Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration is reportedly laying the groundwork to push out Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez, according to sources who spoke with the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ. The potential departure of Martinez, which has not been finalized, comes after clashes between Martinez, the mayor’s office, and Chicago Teachers Union leaders over how to address a massive budget deficit and historical underfunding of the school system. These disagreements have led to tense contract negotiations with the teachers union, with Martinez facing increasing scrutiny and criticism.
In a surprising turn of events last month, Martinez rejected Mayor Johnson’s proposal to have the school district take on a pension payment and opposed a request from City Hall for CPS to secure a short-term, high-interest loan to cover the payment and a new CTU contract. Martinez’s administration publicly warned that the union’s contract proposals would lead to a $2.9 billion deficit for the district next year. These actions have put Martinez at odds with both the mayor’s office and the teachers union, raising questions about his future as CEO.
Despite the reported push to dismiss Martinez, there are obstacles to this move. Mayor Johnson cannot unilaterally fire the schools CEO, as Martinez technically reports directly to the Board of Education. The board, which is appointed by the mayor, has previously sided with Martinez in budget disagreements. It remains to be seen whether the board members would vote to fire Martinez and how soon such a decision could be made, especially with the new school year approaching.
Martinez’s contract, which was amended in December 2022, requires six months’ notice of termination without cause. During this period, Martinez would continue working and transition his duties to a new CEO. If terminated for cause, the board would need to cite misconduct, failure to perform duties, fraud, or other wrongdoing. Martinez’s contract does not prevent him from filing suit for wrongful termination if dismissed for cause.
CTU President Stacy Davis Gates has criticized Martinez, calling him “insubordinate” and questioning his compliance with mayoral directives. CPS officials defended their actions during a public bargaining session, emphasizing the district’s financial challenges and the need for fiscal responsibility. The differing approaches to the district’s finances have become a focal point in negotiations with the CTU, which is demanding raises and additional resources for students.
Martinez, a CPS alumnus and former chief financial officer, was hired as CEO in 2021 to stabilize the school system after a tumultuous period. Mayor Johnson, who has a background as a CTU organizer, initially retained Martinez in his position. However, recent conflicts over budget issues and contract negotiations have strained the relationship between Martinez, the mayor’s office, and the teachers union.
As the situation unfolds, the future of Martinez as CPS CEO remains uncertain. The potential dismissal of a schools CEO in the midst of contract negotiations would be unprecedented since the mayor’s office gained control of the school district in 1995. The outcome of this situation will have significant implications for the Chicago Public Schools system and its stakeholders.