayers. I propose an audit and review of all independent third-party contracts for goods and services to make sure we do not pay for redundant services. I propose liquidating CPS assets we no longer use but still continue to use taxpayer money to maintain; including buildings CPS has not used in over a decade or more. Additionally, I propose demanding from our State officials to follow and enforce the law, specifically from 1985, which outlines how 100% State lottery net revenue should go to public education throughout the State of Illinois. Currently, approximately 35% of these funds go where intended and CPS only receives a fraction of this fraction.

Funding for CPS is in a particularly precarious situation due to state shortages to Evidence-Based Funding (EBF), the end of pandemic funding, and more. What would you prioritize when facing these overwhelming budget realities?

All my priorities are student first. I would prioritize ensuring the CPS Board meets the basic academic and infrastructural needs of schools throughout the district. I do not favor cuts, but if we must make cuts, I will recommend cutting areas in the budget which impact students the least. For example, I would look at cutting expenses which currently drain the budget, like unused facilities, which the District continues to pay millions to keep. The CPS Board must engage the State to increase its funding, specifically the State’s evidenced based funding (“EBF”) model. According to the recently approved CPS FY2025 Budget, the State legislature increased its EBF spend by $350 million dollars; however, CPS saw only an increase of $23.4M dollars in EBF funding. Additionally, I would look to cut redundant and overpriced contracts in the CPS budget. I would put these contracts out to RFPs and RFQs to rebid for more cost-effective prices. For example, some services CPS currently uses are for a student population which declined since entering into a contract for these services. This would give us an opportunity to renegotiate some of these bad third-party contracts. CPS has several such opportunities in the budget line items I would recommend eliminating. It will take time to fix the budgetary crisis at CPS as this issue did not occur overnight or during one particular administration over another. This is a chronic and compounded problem.

What experience do you have with complicated budgets?

I am a practicing attorney of over nine (9) years, with the last six (6) years of my practice serving as Chief of Staff and General Counsel to Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry who serves as the Vice Chair of Finance for Cook County and Finance Chair of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Cook County’s recent fiscal year budget is comparable in size, over $9B to CPS FY25 budget, also over $9B. In my capacity as Chief of Staff and General Counsel, for the past six (6) years, I advise, consult, and assist in developing budget recommendations for budget amendments, additions, and cuts. Additionally, I developed and executed the creation, adaptation, and implementation of a small business development program in Cook County known as the Cook County Cannabis Business Development Grant Program. I spent three years developing this program and it is the only program of its kind in the entire state of Illinois at the County or municipal level. This program included crafting and allocating a $4M budget which resulted in over $3,6M in grants to small businesses and covered administrative costs. 

In addition to my professional work for over half a decade with complex budgets, I also served and continue to serve on the board of trustees for several organizations most recently the Grant Park Music Festival and my alma mater, Upper Iowa University, where I will begin my service for the latter in October 2024.

What will you do to ensure equitable and transparent funding for neighborhood schools?

I believe in accountability through transparency. I intend to taking all finding issues, specifically controversial spending and/or cutting issues, to my district and hold regular townhalls to get input on what my District supports or opposes. As a member of the Board, I am fully aware and appreciate I am the representative of my District and therefore I am there to give voice to their concerns and decide based on their concerns. I will be able to faithfully execute this approach by allowing direct public participation in my decision-making process.

Many parents have expressed an urgent need for capital improvements in their schools. What steps will you take to ensure that schools have functioning facilities, particularly bathrooms and water fountains?

I recommend a full audit and report of the CPS facilities for the entire CPS District. Upon receiving this report, and/or reviewing existing similar reports, I will recommend CPS’ facilities department recommend repair and maintenance to schools most in need. I further propose the Board receive quarterly reports from CPS’ facilities department. These quarterly reports should include the timeline for facility and school repairs and the progress of these repairs. This will allow the Board to report these updates regularly to our constituents while effectively allowing our constituents to track the progress in our districts. Additionally, I recommend CPS’ facilities department create priority lists for maintenance and repair projects in all ten (10) districts so all districts can see improvement equally.

Bussing challenges have a long and fraught history in CPS. The last few years have been particularly difficult for special education students, as well as those who attend magnet and selective enrollment schools. Given CPS’s recently announced plans for the coming school year, How do you plan to address the ongoing school bussing challenges and ensure that all students have reliable, safe, and equitable transportation to and from school? 

I propose reallocation funds to provide more equitable busing. The current reduction of the CPS’ transportation budget is a remnant of the prior three years when remote learning was in place due to the pandemic. However, over the last few years the student population declined. This decline would dictate less students in need of busing. Additionally, I recommend a return to busing for Kindergartener through 8th grade. I would explore a return to the policy of buses picking children up at their neighborhood schools (within reasonable walking distance) as opposed to on corners near their homes in an effort to curtail potential costs.

Section 4 - Educational Programs & Academic Success

How do you define a quality education?

I define quality education as a balanced education which includes the basic foundational core subjects such as math, science, reading, writing, history, etc., with access to the arts and practical life skill education. Specifically access to the arts and life skill education (financial literacy, vocational training, etc.) will expose students to a variety of needed skills for adulthood and possible career opportunities which many children may not know are available for them to pursue.

What is the role of the Board of Education in ensuring quality educational programs for all students regardless of their background, zip code, or school type?

This is one of the core and essential functions of the CPS Board. Board members are responsibly for deciding the academic vision of the district. Our budget will depict our values and we must insure we keep academic success and variety at the forefront of the curriculum offered in CPS. CPS has the duty to allocate funds and resources to educate our students. I propose yearly qualitative reports from both the CPS CEO and outside subject matter experts to ensure we implement the best curriculum practices. CPS is usually the only choice for most Chicago families, specifically in my district, and therefore it is incumbent on the CPS Board to make CPS the BEST choice.

What are your views on the roles of neighborhood, selective enrollment, magnet, and charter schools within CPS? Please address each type of school in your answer.

I do not propose limiting parents' options to choose what is best for their children. CPS offers diverse educational options which we should embrace while also working collaboratively to give our students the best opportunities to be successful. CPS can and must improve our neighborhood schools by raising the acceptable standard, while sustaining selective enrollment schools, magnet schools, and charters. This is a "both/and" situation. This will be difficult, but worthwhile for our students. Difficulty will not stop me from pursuing what is right. My family lived the disparity within CPS through my siblings’ and my journey through CPS. I went to Ogden and Lincoln Park for the IB programs, and my siblings attended neighborhood schools. The difference was the breadth and depth of curriculum, access to arts, and extra-curricular activities. We can raise the standard utilizing the evidence-based funding model while tailoring our funding process as we see data trends through this funding model. Improving the neighborhood school will not take away from our selective enrollment schools and programs when I am on the Board.

How should the Board approach charter oversight and accountability?

CPS does have some oversight over charter schools based on the funding CPS provides to Charter schools; however, CPS does not have direct control over public charter schools. CPS should continue to collaborate with Charter schools as it currently does under Illinois law. I take a holistic community approach to where all schools must collaborate as the basic goal for both traditional public schools and charter schools is the education of our youth. I also expect our charter partners to be willing to come to the table and work with CPS when needed, such as this impending budgetary crisis. We are all in these upcoming difficult financial times together and together we can successfully navigate these waters.

The initial recommendations of the Black Student Success Working Group were shared earlier this summer. Which of those recommendations will be most important to incorporate into the district’s strategic plan and why?

I will commit to empowering the Black Student Achievement Committee at the CPS Board level. I will advocate and vote for reallocation of funding to establish the committee. Additionally, I will continue to pursue implementation of the recommendations proposed by the CPS Black Student Success Working Group. Currently, the CPS Black Student Success Working Group submitted several recommendations with implementation considerations under several strategic priorities, including but not limited to; 1) Student Daily Experiences, 2) Adult Capacity & Continuous Learning, and 3) Inclusive & Collaborative Schools & Community Partnerships. I opine these three recommendations are the most crucial for immediate implementation. Additionally, I will commit to the African American community having a strong voice in the selection of Black Student Achievement committee members. However, I do not fully support complete autonomy in the selection but a collaborative approach between the African American community and the CPS Board as the State legislation allows CPS to create the committee or advisory board to address disparities.

How will you work to ensure special education assessments and placements are more timely and equitable? 

I propose advocating for more resources under the remaining funds from Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER). I propose advocating and workmen with our congressional and State leaders to receive more funding through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). CPS currently receives funding through these federal acts, but we can and need more. As a coach, mentor, and uncle to students who have IEPs and special needs it imperative these students receive the utmost support and dedicated minutes possible so as not to create an aggregate and cumulative effect due to lack of dedicated minutes. I will zealously advocate for our students, especially our students with special needs, IEPS and 504 plans. Additionally, I propose auditing the current CPS IEP and 504 plans and protocols, while working with special education subject matter experts and officials from other large urban school districts, to update our best practices for providing these services to our students. As an uncle, coach, and mentor to students with special needs and behavioral needs, I know firsthand how critically important it is to provide these services for both the best well-being and development of our students, and for the peace of mind to our parents knowing their children receive an equitable opportunity for education.

What should the Board board do to guarantee students are receiving all of their required IEP minutes?

The Board should implement policy requiring full IEP minutes requirement for students. The Board can tie this requirement with the Evidence Based Funding model, which CPS will transition to in the next fiscal year. CPS can tie substantial compliance with IEP minutes to funding received. Each school in the district should report the number of students with IEPS, the number of minutes each student with an IEP must receive and submit quarterly reports to the board as part of the Board updates from the Chief Education Officer to the Board. I am normally not in favor of tying incentives to negative reinforcement; however, this model could work and remain sustainable as CPS looks to address an in issue many parents express is a major concern to them.

In 2021, even before the recent influx of asylum seekers, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) put CPS on a corrective action plan because the district was out of compliance with bilingual education requirements. To date, CPS still fails to staff bilingual programs and certified bilingual teachers at all schools that need them. What steps would you advocate for the district to take to solve this problem?

I would propose CPS outline a five-year strategic plan specific to complying with the corrective action from ISBE, especially with the influx of migrant children who will attend CPS. Additionally, I opine this is an opportunity to reengage the State for more resources to assist CPS in compliance with the ISBE corrective action given Chicago took the bulk of migrant arrivals, many being children, and the State provided some assistance for the influx. I opine this logically flows as educating the new arrivals will be paramount if they are in the Chicago Public School system and the State and City committed to welcoming migrants. This is an opportunity for more collaboration with the State to address an issue affecting not only Chicago but the entire state.

How would you advocate for the reinstatement of comprehensive art, music, and library programs to our schools? 

I would advocate for a more direct collaborative relationship between CPS and the National Endowment of the Arts. Specifically, I would advocate for more involvement in the direct learning opportunities for K-12 student s in CPS. Additionally, I would engage our CPS leadership regarding the current proposals, if any for competitive arts programming through the National Endowment of the Arts. Overall, I propose all creative and “out of the box” solutions for us to explore for the benefit of our students.

Section 5 - School Culture

What do you believe is the role of the Board in fostering a culture of belonging for every CPS student?

I believe it is incumbent on the board to pass a sensible fiscally responsible budget and policies which allow all CPS schools to invest in both the academics of our students and learning environment inside and outside of the school. I mentioned before our budget depicts our values; therefore, the CPS Board must insure it prioritizes resources towards strengthening parent and community engagement with teachers, faculty, and school administration. The Board has the ability to set the tone for a more “village” communal tone for CPS which will resonate down to the schools across the District.

What are specific steps you will propose to increase in-school mental health support for our children? 

I fully support utilizing mental health experts as our subject matter experts on best practices to support student, faculty, and staff mental health. CPS recently proposed the Whole School Safety Plan (WSSP), which focuses on several aspects to address the mental health of both students and teachers. I advocate CPS engage students, faculty, and staff under the proposed WSSP, specifically, the Required Emotional Safety Components’ guidelines of Educational Awareness, Skills and Strategies, Culture and Climate, Established Structures, and Crisis Support.

What policies do you propose to help stop bullying in CPS schools?

As I mentioned before, I recommend implementation of the Whole School Safety Plan. As such I further recommend CPS strengthen its anti-bullying policies to ensure we are consistent with best practices across similarly situated school districts. The safety of our students and the feeling of safety for our students in their learning environments is paramount to creating conditions conducive to learning.

What specific steps will you take to address and reduce racial bias in our schools, both in terms of pedagogy, curriculum, and disciplinary practices?

I propose full implantation of the Black Student Success Committee and policies as previously mentioned. Additionally, I highly recommend cultural bias training as a requirement for CPS employees from top to bottom to ensure we acknowledged and intentionally attempt to mitigate racial bias and/or microaggressions in our interactions with CPS students, families, teachers, faculty/staff, etc. This will ensure when there are disciplinary issues CPS can mitigate the negative influence and outcomes derived from pre-existing and persisting prejudices. We must reduce the reality of the school to prison pipeline. Additionally, I vehemently oppose censorship of teaching a complete and accurate inclusive history acknowledging the contributions of all peoples throughout history. Illinois has several laws ensuring these curriculums occur, which CPS must commit to implementing and improving upon for our students.

Students who report sexual assault and violence in CPS schools often feel that their voices are not heard. What is your approach to ensuring meaningful accountability and what will you do to ensure that this type of violence stops?

I adamantly believe and promote all students must be heard. If a student reports sexual assault, violence, bullying, etc., the student and all parties involved must be removed from the immediate situation with the proper authorities notified. After such notification, the school must follow up with services and resources for students affected by the alleged incident while the school, independent law enforcement, and the proper authorities investigate the issue. We must ensure our students feel heard and supported, especially in situations as grave and serious as sexual assault, violence, bullying, etc.

How do you plan to ensure that LGBT+ students are protected and supported in CPS, both in anti-discrimination policy and inclusive curricula?

I propose we continue to build an inclusive curriculum which reflects the growing diversity of our society, communities, and students. I recommend CPS review any policies which might promote discrimination based on race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and/gender. We want out LGBT students, and ALL our students to feel welcomed at all schools in the CPS District.

Is there anything you would change about the recently adopted Whole School Safety plan? What can the Board do to ensure its implementation?

I will fully support complete implementation of the Whole School Safety Plan, specifically the phase 1 portions of the plan with the implementation recommendations provided to CPS. These recommendations appear to be the most feasible recommendations ready for immediate implementation. If I had to change any of the recommendations, I would change the SRO recommendation to allow for a more robust discussion of SROs on a local, case-by-case basis, to determine if some schools, communities, LSCs, etc., would prefer to phase out SROs, keep their SROs, or remove their SROs entirely. For example, the 9th District id extremely diverse relative to the makeup of the district where schools in Beverly, may not face the same issues as schools in Englewood. Therefore, a blanket policy regarding school safety measures should offer more flexibility so the local community can decide what best suits their needs. Overall, I am enthusiastic about the Whole School Safety Plan and its potential when implemented. I am aware its application may differ in practice than in theory, but CPS seems headed in the right direction addressing school safety.