Happy Friday, Chicago.

If the Chicago Board of Education moves forward with firing Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez today, the school board may be playing the role of the Grinch this holiday season.

The Tribune Editorial Board and Illinois Rep. Kam Buckner both have pieces in our section today saying why that cannot happen.

The board blames Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Teachers Union for rushing to oust Martinez at an inopportune time. “Martinez’s future as CPS CEO must not be decided in some obscene pre-holiday rush as Chicagoans turn to their families. It must not be determined before the first-ever board members whom Chicago voters directly elected can have their say,” the board writes.

Buckner, who grew up in the CPS system, writes in his piece about how chaotic it would be for the school district to lose its leader in the middle of the year. Read his piece here.

Also today, we hear from south suburban school administrator Jerald McNair, who reminds us to think of the students who may struggle over the holiday break. Local pastor the Rev. Beth Brown writes a powerful piece about just how tempting it can be to fall into a scarcity mindset.

Lastly, Chicago attorney Michael Peregrine takes a walk down memory lane with his piece about classic kids TV show host Frazier Thomas.

Thanks for reading.

— Grace Miserocchi, opinion editor

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