The entire Chicago Board of Education has resigned following a dispute with Democrat Mayor Brandon Johnson, marking a significant political clash over the city’s education system.
The disagreement centered around the mayor’s push to oust the CEO of Chicago Public Schools, Pedro Martinez, and to approve short-term loans for a new teachers union contract.
“It would be disappointing and irresponsible for Mayor Johnson to push for such a risky move just to lower the city’s own deficit. There is nothing progressive, transparent, or accountable about such a move,” 40th Ward Alderman Andre Vasquez wrote on X.
“The fact that this pressure would lead to an entire board — all of which were appointed by the mayor — to resign is unprecedented and deeply alarming,” he added.
The board members, resisting these actions, chose to step down instead.
The mass resignation comes ahead of the district’s shift to a hybrid elected and appointed board, a move that could influence future education policy.
The Chicago Teachers Union said in its own statement that the resignations are the “latest instability caused by the CEO in our district.”
“We finally have a mayor that is moving the district away from cuts and furloughs and leading us toward a transformed school system that provides for its students and their families, and provides stable quality education in our communities. To date, this CEO has told him ‘no,’” the CTU said on its website.
