The meeting's agenda includes two items: "Approve Settlement with Chief Officer" and "Approve Termination of Chief Officer." Sources have confirmed to ABC7 that the chief officer in question is Martinez.
The meeting is scheduled for the first night of CPS winter break, on a Friday evening before a long holiday weekend, and it comes less than four weeks before newly-elected board members are scheduled to be sworn in.
The mayor recently appointed a brand new school board that would seemingly have the power to vote to fire Martinez.
"This is the Christmas massacre," 36th Ward Ald. Gilbert Villegas said. "This is about firing Pedro and threatening him whether or not he takes the buyout or termination."
The special meeting Friday comes after Martinez declined a buyout and after months-long efforts by Mayor Johnson to oust him over his refusal to take out a $300 million loan to pay for a new Chicago Teachers Union contract.
READ MORE | CPS CEO Pedro Martinez declines board's offer to buy out contract: sources
"What we're asking the current board to do is not split the children's school year, not split CPS, and make extreme decisions," District 10 School Board Member Che Rhymefest Smith said.
Recently-elected school board members, who will join a hybrid board next month, reacted late Wednesday to word that the mayor's current appointed board may take action involving CPS CEO Martinez.
"We believe in the students. The constituents believe in us," District 4 School Board Member Ellen Rosenfeld said. "Give us a voice. Let us evaluate Pedro Martinez."
Members of the new hybrid board have a warning for current members.
"Consider the legal jeopardy you're putting yourself in," Rhymefest said. "Consider the legal jeopardy you're putting CPS in. Consider the disruption to our children."
Late Wednesday, Alderwoman Debra Silverstein issued a letter to the board, requesting the meeting be rescheduled because it falls on the Jewish Sabbath, creating a "barrier to participation for Chicago's Jewish community."
Messages left by ABC7 for the board and CPS, the mayor's office, an attorney for Pedro Martinez, and CTU were not returned. CTU, in a message to members, did acknowledge the board's planned meeting on Friday and "personnel items" related to Martinez.