Pedro Martinez, CPS CEO, asks judge to prevent Mayor Brandon Johnson’s interim Chicago Board of Education from removing him: LIVE

CHICAGO (WLS) – Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent members of the Chicago Board of Education from firing him Friday night.

This came after the board did not respond to a letter from Martinez’s attorney asking the CPS board not to fire him.

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Martinez attended holiday festivities at Robinson Elementary School on the South Side on Friday, a day before students left for winter break. But could this be the CPS CEO’s last day on the job?

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s interim school board is expected to fire Martinez at a meeting Friday evening. The CEO’s lawyer, Bill Quinlan, is trying to stop the vote.

In a letter sent to every board member Friday, Quinlan urged members to reconsider firing Martinez or limiting his duties. Quinlan wrote that any attempt to appoint a co-CEO without Martinez’s approval, which sources say is being considered, would be a breach of contract.

The letter gave the board a deadline to respond. They did not respond and later Friday Martinez filed a lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining order.

Johnson’s union will reach its climax on Friday evening after months of unrest. It started when Martinez and the previous school board refused to take out a $300 million short-term high-interest loan to pay for an expensive teaching contract.

According to an internal memo obtained by the Chicago Tribune, Johnson’s employment adviser told previous board members that the mayor expected Martinez to leave by Sept. 26 and wanted to finalize a teacher’s contract.

SEE ALSO | The CTU is calling for a contract agreement with Chicago Public Schools before President-elect Trump takes office

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates said she hopes to reach an agreement before Christmas and before the newly elected hybrid school board is sworn in on Jan. 15.

CPS says it doubts an agreement will be reached by next week, given the more than 700 contract claims.

Martinez has received support from former CPS CEOs, seven newly elected school board members, several city council members and nearly 700 principals and assistant principals. They all called for continued stability for the school district.

The board is also expected to vote Friday on a plan that would keep seven Acero charter schools slated for closure open through next year.

RELATED | ‘Dysfunctional’: Mayor Johnson’s leadership questioned over budget management, CPS

This is a developing story; Check back with ABC7 Chicago for updates.

The video in the player above is from a previous report.