Johnson’s loyalty to Chicago Teachers Union clear as he pushes out schools chief
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is reportedly working to get rid of Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez. Martinez has been fighting financial ploys by Johnson and the mayor’s former employer, the Chicago Teachers Union.
Mayor Brandon Johnson is reportedly working to replace Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez as the two continue to disagree over how to address the district’s $505 million deficit and at least $10 billion more in Chicago Teachers Union contract demands.
Martinez has drawn criticism from Johnson and his allies in CTU leadership since rejecting two proposals from the mayor in July. One involved the district taking on additional pension payments for the city and the second on taking out a $300 million “payday” loan to cover the costs of the current deficit and CTU demands.
More recently, Martinez’ administration said CTU demands were “unaffordable” after finding just 52 of CTU’s over 700 contract demands would create a $2.9 billion deficit for the district next fiscal year and $4 billion hole by 2029. The entire CPS budget in FY 2024 is $9.4 billion.
In response to this pushback, Johnson has been reportedly having discussions with CTU and other city leaders who are seeking to oust Martinez from his $360,000 job, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Two other sources told the Sun-Times Johnson has already begun vetting candidates to replace Martinez as the new head of CPS.
The removal of Martinez would mark the first time a CPS CEO has been removed by a mayor in the middle contract negotiations since 1995.
However, ousting Martinez from the position could prove difficult since Johnson can only remove Martinez with the support of the Chicago Board of Education. While Johnson appoints the board members, those same appointees sided with Martinez and rejected Johnson’s recent loan and pension payment proposals.
Martinez’s contract also stipulates the city is required to give him notice six months before termination if the reason is without cause, during which time Martinez would continue working and support the new CEO’s transition.
To oust Martinez with cause would require evidence of misconduct or criminal activity, fraud, failure to perform his duties, proof of other wrongdoing, conduct inconsistent with the duties of CPS CEO or that have a material adverse impact on the district or board.
An amendment to Martinez’ contract in 2022 mandates the final decision rest “in the sole judgment of the Board.”
Pundits speculated Johnson is considering his own Chief of Staff and former Illinois state Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas to replace Martinez.
An analysis of CTU contract demands by the Illinois Policy Institute showed the reasonably estimable demands – which are only a small, partial list – would cost the district between $10.2 billion and $13.9 billion more than it now spends.
That figure doesn’t include the costs that couldn’t be estimated, such as housing for homeless students, housing stipends for teachers and the construction of three new carbon-free, fully green schools – which could add billions more to the price tag.
The CTU’s salary demands alone would add $2.52 billion to the cost of the next contract, taking the average teacher’s salary to $144,620 in the 2027-2028 school year from the current $93,182.
Johnson’s history as a former CTU organizer whose mayoral campaign was bankrolled by the union has understandably generated questions about who he will favor during contract negotiations: the people of Chicago whose taxes are at risk or his CTU allies whose demands are many.
His recent behind-the-scenes efforts to oust Martinez for trying to protect school district finances suggests it won’t be Chicagoans.