Controversial ouster of Chicago schools CEO prompts litigation, political fallout

Chicago taxpayers may pay a high price for the school board’s decision to fire Chicago Public Schools Chief Executive Officer Pedro Martinez.

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s recently appointed school board members voted, 6-0, to end Martinez’s tenure next June, even though Martinez has a contract through June 2026.

The board consisted of Sean Harden, who was just appointed president of the school board by Johnson last week, Mary Gardner, Olga Bautista, Michilla Blaise, longtime Chicago Teachers Union activist Debby Pope and Frank Niles Thomas.

CTU Vice President Jackson Potter posted on social media Monday that board members have joined CTU in labor negotiations. Potter advocated for Martinez’s firing at the board meeting last Friday.

“I want to thank this board for lighting a fire and pushing both CPS and the CTU to move with all deliberate speed to come to what will become a historic agreement … and this process must continue to accelerate, because we can’t afford to slow down or stall before [President-elect Donald] Trump’s inauguration," Potter said. "Critics will claim, and have, that the board should not act too soon. We say that you cannot act soon enough.”

Board member-elect Jennifer Custer urged the current board members to wait until members elected by the public were seated.

“As a unified board, we asked that we talk about these decisions and what the future looks like before you cut it off at the knees,” Custer said.

Elementary school principal Jeff Finelli told board members they took an oath to advocate for students and work with the CEO.

“In my opinion, firing the CEO at this time would go directly against those parts of your oath,” Finelli said.

Finelli reminded board members that more than 700 school leaders had asked them not to fire Martinez.

Alderman Nicholas Sposato, 38th Ward, opposed Martinez’s firing and referred to the board members as “political hacks.”

Alderman Silvana Tabares, 23rd Ward, also addressed the board.

“Politics aside, there is still a difference between right and wrong, and you know this is wrong. By carrying out the political orders of a mayor who will personally benefit from a costly union contract, you’re not just firing a CEO. You are intentionally clearing a way to saddle taxpayers with billions in costs and a district and yourselves personally with costly litigation,” Tabares said. "You are being used."

Martinez’s attorneys have filed a lawsuit on his behalf against the Chicago Board of Education and its individual members in Cook County Circuit Court, alleging “violation of the clear terms of his contract.”

The mayor and his allies may also suffer political damage. The Illinois Latino Agenda released a statement expressing dismay at the treatment of Martinez, citing CPS’s proficiency gains in reading, graduation rates, scholarships, college credits and certifications.

“As a CPS graduate and parent of two CPS students, Martinez brought a personal commitment to the success of Chicago’s diverse student body, 47% of who identify as Latino. Martinez fostered stability and equity in a district long challenged by leadership turnover,” the statement read. "Nearly 700 principals and assistant principals, representing 80% of district campuses, expressed confidence in Martinez, citing his capable and collaborative leadership."

The last contract between CPS and CTU expired last summer. Martinez sent CPS families a message with an update on negotiations last Wednesday.

“Given that CPS is facing structural deficits for the foreseeable future, there is still work to be done to ensure the eventual contract is affordable both in the short and long term,” Martinez wrote.

Martinez said the latest CTU proposal called for over 5,000 new employees to be hired gradually over four years, at a total cost of $1.3 billion.

Martinez said CPS maintained its current proposal of 4% raises for CTU members in the first year and 4-5% raises in the next three years, depending on inflation. CTU has revised its proposed cost-of-living adjustments from 9% every year of the agreement to 6% the first two years and 5% in the final two years.