Board of Education fails to show up for hearing

• The 41 alders who signed a letter pushing for the meeting say the discussion is key to addressing the district's deep turmoil and collaborating to close its $500 million deficit.

Context: Alderman Gilbert Villegas says the administration gave him assurances last week that former and new board members would attend, but the mayor later announced the members were merely "invited" and refused to say he'd encourage them to attend.

What they're saying: "It's challenging for folks in the public … to feel that the board is going to show up for them if they can't show up for this," Ald. Andre Vasquez said during the meeting.

• "They have a responsibility, a responsibility to look out for the 325,000 students across the Chicago Public Schools," Ald. Matt O' Shea said.

The other side: "I think it was their personal reasoning," Ald. Jessie Fuentes, who did not sign the letter, tells Axios. "I think they all have been open to phone calls with council members, and so if folks want to have conversations with them, call them."

What happened: CPS CEO Pedro Martinez did show up and took questions from alders who variously suggested that he was too frugal or too liberal on school spending, especially on more than 100 schools serving fewer than 200 students.

The solutions: Alders and Martinez discussed narrowing the deficit through expiring TIFs, state funding, closing low-enrollment schools, taking a high-interest loan and securing more lottery funds.

State of play: Martinez acknowledged the district's TIF funding reached its highest point last year, but with federal COVID funds running out next year, he said he'll need more. He's asking the mayor and council for $484 million next year.

• He's resisting taking high-interest loans because the district is currently "paying $194 million in interest-only payments."

What's next: More frequent public discussion between CPS and the Council, with the two sides committing to meet on a quarterly basis.