CPS School Board Votes to Fire CEO Pedro Martínez

Unanimous Vote to Remove CEO Amid Leadership Fight with Mayor Brandon Johnson

The Board of Education voted unanimously to fire Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martínez during an extraordinary special meeting Friday night after a months-long leadership fight with Mayor Brandon Johnson that has engulfed the school district.

Martínez Files Lawsuit Against Board of Education

However, the saga does not appear to be headed for an immediate resolution, after Martínez filed a lawsuit against the Board of Education and its seven members hours before the meeting. He asked for a temporary restraining order to prevent the board from taking action on Friday, but there was not enough time to appear before a judge before the meeting.

Contract Dispute

Martínez’s 44-page lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court alleged that the board and its individual members breached their contract. At the end of the hastily called meeting five days before Christmas, the Johnson-appointed school board fired Martínez without cause, triggering a portion of his contract that will keep him in his $360,706-a-year job for six months. The board said Martínez’s duties would be modified, but did not explain how. After that period, Martínez will receive 20 weeks of severance pay, totaling $138,733.

Martínez’s Reaction

At a news conference after the vote, Martínez said that “leading the system that trained me has been the opportunity of a lifetime” and that he was “disappointed by the board’s decision tonight.” “When I hear these stories, I wonder, ‘Who are they really talking to?’” he said. “This is a CPS guy, graduated in 1987 from Pilsen. …Who do they think they are talking to? Of course, I would have liked to see my contract through to the end, but throughout the saga… all I have asked is that if you want to move forward without me, just respect the terms of my contract,” Martínez said. “I never questioned a board that wants to have its own leader.” He stressed that a smooth transition would be vital “rather than creating chaos.”

New Board and Leadership

A new 21-member school board, partially elected and partially appointed, will take office on January 15. Five members who voted to fire Martínez were appointed by the mayor to remain on that board. The board is considering installing Sean Harden — Johnson’s pick for new board chairman — as interim co-CEO during that time to exclude Martinez from key decisions, three sources told the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ. Conversations are fluid about who exactly would intervene and how much power Martínez would maintain.

Next Steps

Sidelining Martínez could allow Johnson and his allies in the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) to move forward with the issues Martínez has blocked: establishing a new union contract, including in the school system’s finances a pension payments for CPS non-teaching staff and obtain a short-term loan to cover a mid-year budget shortfall to avoid cuts such as layoffs or furloughs.

Conclusion

The decision to fire Martínez without cause has sparked a contentious debate over the role of the CEO and the board’s authority. As the school district navigates this transition, it remains to be seen how the new board and leadership will address the pressing issues facing CPS.

FAQs

Q: Why did the board vote to fire Martínez?
A: The board voted to fire Martínez due to a leadership fight with Mayor Brandon Johnson and disagreements over the direction of the school district.

Q: What is Martínez’s lawsuit alleging?
A: Martínez’s lawsuit alleges that the board and its individual members breached their contract and caused him emotional harm.

Q: What is the next step for the school district?
A: The school district will move forward with a new board and leadership, with the possibility of installing an interim co-CEO to exclude Martínez from key decisions.

Q: What are the implications for the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU)?
A: The CTU may be able to move forward with establishing a new union contract, including pension payments for CPS non-teaching staff and obtaining a short-term loan to cover a mid-year budget shortfall.