As CPS prepares to close a record number of schools, the fate of students and communities is in question.
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CTU lawyer: "We are working out details of contract now"
The week-long Chicago teachers strike may be coming to an end.
CTU President Karen Lewis said that the union has worked out a "framework" with the school district. While she feels "extremely comfortable" with the framework, she says she will wait to present it to delegates until she has it in writing.
On Sunday, she says the delegates will vote on whether to suspend the strike. A House of Delegates is scheduled to meet on Sunday, though an exact time has not been set.
CTU officials refused to give any details of the tentative deal.
However, a CPS source close to negotiations says it preserves principal discretion in hiring, the longer day and test scores to teacher evaluation. Principal discretion in hiring became a key issue as the union fought for some degree of preference to be given to displaced teachers.
At about 1 p.m. on Friday, Chicago Teachers Union lawyer Robert Bloch announced that movement had been made. “We are working out details of a contract now. We will present a report to delegates this afternoon and then have another meeting on Sunday, where we expect they will approve a deal.”
“The logjam has been broken,” Bloch said.
For the latest developments, follow Catalyst Chicago on Twitter at http://twitter.com/CatalystChicago.
Welcome to the Unemployed Life
With the disgrace applied to teachers that were laid off for no fault of their own. There is a certain pain that was felt. Welcoming the future turnarounds and layoffs. It will be devastating to the future people to be laid off. Some were not done fairly. that is the go around for the unfair lay offs. It will not be a pretty thing to walk in those shoes. You won't know who you are until it is done. But these changes in the Chicago Public School system is going to make things worse. Chicago is not on an up swing. It is on a down swing. It just doesn't have the same vibe it used to have. There won't be any brownies points to be rewarded for all the mess. Just head shakings. Teachers will really be chasing children around. It is going to be a disaster.
My paychecks are ALL SPENT BUT!!!!
My pacycheck is almost spent...I have no savings because I live in a Expensive city that I love....but I am forced to live here by my job! I have to start living off my Credit Card....being a sole breadwinner, with a house in a descent neighborhood, with student loans, car payments and a mortgage..... doesnt leave much for savings. My savings is locked up in a pension that I probably wil never receive if I last another 30years I need. I am 35...I doubt I can make it 30 more years to 65? BUT I WILL STILL FIGHT!!
Remember just because you are happy as a teacher doesn't mean that everyone is happy. We need to stand strong! We need to support ALL teachers.CPS is trying to divide us...not just good teacher vs. bad.....they want to divide us. Why do you think we have ILTs? Read the Tribune and the Suntimes...we are not supported by many. However, 25k teachers cannot be wrong...don't get lulled by false respect....I am rambling..It’s hard to explain…but when Our President, Secretary of Education, our Mayor, and Presidential Candidate, many of our principals are against us I feel more emboldened to fight this good fight. I have spent my last of my paycheck…but I would rather go broke than allow this profession pushed into the 7 dollar an hour category so many want! Education is at a crossroads….at least we are trying. I am not a communist or socialist…I am a teacher…and a citizen. I see what is happening at schools. It saddens me!! I will fight!! When this is over I hope we don’t stop!!
Don't believe the media
Corportate media claims a deal is in sight, this is false. There is only a deal if the House of Delegates says so. HOD reps, stand firm and reject this contract if it is bad. We teachers will stay out all month if necessary. The board is corrupt and the mayor a criminal. Stay strong CTU!
Don't Give In
If the contract is not in tact; the delegates should vote to stay out. Mayors try to help their cities. Not tear the town down. What do they thing teachers want? They want help. It is hard enough trying to teach a classroom of students. Now all this Common Core; Map assessment; NWEA Assessment; Preschool Assessments. Principals hiring teachers for one year and firing them at the end of the year. Positions closed. Tenured teachers locked out; because they make more money. Kids crossing gang territory. Students leaving school at dark in the winter. Recess returned (when campuses were close so no one could come to the fences and shoot students). This is all terrible. It's like being on a sinking ship and every decision is a losing decision; because the ship is still going to sink. How will this work? It started out for political votes. Well teachers won't be voting. Those votes will be lost. Teachers are losing. They are afraid. They are not secure. They will be working under pressure. A lot of pressure. Principals running around trying to pick off teachers and fire them. What a revolving door this will be. Well the rest of the Nation; don't follow Chicago Public School's model. They are treating Chicago teachers badly. Laid off teachers; positions open; and laid off teachers can't be recalled back? Well; this smells like it is a way to get rid of senior teachers. Watch those test score plumage. A lot of laid off teachers are very hurt. They do not know where to turn. They do not have health insurance. They can not pay their bills. They are under distress. These were their jobs. These were their careers. This was their lives. Now all of this has been shattered be Principals and Cps. This is why this will never be a winner. Because throwing needy people who have no place to turn out of their jobs; will definitely be a: what goes around comes around. Look at ALL those young teachers. Young teachers don't look for a career in some of these schools. And Lightfoot in Maywood made it bad for tenured teachers. One day she will be tenured too. Why don't they just let the teachers teach.
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