Entire Chicago Board of Education is set to RESIGN after hated city Mayor Brandon Johnson forced bosses to remove firebrand public schools CEO
Every member of the Chicago Board of Education is expected to resign after the citys Democrat mayor allegedly tried to strongarm them into firing the public schools CEO amid tense contract negotiations with the Chicago Teachers Union.
Every member of the Chicago Board of Education is expected to resign after the citys Democrat mayor allegedly tried to strongarm them into firing the public schools CEO amid tense contract negotiations with the Chicago Teachers Union.
The board members reportedly grew frustrated with Mayor Brandon Johnson after he tried to get them to force out brash Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez.
By doing so, Mayor Johnson also allegedly hoped to approve a high-interest, short-term loan, which was designed to fill a budget gap and subsidize a new teachers union contract.
As the Chicago Sun-Times noted, the collapse of the board and the public, fraught battle that preceded it has some questioning Johnsons ability to build consensus even among his own allies.
The board members reportedly grew frustrated with Mayor Brandon Johnson after he tried to get them to force out brash Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez.
Evidence of this intraparty friction can be seen in the words of progressive 40th Ward Alderman Andre Vasquez.
After the board members announced their resignations on Friday, Vasquez wrote on X.com that it would be disappointing and irresponsible for Mayor Johnson to push for such a risky move just to lower the citys own deficit.
There is nothing progressive, transparent, or accountable about such a move, he continued.
He added: The fact that this pressure would lead to an entire board- all of which were appointed by the mayor- to resign is unprecedented and deeply alarming.
Last month, Martinez wrote a column in the which he propounded his philosophy on spending
Scott Waguespack, alderman of the 32nd Ward, also laced into the Democrat mayor.
Whats astounding is that he controls the whole table, and hes still incapable of properly managing not just CPS, but the whole situation, Waguespack told the Chicago Sun-Times.
Mayor Johnson addressed the simmering conflict earlier in the week.
I didnt ask anybody to do anything, he said, according to WBBM. He also claimed that the only thing that Im requiring in this moment is leadership thats prepared to invest in our children.
On Wednesday, Johnson sidestepped questions about whether he tried to effect Martinezs removal.
Mayor Johnson addressed the simmering conflict earlier in the week
Johnson retorted that he doesnt ever discuss personnel issues. I find it to be highly offensive and irresponsible and raggedy. And I dont do raggedy.
However, the mayor then made a remark that suggested that he would oust Martinez if he deemed it necessary for the city.
Of course, I was elected to fight for the people of this city, and whoevers in the way of that, get out of it, he said.
On Friday, the mayors office issued an official statement, which said that Johnson and members of the Chicago Board of Education are enacting a transition plan.
As part of this plan, all current members [would transition] from service on the Board later this month.
Every member of the Chicago Board of Education is expected to resign after the citys Democrat mayor allegedly tried to strongarm them into firing the public schools CEO
With the shift to a hybrid elected and appointed Board forthcoming, current Board members and Mayor Johnson understand that laying a strong foundation for the shift is necessary, the statement continued.
In their own statement, the Chicago Teachers Union blamed the turmoil on Martinez, saying that the resignations are the latest instability caused by the CEO in our district.
We finally have a mayor that is moving the district away from the cuts and furloughs and leading us toward a transformed school system that provides for its students and their families, the statement said.
To date, this CEO has told him "no," the CTU said.
Last month, Martinez wrote a column for the Chicago Tribune in the which he propounded his philosophy on spending.
I remain against exorbitant, short-terming borrowing, a past practice that generated negative bond ratings for CPS and that would likely lead to additional bond rating cuts and higher borrowing interest rates, the CEO wrote.
A spokesperson for Johnson had previously remarked on how proud the mayor was that many of these campaign contributions came from working-class people
According to Fox, the new 21-member hybrid elected and appointed board will assume office in January.
The mayors office said that he will name seven new appointments on Monday to replace the resigning members.
Anthony Beale, alderman of the 9th Ward, expressed grave doubts about the nature of the new board to Fox.
I really believe that theyre going to try and appoint a rubber-stamp board of his CTU colleagues and friends in order to give CTU everything they want before this board takes effect, Beale said.
