Is something wrong in CPS paradise?
Martinez is operating in radio silence
With the flurry of activity involving Chicago Public Schools, from the looming $400 million budget deficit to Chicagoans lining up to run for the new school board, to the Mayor Brandon Johnson’s purported $1 billion ask of the state legislature, one voice is painfully absent- CPS CEO Pedro Martinez.
When Johnson traveled to Springfield last week to meet with state legislators to supposedly explain why the state “owed” Chicago Public Schools $1 billion, Martinez was not part of the entourage.
Unless Martinez, for some secret reason has been banished to the proverbial woodshed it makes all the sense in the world that he should have been a key part of any discussions revolving around the future and fate of CPS. Even the recent contentious discussions about proposed changes in school funding; his is a voice that has been missing. Of course, there is the possibility that the CEO is ill and unavailable, but shouldn’t that be made public knowledge if that is the case?
A more plausible reason is Johnson was continuing to play his glory hound role and if there is a possibility of news coverage, especially from television stations, he insists on being in front of those cameras -regardless of the issue. The mayor told a reporter recently in discussing the upcoming Democratic convention in August, he is the only face of Chicago. That comes despite the fact Gov JB Pritzker helped bankroll the confab, and the governor is part of a whisper campaign to be the nominee if President Biden isn’t. Yet, Johnson wants to be the focal point merely because he happens to be mayor and his need to be seen is insatiable.
We know he is a former middle school teacher, however, even in that role it is unlikely he was privy to all of the nuances that comprise assembling a multi-billion budget for thousands of employees and students. That begs the question, “where’s Pedro?”
On an issue as critical as additional funding for schools, there is no way his voice and presence should be MIA.
The CEO also has gone radio silence on a proposed move by the Chicago Teachers Union to have at least one teacher from every school travel to Springfield on May 15 to lobby legislators for increased funding.
It would seem Martinez would have something to say about teachers carrying out political activity during working hours, but apparently, he is OK with it. It looks like Martinez is being paid $340,000-plus to sit under his desk. A recent survey by the Wirepoint think tank showed 42 percent of CPS teachers are deemed “chronically absent.” That translates into at least 10 days of missing teaching duties. Martinez is not addressing that, or the negative impact it has on learning.
One question that keeps popping up is will he be staying in place once school board elections and appointments take place. There is a strong sentiment that with an elected board, the top CPS job should be held by someone who is not a mayoral appointee.