mayor chaos
Chicago Board of Education votes unanimously to fire CPS CEO Pedro Martinez
By Paris Schutz and FOX 32 Digital Staff
Published December 20, 2024 2:56pm CST
Chicago Board of Education votes unanimously to fire CPS CEO Pedro Martinez
The Chicago Board of Education has voted unanimously to fire Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez.
CHICAGO - The Chicago Board of Education voted unanimously Friday night to fire Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez.
Board members returned from a closed session just after 9 p.m. and announced their decision a short time later with a 6-0 vote in favor of Martinez's firing.
Martinez, who is being fired without cause, will receive six months of salary and a lump-sum payment. His duties will also be modified, board members said.
Following the decision, FOX 32’s Paris Schutz asked board member Frank Thomas why he voted to terminate Martinez but received no response. Other board members also declined to comment.
Martinez addressed reporters after the vote, expressing disappointment and frustration.
"Obviously, I'm disappointed by the board's decision tonight. Leading the system that shaped me has been the opportunity of a lifetime and I am so proud of the work that we have done together. From record-high graduation rates, record-low dropout rates, the strongest post-pandemic reading recovery among large cities," Martinez said. "…If you want to move on from me, just honor the terms of my contract. That's all I ever said. I never questioned any board who wants their own leader. But, it's important because it's not about me. It's important that we have a smooth transition to a new CEO instead of throwing everything into chaos in the middle of the school year."
Martinez added, "It’s not right for any leader to leave midyear. … If there is a silver lining, it’s that educators, families, and especially our students will be spared the disruption of a midyear leadership change."
Martinez will remain as CEO through the rest of the school year. He hinted at potential legal action, emphasizing the terms of his contract.
"First of all, I have been very, very restrained this whole period, since all of this started. Never started by me, by the way… All I've ever asked, let me do my work, follow my contract. And so, Paris, that's what is still going to happen. My contract is really clear. There are state laws. There are work policies, but more importantly, my contract is very clear. And if you haven't met my lawyer, please get to know my lawyer," Martinez said.
Prior to the meeting, Martinez’s legal team warned board members of potential legal action if they moved to terminate him.
The meeting marked the board’s third attempt to remove Martinez following Mayor Brandon Johnson’s earlier call for his resignation and the board’s offer of a contract buyout.
In the letter, Martinez’s lawyers alleged a "coordinated campaign" by the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and Mayor Johnson to oust him after he declined to approve a loan for what they described as an "unprecedented" multi-billion-dollar contract.
The letter also accused the board of manufacturing cause for his dismissal and argued that plans to appoint a co-CEO would violate his contract.
The full letter from Martinez's legal team can be found below:
Democratic Party destroy everything
ReplyDeletePerhaps the mayor prefers to find a superintendent who has new ideas on how to improve methods of providing all students with expertise in Science for better health for American’s students, for less crime in schools, for better methods to increase math scores, for strategies to encourage teachers to upgrade their STEM preparation training because students are complaining that too many minority students don’t have qualified teachers in their schools, and other reasons.
ReplyDeleteThere is a need to improve education in America’s public schools. Too many parents are either teaching their children at home or paying high tuition costs for private schools in searches for a better education for their children to qualify for high paying jobs.
Perhaps the mayor wants to hire a superintendent who can provide an equal education for all students in all zip codes whether they are black, Hispanic, Asian, white, etc., so that all can live a long and healthy life.
ReplyDeleteTo date, the majority of Asians dominate STEM enrollment plus higher paying jobs. Whites are living longer because they have always received a great science and health education by white instructors. They also represent STEM jobs and higher income plus business ownership.
Many black students attend schools in their neighborhoods where the complain about receiving passing grades for simply showing up for a few days. Many of their teachers are not STEM nor business certified.
I am advising students to form groups and teach themselves with the help of the internet and handouts from Amazon.
It is time to stop the zip code discrimination against students. If parents are unable to help children at home, it is time to hire expert tutors instead of sending them to the streets to become criminals. Uncertified teachers are having a difficult time trying to teach what they don’t know, and as a result, students drop out.