Chicago School Board Members All No Show for Special Meeting After Mayor Commits to Their Attendance

Chicago Mayor called out by Chicago City Council Members when newly appointed school board members fail to show up for meeting, Mayor said to be operating in bad faith

CEO of Chicago Public Schools provides information update and answers questions at specialPhoto byScreen Capture/Youtube Video [Creator]

CHICAGO — Embattled Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Pedro Martinez appeared before City Council members at an Education Committee hearing to discuss the district’s financial crisis. With a budget shortfall exceeding $500 million, CPS faces growing pressure, and tensions between Martinez and Mayor Brandon Johnson have only intensified.

At the core of the conflict is Mayor Johnson’s push for a short-term, high-interest loan to cover mounting expenses, including pensions and contract obligations. Martinez, appointed by former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, has resisted the loan proposal, which has become a flashpoint in their strained relationship. Despite rumors, the mayor denied asking Martinez to resign.

However, the disagreement reached new heights when six members of the CPS Board of Education abruptly resigned after rejecting both the loan and the mayor’s push to remove Martinez. In response, Mayor Johnson swiftly appointed six new board members, defending his authority to make the changes in a press conference earlier this month. His decision, which drew backlash from a majority of the City Council, comes as CPS prepares to transition to a partially-elected board in January.

Forty-one of the 50 City Council members signed a letter opposing the board shakeups and the loan proposal, calling for a hearing to vet the mayor’s new appointees.

Ald. Ray Lopez (15th Ward) voiced the council's concerns: "We want to know about their biographies, their mindsets, and what they bring to the board as a collective." Despite initial agreements for the new board members to attend a special meeting, none showed up, sparking further frustration among council members.

The mayor maintained that while the new board members would be invited, he would not use his executive power to compel their attendance. This standoff continues to fuel uncertainty as the district faces its looming financial challenges.