With a new interim CEO, the school district must close a $529 million deficit
Pedro Martinez amended his lawsuit against the Chicago Board of Education for firing him without cause to seek damages from the teachers union and its president Stacy Davis Gates, alleging they waged a “demonization campaign” against him.
Mayor Brandon Johnson first appointed Thomas to the board last fall after the previous board resigned en masse.
In a close vote, the board voted to appoint King, despite concerns by some members over her record.
The program started in seven Chicago schools in 2019. Today, it’s expanded to about 400 schools.
Since an influx of migrant students began arriving in Chicago in 2022, the number of Chicago Public Schools required by state law to open a bilingual program increased by about 20%, according to records obtained by Chalkbeat and Block Club Chicago.
The school board is currently considering five people for the job of interim CEO, who will replace outgoing schools chief Pedro Martinez.
The district is putting together a budget for the 2025-26 school year with no cuts to schools, but the proposal may not come to fruition.
The mayor said the raises are necessary to address a teacher shortage in the early childhood education sector.
A presentation used to brief school board members and obtained by Chalkbeat outlined potential cuts, many of which include staff and programs supported by federal COVID relief money. District officials and school board members look to lobby City Hall and Illinois lawmakers for funding.