CPS CEO Martinez rejects board's buyout offer
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. Photo: Courtesy of Chicago Public Schools
CPS CEO Pedro Martinez has turned down an offer by the interim school board to buy out his contract, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Why it matters: The move, which comes from a lame duck board that will be replaced by a partially elected board next month, represents more drama in a district still struggling to balance a budget, negotiate an expired teachers contract and settle on leadership.
Catch up quick: Mayor Brandon Johnson appointed the interim board in October after his entire previous board declined to fire Martinez (whose contract expires in 2026) and quit on the same day.
- The Chicago Teachers Union (for whom Johnson previously worked) opposes Martinez and has identified him as an obstacle to achieving their contract goals.
- Last month, the board instructed Martinez to finalize the CTU contract "in the coming days," according to WBEZ, but the contract remains unsettled.
Between the lines: The push by Johnson's appointees to oust Martinez and settle the contract now looks like a last-ditch effort to do what many believe will be more difficult under the partially elected board coming next month.
- The current board has just one more scheduled meeting this year, on Dec. 12. The incoming board, which includes mayoral critics, will start Jan. 15.
What they're saying: "Pedro Martinez intends to honor his contract with the Chicago Public Schools and see that the 325,305 students and parents get the benefit of what they bargained with him," Martinez's lawyer, William J. Quinlan, said in a statement.
The other side: At a Wednesday school board meeting, Johnson ally Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez criticized Martinez for CPS busing problems, allowing the closure of Acero charter schools, not settling the CTU contract and discussing "personnel matters in newspapers; that is unacceptable."
Reality check: Martinez did not publicly comment on the buyout offer and his lawyer responded with just a one-sentence statement.
What's next: Johnson has until Dec. 16 to announce his 11 board appointees, who will join the 10 elected members in January.