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Some newly elected Chicago school board members are calling on the current board appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson to scrap plans to oust Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez — arguing that city residents entrusted them with that power when they voted in the city's first school board election as recently as a month ago.
They said the move would be a drastic and disruptive move in the middle of the school year — and just weeks before a new board of 10 elected and 11 appointed by Johnson takes office on Jan. 15. They talk about possible action they can take to stave off that move.
These board members joined the chorus of Martinez's supporters who expressed their dismay at the board's apparent intent to force him to resign at a hastily called special meeting at 5:45 p.m. on the eve of the winter break. Those included former Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Illinois Secretary of State Alexei Giannoulias, and Martinez's predecessor Janice Jackson, who called the current board's move “dirty Chicago politics at its worst.”
Most of the members elected to the incoming board are spending the better part of this week training new board members who were groomed by outside groups after the district board office canceled planned sessions. Members were at training when they learned that the current board had amended its agenda Friday to include two new agenda items: terminating Martinez or considering giving him a buyout.
“The mood in the room has changed,” said member-elect Jessica Biggs. “It was very disappointing for everyone. It was very worrying.”
Members are discussing taking some type of legal or other action to prevent the current board from voting on Martinez's hiring, but no decisions have been made, Biggs said.
But, she said, “There's a lot of energy around our ability to work together and a lot of ideas about doing it strategically.”
The agenda for Friday's meeting, at 4655 South Dearborn Street, also indicated the possibility of postponing either action until a later date.
Efforts to replace Martinez have continued over months of turmoil, after his relationship with Johnson soured when Martinez refused to take out a high-interest loan to cover the cost of a new teachers' contract. The Chicago Teachers Union, a former employer and close Johnson ally, has become increasingly critical of Martinez, whose administration has rejected union proposals to dramatically expand school staffing, reduce class sizes, and more.
The union, which is seeking a new contract by Christmas after nearly seven months of negotiations, said Martinez stands in the way of ambitious proposals that could transform a region with a troubled history of disinvestment and deep inequality. His administration responded that with a large deficit looming and no promising way to secure more funding, the district simply could not afford many of the proposals. They also said some of the union's demands would negatively impact school culture, such as the proposal to allow teachers to freely choose their curriculum.
Some critics said it was ironic that the mayor and union — outspoken supporters of the school board elected to make decisions for the district — were supporting an 11th push by the current fully appointed board to vote on Martinez's position.
“We were chosen by voters to be the voice of the community and express the community’s vision for our schools,” said new member Carlos Rivas.
He said he feared Martinez's departure would destabilize a district that has seen too much leadership turnover in the past decade — and lead to hasty adoption of costly proposals that saddle CPS with debt and leave the new board to deal with massive deficits.
Biggs acknowledged that with 11 members appointed by the mayor and four elected members supported by the CTU, the hybrid council may not reach a different conclusion on whether Martinez should be retained. But she said: “This vote will take place transparently and with members elected by the people.”
Other voices joined in criticizing the current council's plans, many also pointing to the mandate Chicagoans gave the members they elected in November. Duncan, who served as CPS CEO under former Mayor Richard Daley before becoming U.S. Secretary of Education under President Barack Obama, cited this argument when criticizing the plan to oust Martinez.
Duncan attended board training on Thursday and discussed the board's role in partnering with district leadership. He said he was shocked that students' recent academic gains and recovery from the pandemic were not recognized in the public discussion of Martinez's ouster.
“It's a really smart and committed group,” he said of the elected members. “Taking away their power before they even get started is baffling to me.”
The advocacy group Kids First Chicago said in its own statement that the last-minute special meeting held at the start of the holiday break shows a disregard for the contributions of families and residents, giving them little opportunity to express their opinions. She urged the board of directors to delay a meeting until the new board convenes.
Giannoulias, the secretary of state whose name has been floated as a potential mayoral candidate, told Chicago's NBC5 and other media outlets that he has worked closely with Martinez to find solutions to the statewide school bus driver shortage — and admires his leadership.
“He's capable, he's smart, he's got a great story, he's a Chicago guy,” he said. “He is trying to make fiscally responsible decisions for the future of CPS.”
One council member, Debra Silverstein of the 50th Ward, wrote to the council requesting that the meeting be rescheduled, noting that its timing during the Jewish Sabbath meant observant parents and other residents could not attend. “By convening at this time, you are excluding a segment of our community from participating in this important public forum,” she wrote.
Sean Harden, who was appointed by Johnson last week and who is scheduled to be sworn in as board president on Friday, spoke to Chalkbeat Wednesday before the special board meeting was announced. He declined to discuss Martinez's future, saying it was a personal matter, but said the board will evaluate his leadership while taking into account how he delivers to students.
“When you look at the leadership of an organization, you have to align the ideals with the students and keep the focus on them,” Harden said. “At the end of the day, that's the priority. That's one of the board's responsibilities to evaluate and make that decision, and at the appropriate time, we will do that.”
He said he feels the urgency to settle the CTU contract, saying teachers are “one of our most valuable assets in the community” and his focus is on creating the best possible environment for students. He said he is excited to welcome the new board members.
“We are making history now,” he added.
Mila Kombilova is Chalkbeat Chicago's senior correspondent covering Chicago Public Schools. Contact Mila at mkoumpilova@chalkbeat.org.
