Richardson-Lowry, a partner at the law firm of Mayer Brown LLP, was recently tapped by Mayor Richard M. Daley to serve out the remainder of the late Michael Scott’s term as president of the school board.
Taking the helm of Chicago’s school board presents immediate challenges, but attorney Mary Richardson-Lowry said she’s up for the task.
Richardson-Lowry, a partner at the law firm of Mayer Brown LLP, was recently tapped by Mayor Richard M. Daley to serve out the remainder of the late Michael Scott’s term as president of the school board.
Her appointment must be approved by the school board at the next meeting on Feb. 24.
When Daley extended “the honor,” it wasn’t something she thought about taking on. But after she had time to digest it, she said it became the “right thing to do” and an opportunity to honor Scott — who she refers to as a friend who she’ll miss greatly — and his public service to children.
Growing up in Compton, Calif. and attending public school there, Richardson-Lowry said her experience during that time is no different than what’s currently going on in Chicago or any other public school districts in urban areas. She’s seen it all and watched her mother – who was a teacher – go through the same issues, she said.
The 53-year-old recognizes she has big shoes to fill and will hit the ground running to help overcome challenges the school board us up against.
“There are no shortages of issues on my plate: budget challenges, union contracts, operational issues, school actions. And in the midst of all that, the children must be taken care of. There is opportunity for the board to do more, to do better. I’ll make sure our procedures are in place at the board,” Richardson-Lowry told the Defender.
She takes over at a time when the board is under scrutiny for alleged credit card abuse by former and current school board members; faces a $900 million shortfall that may result in pay cuts, teacher layoffs, class size swelling and trimmed pension contributions next year; and more than one dozen schools are in position to be consolidated.
Among the top items on her agenda are to get a better sense of the fiscal problems of the board, she said.
Richardson-Lowry is quick to admit her inexperience in the education field, but adds that her background – legal, managerial and public service – is “uniquely appropriate” for the position.
“The seven-member school board is drawn from the business community in many sectors. It is not intended to, nor does it reflect, people who are teachers,” she said, referring to previous roles she’s held and some of those who currently sit on the board.
The attorney began her career with the city slightly more than two decades ago as an assistant corporation counsel. She then became a senior supervising attorney and Daley assistant before being named the commissioner of the Dept. of Buildings.
Richardson-Lowry also led Cook County Board President Todd Stroger’s transition team when he took office in 2006.
“Our (school board) focus is on the children and the business end of education,” she said, adding that she is quite aware that the monthly school board meetings can ring high with emotion.
“I’ll have to sit back and gauge the meetings for myself. But whenever children are involved, there will always be high emotions. The meetings should be less on the volume and more the content if we’re going to have a healthy, productive dialogue in the best interest of the students,” she said.
Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender
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