CPS CEO Pedro Martinez fired
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo: Monica Eng/Axios
After months of speculation, the Chicago Board of Education unanimously voted to fire Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez on Friday.
Why it matters: The removal comes at a critical time when the Chicago Teachers Union is still without a contract and right before Chicago's first partially elected school board starts next month.
Driving the news: At a special meeting Friday night, alders and newly elected board members used the public comment period to support Martinez. Several asked the board to hold off on any personnel decisions until the 10 new members officially join the board next month.
- Martinez supporters accused the sitting board of making a political decision to assuage Mayor Brandon Johnson and the CTU.
The other side: Johnson allies and other speakers pushing for Martinez's ouster accused the CEO of not doing enough to address the inequities in schools on the South and West sides.
State of play: Martinez's attorney, William Quinlan, filed an injunction and temporary restraining order on Friday afternoon in an attempt to prevent the board from what the filing called an "unlawful termination."
- Quinlan also sent board members a letter that alleged they have been searching for pretextual cause to fire Martinez since they were sworn in in October.
Catch up quick: Johnson reportedly wanted Martinez to quit earlier this year after Martinez and the board defied Johnson by approving a CPS budget without the $175 million in pensions and CTU contract costs, as the mayor and CTU wanted.
- Johnson had suggested CPS take out a high-interest loan to cover those expenses, but the board refused, saying it wouldn't be fiscally prudent.
- The seven-person board, handpicked by Johnson, resigned in October. Johnson then appointed a new board.
Between the lines: CTU president, and close Johnson confidant, Stacy Davis Gates has said Martinez has failed "to deliver the schools our students deserve," blaming the CEO for the fiscal cliff the district is facing as federal COVID funds go away.
Zoom in: Martinez's contract stipulated that the board could fire him for just cause, such as criminal activity or "any improper act that is contrary to the best interests of CPS," Chalkbeat reported.
- The contract also says if the board fires Martinez without citing a reason, that allows the more than $350,000 per year CEO to stay for another six months and get 20 weeks of severance.
Flashback: Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot selected Martinez for the job in 2021 while he was leading San Antonio schools.
- He had previously been the CPS' chief financial officer.
- Martinez came to Chicago from Mexico as a child and graduated from CPS.
What's next: The board needs to select Martinez's successor, but that most likely won't happen until the new 21-member board (10 elected members; 11 Johnson-appointed members) officially takes over Jan. 15.
Context: Another important item on the agenda was the future of seven Acero Charter Schools that are slated to close at the end of this school year, affecting about 2,000 students.
- The board approved a resolution to keep all seven open for another year, with CPS taking over five of the schools by 2026.