CHICAGO (CBS) — The Chicago Board of Education called a meeting Friday evening, asking members to agree on a buyout termination for Pedro Martinez, CEO of Chicago Public Schools.
Many criticize the planned agenda. When it comes to the new class of school board members in particular — the first ever elected by voters — they say any intention to oust Martinez before they start undermines the role they were elected to serve.
The new elected board members will not start until January. But CBS News Chicago caught up with them as they were leaving a training session.
They were asked about the agenda for Friday’s meeting, which asks members to “approve the settlement with headquarters” (i.e. Martinez) and “approve the termination.”
“We’re asking the mayor, we’re asking this board, to please stop,” said Ellen Rosenfeld (4th), a member-elect of the Chicago Board of Education.
“The whole point of an elected school board was to consistently say they wanted 21 members to work together for the betterment of our children, the betterment of our schools and the protection of our tax dollars,” added board member-elect Che “Rhymefest.” Smith (10th).
Ald. Nicholas Sposato (38th) said he has supported Martinez in recent months, along with 40 others councilors.
“The teachers need a contract. We need stability in our system, and this is not just the right way to do things,” Sposato said. “Besides, we owe them a lot of money.”
Sposato also signed a letter opposing Martinez’s firing in October, when the CEO refused to fund teacher salaries and pensions through a $300 million high-interest loan.
It came just one day after Mayor Brandon Johnson announced his The previous hand-picked school board resigned en masse.
Some councilors say the meeting and its agenda would circumvent the democratic process.
“It’s reckless. It’s irresponsible – especially in the middle of collective bargaining negotiations, when CTU is clearly involved in the decision,” said Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd). “It’s one of the most blatant conflicts of interest you can imagine right now. So much of this is just absolutely wrong.”
Ald. Debra Silverstein (50th) also credited the board with planning the meeting during Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath. She wrote that the schedule “creates an unnecessary barrier to participation in Chicago’s Jewish community, including residents, teachers and school parents who observe this sacred time”
“Sabbath begins at sunset on Friday and lasts until nightfall on Saturday, making it impossible for observant Jewish individuals to attend or participate in this gathering. By gathering at this time, you are excluding part of our community from participating in an important public forum,” Silverstein wrote. “The topics to be discussed during this special board meeting, especially those regarding the leadership and future of Chicago Public Schools under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Pedro Martinez, are of great importance to all Chicagoans.”
CBS News Chicago reached out to the mayor’s office for comment on the development with the administration and its plan, but had not heard back as of late Wednesday. The meeting is scheduled for Friday at 5:30 p.m.
