Mayor Brandon Johnson defended on Monday the decision by his appointed Chicago Board of Education to fire Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez without waiting for newly elected members to take office.
In his first interview since the CPS board on Dec. 20 voted unanimously to terminate Martinez, Johnson told WTTW News’ “Chicago Tonight” the current board members were carrying out his vision for the nation’s fourth-largest school district, which has been mired in controversy for months.
“The urgency to transform our public schools is now,” Johnson said. “We have called for a real robust moment to ensure that every single child has a high-quality education. This is not about one individual.”
Johnson said three times that as the “duly elected” mayor of Chicago he was committed to transforming the CPS into a district that offers a well-rounded education to every Chicago child, including a librarian in every school, and security to employees.
Johnson declined to say how the school district should be run during the next six months, when Martinez will remain as CEO. Martinez, who sued the city and obtained a temporary order declaring him the sole executive of the school district, is due back in court Jan. 9.
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