(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Gov. J.B. Pritzker spoke lightly on Mayor Brandon Johnson's effort to oust Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Pedro Martinez on Wednesday.
Pritzker first tried to duck the question and said the standoff between Martinez and Johnson was a personnel matter among them and the school board. When pressed, though, he did acknowledge the ongoing contract talks make this an inopportune time.
“It seems challenging to change out the players in the middle of a negotiation," Pritzker said. "Having said that, it is the prerogative of the board of education and the mayor to make a recommendation to them, so we’ll have to see what comes of that.”
One reason for the clash between the mayor and the head of CPS is the latter’s opposition to a plan for short-term borrowing to help pay for a new contract. Pritzker did have something to say about that.
“Borrowing to pay for operating expenses in a business, in government, etc., is not a great idea unless you know you’re going to pay for that,” he said. “Because it’s going to come due.”
At an unrelated event in Humboldt Park, though, the governor said he agrees with all sides who say the state should be contributing more to cash-strapped school districts, such as CPS.
“To be clear, I would like to put more money into our education system,” Pritzke said. “I think we all have acknowledged … just by virtue of our following the evidence-based funding model, that we are not funding properly.”
The challenge, he said, is where to find the revenue and balance the budget.
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