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* Sun-Times…
After months of tension, Mayor Brandon Johnson told Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez on Thursday that he wants the embattled schools chief to leave his position, two sources told the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ.
Martinez did not immediately resign and instead plans to wait to hear from the Board of Education, a source said. The school board has the sole authority to dismiss the CPS CEO. While the seven-member board, which was appointed by Johnson, has sided with Martinez this year on a couple key disputes, it’s unclear where it stands on firing Martinez. […]
Rather than operate in lockstep with the mayor, as past CEOs have done, Martinez has resisted certain demands from Johnson — like taking out a short-term, high-interest loan or putting a pension payment on CPS’ books — and painted himself as a fiscally responsible leader. In some of the battles, Martinez seemed to have the Board of Education on his side, and some of his allies have suggested that the board might keep Martinez on.
…Adding… Sigh…
According to Martinez’ contract, CPS must give him 6 months notice before termination, plus 20 weeks severance, unless let go for cause. Meaning, they can’t fire him during CTU contract negotiations, as CTU has sought. If CPS fires for cause, Martinez would likely sue. https://t.co/nGKLU5fHOe
— Paris Schutz (@paschutz) September 20, 2024
…Adding… Hmm…
I asked Gov Pritzker last month about rumors CPS CEO Martinez would be let go: “if it’s simply to accede to the demands of CTU,” Pritzker said, “you don’t want to just lay down to the union. I hope that’s not the reason.” pic.twitter.com/avievTuBMf
— Paris Schutz (@paschutz) September 20, 2024
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Sep 20, 24 @ 12:52 pm
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So glad to see the mayor back hard at work after the convention. The next several months ought to be entertaining
Comment by DuPage Saint Friday, Sep 20, 24 @ 1:05 pm
Johnson might as well do what so many thought was the case and officially appoint CTU to run the district.
Comment by JS Mill Friday, Sep 20, 24 @ 1:12 pm
It’s so obvious what Brandon Johnson is doing: Getting an awesome once-in-a-lifetime contract for CTU at the expense of Chicago’s taxpayers, then when he gets voted out in 2027, he’ll go … back to the Chicago Teachers Union. Returning as a hero.
Comment by Old IL Dude Friday, Sep 20, 24 @ 1:13 pm
This mayor, like our last, seems to spend more time sowing division than pursuing any governing achievements. Chicago continues to lack leadership from the mayor’s office.
Comment by ALIGNI Friday, Sep 20, 24 @ 1:21 pm
Starting a conflict with the School Board at the same time you’re asking for a state education bailout. 5-D Chess!
Comment by NIU Grad Friday, Sep 20, 24 @ 1:25 pm
Martinez doesn’t want to stay in the job in the middle of a firestorm. It’s hard enough without that… Maybe the next mayor brings him back.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Friday, Sep 20, 24 @ 1:38 pm
They can just add Martinez’s severance package to the payday loan. Look, this is obviously all Jamie Dimon’s fault.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Friday, Sep 20, 24 @ 1:38 pm
CPZ as a replacement?
Comment by Pawar Lost Friday, Sep 20, 24 @ 1:38 pm
What a dumpster fire this administration is. Are you really planning on giving CTU a massive increase and adding a short-term borrowing plan to your already screwed budget?
Also I’m sure you’re going to get all the suburban women legislators to help you and CTU out for more money when you just hired the guy who threatened Rep Gershowitz. Sn/
Do any of you have any clue what you are doing? What do they do in those meetings on the 5th floor?
Comment by Frida's boss Friday, Sep 20, 24 @ 1:50 pm
This mayor makes our last one look like Churchill and I was never her biggest fan
Comment by Beep booop Friday, Sep 20, 24 @ 1:55 pm
A cleaned up quote from an old boss of mine: “If there’s a way to mess it up, he will mess it up.”
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Friday, Sep 20, 24 @ 1:58 pm
MBJ is weak, has zero authority and is coming across as a total amateur to government and politics. What a fiasco. Although I didn’t vote for him, I really expected better.
Comment by low level Friday, Sep 20, 24 @ 2:13 pm
==This mayor makes our last one look like Churchill and I was never her biggest fan==
1000000000000% yes. Spot on.
Comment by low level Friday, Sep 20, 24 @ 2:15 pm
Expect some resignations from the board over this.
Additionally: enacting the hiring freeze wasn’t about saving the city money. It was about the mayor shifting cronies around and having cover for not hiring from the outside. The mayor and his big mouth team have told people they are going to replace Pedro with CPZ and then shift roles from chief of staff on down.
Expect the people who have been the most loyal to CTU to land big salaried spots.
Comment by Political Genius Friday, Sep 20, 24 @ 2:20 pm
A bonafide progressive like Pritzker is the perfect Governor to institute a state takeover of CPS and remain unscathed in future nationwide primaries. Here’s to hoping…
Comment by Jurist Friday, Sep 20, 24 @ 2:20 pm
So what’s CTU’s political calculus here? They spent a lot of capital installing the current mayor, and will need to spend more to elect their candidates for a favorable School Board. Why are they setting BJU up to be a one termer, and potentially get an antagonistic mayor next cycle? Do they see this term as their only chance for a once-in-a-lifetime contract?
Why not moderate a little and ease their contract demands over a few terms with their guy? They’d eventually get what they want. It doesn’t need to happen all at once. Or do they realize how far they’ve overstepped and just plan to go for broke until the next election?
Comment by ChrisB Friday, Sep 20, 24 @ 2:23 pm
The Mayor/CTU desperately want that borrowing plan because it will basically require a tax increase to pay the debt service next year, and then they’ve increased their base tax revenue.
Comment by Just Me 2 Friday, Sep 20, 24 @ 3:21 pm
@Chris B
IMO: They are incapable of moderation or self reflection.
Comment by Beep booop Friday, Sep 20, 24 @ 3:26 pm
=institute a state takeover of CPS=
There are specific criterion for a state takeover of any district and, believe it or not, CPS is not even close. State takeovers are extremely rare, I can only think of two and one of those districts, East Stl., was taken over twice.
Comment by JS Mill Friday, Sep 20, 24 @ 3:27 pm
Mayor Johnson would be hilarious if he was the boss of a city I hated rather than a city that I loved.
Comment by TJ Friday, Sep 20, 24 @ 3:37 pm
Then, CPS and CTU can use the 99 year parking meter contract as a template.
Comment by Two Left Feet Friday, Sep 20, 24 @ 3:43 pm
ChrisB - All you have to do is say the letters SDG to understand that moderation is not an option. It makes zero sense, and they really are going to burn the candle at both ends until the end of his term to get as much out of him as they can - but then again, it’s not like we haven’t seen this happen before. I remember one of my cousins who worked at Ford in Michigan scoff at the notion that he’d ever have to pay a dime for healthcare. I still remember him saying this to me over a beer before Thanksgiving 2006: “I build cars. I don’t build hospitals. They pay me the moment I walk in to do the first, and I’ll never, EVER pay a dime to get care in the second.” That has stuck with me to this day (he no longer builds cars, for the record).
Comment by Just a guy Friday, Sep 20, 24 @ 3:58 pm
@ChrisB I can assure you without a shadow of a doubt that they have a total victim mentality coupled with a huge ego. Any failure is either not a failure but actually a success, or someone else’s fault. There are never lessons to be learned. While they couldn’t be further from Trump on policy, it’s almost Trumpian in mentality.
Comment by RPOne Friday, Sep 20, 24 @ 4:05 pm