SCHOOL’S OPEN — BUT FOR HOW LONG?
Chicago Schools CEO JeanClaude Brizard beamed Tuesday as he rang the opening-day bell at Roberto Clemente High and declared “we made national news’’ with the system’s move to a longer school day and year — even though the threat of a teachers strike could halt the effort.
Based on weekend talks, a top Chicago Teachers Union official was doubtful the union’s House of Delegates would delay or cancel a scheduled Sept. 10 strike date at its monthly meeting Wednesday. Still, said CTU Vice President Jesse Sharkey, “you can never say never.’’
Brizard said Tuesday he did not know if enough progress would be made by Wednesday to alter the scheduled strike date but said negotiators had made “steady prog- ress” over the weekend at teacher contract talks that have lingered since November.
“At the same time,’’ Brizard said, “I need to finish this. The stress on families is tremendous — parents and children.” However, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said later negotiators for the city and the teachers union were making “good progress” toward averting a strike.
Any walkout would be the first of the nation’s third-largest school system in 25 years.
As his long-pledged longer school day came to fruition systemwide Tuesday, Emanuel shook hands and exchanged high-fives with students outside the newly constructed Shields Middle School, 4250 S. Rockwell. His staff allowed TV cameras to shoot video but the mayor did not take reporters’ questions.
Later, at the Marquez campus of UNO Charter School, 2916 W.