Chicago Public Schools CEO Faces Buyout Offer in Escalating Leadership Conflict

Pedro Martinez resists pressure from the school board, mayor, and teachers union while contract negotiations and financial challenges loom large.

The Chicago Board of Education has offered a buyout to CPS CEO Pedro Martinez, who has declined to step down from his position so far.
Tensions between Martinez, Mayor Brandon Johnson, and the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) have intensified over contract negotiations and financial disagreements, including Martinez's refusal to approve a $300 million high-interest loan.
The CTU is pushing for a new four-year contract with significant raises and staffing guarantees, but CPS leadership warns the union's demands could cost $10 billion over four years, far exceeding the district's budget capabilities.
Martinez has hired prominent attorney William J. Quinlan to defend his position, while the newly appointed school board has retained an outside law firm, signaling potential steps toward terminating his contract.
The ongoing conflict comes as the district faces a $500 million annual deficit and prepares for the transition to a 21-member partly elected school board in January, which could further complicate governance and contract negotiations.