CEO Pedro Martinez declines Chicago Public Schools Board of Education contract buyout offer, sources say

CHICAGO (WLS) — The Chicago Public Schools Board of Education offered CEO Pedro Martinez a contract buyout.

However, sources tell ABC7 Chicago that Martinez declined the offer.

READ ALSO | Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez speaks out after school board shakeup

“Pedro Martinez plans to fulfill his agreement with the Chicago Public Schools and ensure that the 325,305 students and families receive the advantages they negotiated with him,” stated Martinez’s legal representative, Bill Quinlan.

As they gathered for a monthly agenda review board meeting, Martinez took his seat next to school board members who are trying to push him out Wednesday.

According to Martinez’s contract, the school board must find cause to fire Martinez.

If not, it could lead to an expensive lawsuit.

Six months ago, Mayor Brandon Johnson asked Martinez to resign, after the CEO refused to take out a $300 million short-term high-interest loan to pay for a new teachers contract and pension payments.

“We asked you, the board, to play a more active role in our negotiations because the CEO is supposed to be bargaining on the behalf of the board, and he is doing the opposite,” Chicago Teachers Union financial secretary Maria Moreno said.

Speaking during the meeting’s public comment period Wednesday, Moreno blamed Martinez for dragging his feet to get a deal done. CTU is anxious to resolve the labor dispute before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. The union originally sent CPS over 700 contract demands, including a 9% raise.

“CPS still doesn’t know how to negotiate with its workers. We want to settle via negotiation, and we have provided a pathway to settlement,” Moreno said.

Part of the pathway is backing off on the 9%. CTU is now offering 6% for years one and two and 5% for the last two years. CPS has proposed 4% for year one and 5% for the remainder of the contract.

The board is not expecting to take any action Wednesday regarding Martinez’s contract.

This week, nearly 700 CPS principals sent a letter to school board members, urging them not to replace the district’s current senior staff.

In October, Martinez spoke to ABC7, responding to criticism that he has no CPS funding plan, and is relying on proposed cuts.

He was also asked if he thought the mayor’s picks for a new school board could end up firing him.

“I don’t know. I really don’t. I’m being sincere,” Martinez said. “I will say what’s great right now is that, you know, it’s very transparent what my contract says.”

The previous school board was not willing to fire Martinez or secure the short-term, high-interest loan to help pay for a new teachers contract, which led to a mass resignation in October.

“I did not expect for this to escalate to the way it did,” Martinez said.

Copyright © 2024 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like
Whoopi Goldberg and Ana Navarro have HEATED exchange over Donald Trump 'panic' on The View

Whoopi Goldberg and Ana Navarro engage in intense debate over Donald Trump’s ‘panic’ on The View

The View kicked off the week on a fiery note as the hosts…
MAUREEN CALLAHAN: Daniel Penny is a vindicated hero. Now it's up to us to warn the vengeful BLM extremists that if anything happens to him, there'll be all hell to pay

Maureen Callahan: Daniel Penny’s innocence has been proven. We must now alert the angry BLM extremists that there will be serious consequences if any harm comes to him

Daniel Penny has been vindicated. So has America. The jury’s decision to…
State Rep. Barbara Hernandez's staffer sickened, hospitalized after opening mail at Aurora, Illinois office at at Benton and Stolp

Illinois State Representative Barbara Hernandez’s employee falls ill and is hospitalized after handling mail at Aurora office on Benton and Stolp Streets

AURORA, Ill. (WLS) — The Aurora building housing State Rep. Barbara Hernandez’s…
When Does ‘WWE Monday Night Raw’ Start on Netflix?

What time does ‘WWE Monday Night Raw’ begin streaming on Netflix?

Get ready for an exciting episode of Monday Night Raw tonight. The…
Donald Trump immigration: Incoming border czar Tom Homan promises mass deportation, says he'll start with Chicago migrants

Tom Homan, the upcoming border leader, vows large-scale deportation starting with migrants from Chicago in the Trump administration’s immigration plan.

In Chicago, incoming border czar Tom Homan arrived in Portage Park on…
Gang member Giovanni A. Saldivar, 19, charged with shooting Cicero police officer at 35th Street and 61st Court: officials

19-year-old Gang Member Accused of Shooting Cicero Police Officer According to Officials

CICERO, Ill. (WLS) — A Cicero spokesperson announced that a 19-year-old individual…
Israeli airstrikes hit Syrian chemical weapons depot so 'they will not fall into the hands of extremists' after the collapse of Assad's regime

Israel Strikes Syrian Chemical Weapons Depot to Prevent Extremists from Gaining Access

Israel’s foreign minister said Israeli warplanes struck suspected chemical weapons facilities in…
Donald Trump's Cabinet pick Tulsi Gabbard won't answer whether Assad is a war criminal after cozy 2017 meeting

Tulsi Gabbard, chosen by Donald Trump for his Cabinet, refuses to say if Assad is a war criminal after friendly 2017 encounter

Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence avoided answering questions about Bashar…
Windy City Pro Wrestling returns to Chicago area

Chicago area welcomes back Windy City Pro Wrestling

CHICAGO — Windy City Pro Wrestling is looking to body slam its…
See Selena Gomez’s Floored Reaction To Golden Globe Noms For ‘Emilia Pérez’ And ‘Only Murders’: “Oh My God!”

Selena Gomez’s Surprised Response to Golden Globe Nominations for ‘Emilia Pérez’ and ‘Only Murders’: “Oh wow!”

Selena Gomez could not hide her shock when she learned she had…
Google's 'mind-boggling' quantum chip can perform 'impossible' tasks in five minutes that take the fastest supercomputers 10 SEPTILLION years to complete

Google’s Quantum Chip Solves Impossible Tasks in 5 Minutes, Faster Than Supercomputers

Google has taken a major step towards creating a quantum computer, after unveiling…
Alleged assassin Luigi Mangione went 'absolutely crazy' and explored 'psychedelic treatment' after back surgery

Luigi Mangione, the accused assassin, experienced intense behavior and tried psychedelic therapy following his back operation.

Friends and family are trying to understand how Luigi Mangione, once a…