Down to the wire: Chicago teachers strike narrowly avoided with tentative agreement

By Emily Olsen and Meredith Francis Minutes before the midnight deadline, the Chicago Teachers Union and school board reached a tentative agreement to avoid a strike that would have sent some 20,000 teachers to picket lines. “It wasn’t easy,” CTU President Karen Lewis told reporters at 11:55 p.m. Monday. “Clearly, there are some issues, and […]

Parent, community groups back teachers strike, call for end to financial ‘chaos’

By Meredith Francis and Emily Olsen If Chicago teachers walk, some parents will be right behind them. More than 50 parent and neighborhood organizations threw their support behind the Chicago Teachers Union Tuesday during a City Hall rally as the city prepares for a possible strike next week. “I really feel like this is necessary because […]

With threat of teacher strike looming, CPS problems pile up at board meeting

By Emily Olsen and Meredith Francis [Update: The Chicago Teachers Union announced Wednesday evening that the teachers will strike starting Oct. 11 if it does not reach a contract deal with the school district.] As dozens of teachers and parents crowded into a packed room at the Chicago Board of Education’s Wednesday meeting to voice […]

City Colleges, Chicago Public Schools teachers push for elected boards

City Colleges of Chicago Headquarter Flags

By Branden Hampton Faculty at City Colleges of Chicago are banding together with their counterparts in Chicago Public Schools to push for legislation that would bring elected boards to both districts. Both groups want to curb Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s power by ending his ability to hand-pick board members, as well as the chief executive officer […]