CPS classes canceled again Thursday as CTU, district fail to reach agreement
Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union did not reach an agreement Wednesday to end the union’s refusal of in-person work, leaving classes canceled Thursday for the second consecutive day and uncertain to resume until next week.
And in a nearly identical repeat to the two sides’ disputes over the past 27 months, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and union leaders went on the attack when it became clear their differences wouldn’t be worked out in a single day. CTU President Jesse Sharkey dubbed the mayor “Lockout Lori” on a conference call with members because the school district blocked teachers from accessing their emails, and the mayor accused the CTU of taking “our children hostage.”
While the drama played out in front of television cameras and on virtual webinars, families were left searching for information until the evening about the prospects for school later in the week. At a City Hall news conference, CPS CEO Pedro Martinez said classes would not be held Thursday although the status for Friday remains unclear.
Martinez said about 10% of teachers showed up to buildings Wednesday despite the union’s vote earlier this week to refuse in-person work, and at those particular schools there remained a possibility some “academic activities” could take place later this week if a principal chooses to hold them. Officials said they are working on some type of remote learning plan, but district-wide virtual classes were unlikely to come together quickly with very few schools having passed out laptops.
Read more: https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2022/1/5/22869549/cps-classes-canceled-thursday-public-schools-ctu-teachers-union-pedro-martinez-univision