The Chicago public school system and its teachers began yesterday expressing hope that they were close to a deal that would see students head back to school on Monday.
After another long day of negotiations, however, that’s more or less where the two sides stand today, as the teachers’ strike enters its fifth day.
The Chicago Tribune explains:
“[Chicago Public School] Board President David Vitale, who emerged from talks around 12:45 a.m., said the two sides had ‘another good day’ of work and there had been progress. The two were moving past work on evaluations and focusing on other key issue, the recall of laid-off teachers, he said.
’We’ve got some number crunching to do overnight and we’re going to be back here tomorrow and see if we can’t finish this up,’ Vitale said. …
“Chicago Teacher’s Union President Karen Lewis said both sides planned to go back to their respective shops this morning and go over calculations from the latest proposals. Lewis described the negotiations as an ‘ebb and flow.’”
Both sides appear to be moving forward with the goal of hammering out a deal by the time the union’s House of Delegates meets this afternoon. If that happens, the union reps could sign off on the deal, clearing the way for classes to resume on Monday.
