In a surprising development, the entire Chicago Board of Education has announced plans to resign, a move that follows months of tension and clears the way for Mayor Brandon Johnson to appoint a new board. This shift is expected to pave the way for several key decisions, including the potential firing of CPS CEO Pedro Martinez, reaching a contract agreement with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), and securing a loan to address budget shortfalls, including a city pension payment.
Mayor Johnson confirmed the resignations in an exclusive interview, emphasizing that the changes are not about consolidating power but about addressing the chronic underfunding of Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Johnson pointed to the need for more state funding to avoid cuts that would disproportionately affect Black and brown students. “This is not about a loan,” Johnson said. “It is about investing in our children and not accepting cuts like for too long in this district.”
The board’s resignation comes amid a complex backdrop of financial challenges, strained relationships, and disagreements over policy. Johnson’s attempts to secure additional funding from Springfield earlier this year were unsuccessful, and some critics have argued that Martinez did not do enough to advocate for CPS in these negotiations. Johnson’s relationship with Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has also been strained, adding to the complications.
The current board, which will be replaced by Johnson’s new appointees, was expected to align closely with the mayor’s progressive agenda but instead found itself divided on key issues, including how to handle the district’s looming budget gap. The board members have had concerns about Martinez’s leadership, particularly in areas such as visionary leadership and the pace of CPS’s five-year strategic plan.
Martinez, who was appointed CEO in 2021, has faced resistance from the board on key decisions, and his future with the district remains uncertain. The new board, once appointed, will have the authority to fire Martinez, but doing so could come with legal and financial challenges. Martinez’s recent public defense of his role in a Chicago Tribune op-ed has further fueled tensions, with some board members reportedly viewing his actions as insubordination.
Johnson is expected to announce seven new board appointments on Monday at a South Side church, marking a significant change in leadership as the city prepares for a new hybrid school board structure set to take effect in January 2025. The hybrid board will include both appointed and elected members, with Johnson appointing 11 of the 21 members.
As CPS faces its ongoing budget challenges, the new board will need to address how to fund a new teachers’ contract, which is expected to cost at least $120 million annually. Additionally, the board will continue to work on implementing its progressive education agenda, which includes focusing resources on neighborhood schools, removing police from schools, and ending student-based budgeting in favor of a needs-based approach.
While the mass resignations may be seen by some as a rejection of Johnson’s leadership, the mayor remains focused on advancing his vision for a more equitable and well-funded school system. However, the political fallout from this shake-up is likely to reverberate as the city enters its budget season, with many City Council members and other stakeholders taking sides in the ongoing debate over the future of CPS.
