A group of over 40 Chicago aldermen, including several key allies of Mayor Brandon Johnson, have issued an open letter condemning the mayor’s handling of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) after the entire Chicago Board of Education announced its resignation, effective later this month. The aldermen, including 12 members of Johnson’s leadership team, expressed deep concerns over Johnson’s efforts to gain control over CPS, particularly his push for the district to take out a $300 million high-interest loan and assume a $175 million pension payment for non-teaching CPS employees.
The letter describes Johnson’s loan proposal as “not a smart decision,” commending CPS CEO Pedro Martinez, who has resisted Johnson’s efforts to take on the financial burden. Martinez’s refusal to cooperate with the loan proposal is seen as a key reason for Johnson’s push to replace the current board, which many believe is aimed at clearing the path to remove Martinez.
The aldermen’s letter, drafted in less than 24 hours after the board’s resignation was announced, demands that Johnson hold a public hearing before making any new appointments to the board. The group warns that appointing a board just months before Chicago’s transition to a partially elected school board in November would undermine the process. They argue that any appointments made now would be by “lame-duck” members and not in the best interest of the city or CPS.
“There is extreme cause for concern now that those voices have been diminished,” the letter states, pointing to the lack of public input in the process and the upcoming November election that will introduce elected representatives to the CPS board.
State Rep. Ann Williams, who sponsored the bill for a phased transition to an elected school board, also expressed shock at the mass resignation, noting that it jeopardizes the continuity and stability CPS needs during this transitional phase.
At the heart of the conflict between Johnson and Martinez is the mayor’s insistence that CPS take on the $300 million loan to cover pension payments, a responsibility shifted from the city to CPS under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Although Johnson opposed this shift initially, he now supports it as CPS faces a financial shortfall and the city grapples with a nearly $1 billion deficit for 2025. Martinez and the outgoing board approved a budget without including the loan, reflecting their resistance to Johnson’s demands.
The aldermen’s letter further criticizes Johnson’s failure to secure additional state funding for CPS, alleging that the city’s lobbying efforts focused too heavily on funding for a new Bears stadium rather than on crucial financial support for schools.
The resignation of the Board of Education and the mounting tensions between Johnson, Martinez, and CPS have created a sense of uncertainty about the future leadership and financial stability of the district. Johnson is expected to announce new board appointments soon, despite growing opposition from aldermen and other stakeholders.
