In a Friday announcement, all seven members of the Chicago School Board agreed to resign later in October amid disagreements with the mayor over the district’s budget.
The New York Times reported that Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Public School CEO Pedro Martinez have disagreed in recent months over the Mayor’s proposed plan to fill a $1 billion gap in the school district’s budget. Martinez was initially backed by the board in the dispute over the budget, but the mayor unsuccessfully asked Martinez to resign in late September.
According to the NYT, Johnson’s budget plan includes increasing union members’ salaries and taking out a loan covering a $175 million pension for non-teaching district faculty.
“Mayor Brandon Johnson and members of the Chicago Board of Education are enacting a transition plan which includes all current members transitioning from service on the Board later this month,” the mayor’s office said in a press release. “With the shift to a hybrid elected and appointed Board forthcoming, current Board members and Mayor Johnson understand that laying a strong foundation for the shift is necessary to serve the best interests of students and families in Chicago Public Schools.”
Chicago’s public schools have faced many issues in recent years, like a drop in enrollment and budget problems. The Chicago Teachers Union has opposed measures to close down or consolidate some schools facing issues.
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“I know that families and staff may have concerns about what this means for the future of our District,” Martinez said in a press release. “Please know that regardless of the makeup of the Board of Education, my team and I remain focused on the work: robust teaching and learning, building on the great momentum we’ve seen in students’ academic gains, and continuing to realize our vision of a District where every student has a rigorous, high-quality, and joyful learning experience.”
Chicago Public Schools deferred the Daily Caller News Foundations to Martinez’s press release. The Chicago Teachers Union did not immediately respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.
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First published by the Daily Caller News Foundation