The latest from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is something even for him.

He couldn’t convince his self-appointed Chicago Board of Education members to fire the Chicago Public Schools CEO after he wouldn’t endorse a $300-million loan for a pension payment and part of upcoming contract obligations in the middle of Chicago Teachers Union contract negotiations. Then these members announced their simultaneous resignations just months before Johnson loses some CPS control in the transition to an elected education board.

Local and state politicians have expressed their alarm over this mass resignation. This outcome can only exacerbate the leadership challenges cited by the CPS CEO Pedro Martinez as why he rejected J’s resignation request.