Chicago City Wire

A recent Chicago Public Schools (CPS) email to parents expressing fear over the incoming Trump administration has been met with skepticism from some CPS parents. 

The CPS email, titled “Updated Guidance and Resources for Families Regarding New Presidential Administration,” addressed families with concerns about the incoming administration and provided information on resources for those who may be feeling anxious or distressed.

The email, signed by CPS Chief Executive Officer Pedro Martinez and Chief Education Officer Bogdana Chkoumbova, has drawn criticism from some parents who questioned the tone and political implications of the message.

Some parents and community members have expressed frustration with what they view as the district’s political leanings.

The email, which referenced a previous message sent before Winter Break, offered “resources” to the school community.

“Prior to Winter Break, we sent you a message regarding concerns that many members of our school communities have expressed regarding the incoming presidential administration,” Martinez and Chkoumbova wrote. "You can find that message, along with today’s communication and a collection of guidance and resources regarding the new administration on a new District webpage: cps.edu/NewAdminGuidance."

The email also noted that CPS would provide support for student mental health.

"We also want to remind families that there are mental health resources available at every CPS school to help students who may be feeling concern and anxiety about the incoming administration," the email said. "Please reach out to your school principal or counselor to access these resources. We are here to support you."

The email quickly attracted criticism, with some mocking the district’s response.

"Lane has counselors ready if you need one!" one person quipped, referencing Lane Tech College Prep High School. 

Another comment referred to the mention of LGBTQ issues: “Don’t leave out the LGBTQ+++,” the person remarked.

The email has been criticized as tone-deaf, especially considering that Donald Trump has significant support in Cook County.

In the 2024 election, Trump and JD Vance received 366,183 votes (36.77%), while Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz secured 617,302 votes (61.99%).

Trump’s support among Latino voters increased by 13 percentage points from 2020, with notable gains among Hispanic men, who shifted in his favor by 18 points. 

Trump also gained support among Black voters, particularly in swing states like Wisconsin, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, where his support surged by 12 percent.

However, some in the Chicago community have echoed CPS’s sentiment.

After Trump’s 2024 presidential victory, Anna Carvlin, a member of Beverly Unitarian Church, opened the church’s facility, The Castle, to offer support to those struggling with the election results.

“The reality is we all know MAGA is a bunch of rapey weirdos,” Carvlin told Chicago City Wire at the time. 

The CPS email also referenced LGBTQ students and staff.

“CPS will continue to be a welcoming District for our LGBTQ+ students and staff,” the email reads. “The District's non-discrimination policy, which is in line with the Illinois Human Rights Act, provides students and employees protection from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, and many other categories.” 

In addition to these resources, CPS linked to a flyer from Lurie Children’s Hospital titled “Post-Election Support for Immigrant Youth and Families in Illinois.”

Lurie Children’s Hospital has provided transgender treatments to children as young as five. 

A report released last fall by Do No Harm revealed that Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago administered irreversible sex-change treatments to at least 145 minors between 2019 and 2023, including surgeries and hormone therapies.

The report is part of a broader national database tracking pediatric sex-change interventions across U.S. medical facilities, revealing that thousands of children have undergone such treatments, sparking debate over the ethics of pediatric gender medicine.

However, the flyer CPS included in its email primarily focused on immigration.

“For immigrant, refugee, migrant, asylum-seeking, and other new arrival families, this is an extremely distressing time,” the flyer stated. “People may be concerned about their ability to remain safely in the United States (U.S.) and may worry that their family will be separated.”

The flyer further detailed the threat of deportation to illegal immigrant families.

"The fear of being forcibly separated from family due to deportation is clearly traumatic and threatening, especially due to many immigrant populations' emphasis on the centrality of family,” the flyer reads. “Many escaped traumatic and life-threatening events in their home countries and risked their lives to come to the U.S. to seek refuge and reunite with family members." 

Tom Homan, President-elect Donald Trump’s appointed border czar, recently called for mass deportations at a Northwest Side GOP event in Chicago. 

Homan criticized the city’s leadership for its stance on immigration and sanctuary policies, specifically targeting Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. J.B. Pritzker. He challenged them to cooperate with the Trump administration on border enforcement, warning that his policies would lead to broader arrests beyond criminal immigrants.

Homan stressed that while his goal wasn’t to separate families, his mass deportation plan could lead to unintended consequences, including the detention of non-criminals.

Homan’s remarks were delivered amid growing concerns over the financial burden of supporting illegal immigrants in Illinois, with rising healthcare and service costs contributing to the push for stricter immigration enforcement.

The majority of educators employed by CPS are also members of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), which has become a powerful political force in Chicago.

Johnson, a former CTU organizer, received substantial financial backing from the union.

Illinois Policy's Austin Berg has compared the CTU to the political machine that has historically dominated Chicago politics, pointing to the union’s significant influence and its approval of up to $2 million in campaign funding for Johnson.

Critics argue that the CTU has become a political entity with its own agenda, exerting excessive control over Chicago’s public schools, a sentiment echoed by mayoral candidate Paul Vallas, who has been a vocal critic of the union's influence.