HOD Nov.

November House of Delegates Discuss Return to School

By Jim Vail

From left in red CTU Chris Baehrend Charters, VP Stacy Gates & Pres. Jesse Sharkey

The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) House of Delegates (HOD) met last November 4 to discuss the fight between the union and the Chicago Board of Education (CBOE) about whether or not students and teachers should return to the classroom.

There is a growing movement to go back to school across the country, however the number of Corona Virus cases continue to rise in the city and the date when pre-k and special education students should return to school has been postponed. They are supposed to return during the Second Quarter which began this week.

The union said it was a strategic move from CPS to provide air filters which makes it look like the schools are ready and safe, but classrooms still need air flow, and open windows are not sufficient because it doesn’t mean there is necessary air circulation and ventilation in the room.

"CPS has a strategy to win the public to go back to school, which makes it a risk to our position to make us seem to be more isolated," President Jesse Sharkey said. "If we keep saying no, it can leave us isolated, and our members will be demoralized, because it would appear we are not bargaining and we keep saying no."

The CTU pointed to a safety demands petition on the union's website to fill out: ctulocal1.org/petition 

Chicago Covid cases continue to rise, and areas of the city such as the Southwest Side and Little Village have a 28 percent positivity rate.

While the country is struggling during this second wave of Covid, it is not dire everywhere. Jesse mentioned that Maine has a positivity rate of only 1%, while San Francisco is very low as well although they have not gone back to school. Cities appear to be divided between schools in person or online.

Union officials continued to say CPS needs adequate ventilation, testing, social distancing and staffing, to make it safe.

Will there be a strike? The union said it is up to the members to decide if we need to fight should CPS demand a return to schools before people feel it is safe enough. The union said there needs to be more input from parents and teachers. Should there be a strike, the executive board would first have to authorize it, then the delegates vote in favor at the HOD and the members vote in the schools.

Should the HOD have online visitors? Visitors can’t vote with delegates, but the union could broadcast the delegates meetings behind a member portal, or live stream the meeting - but the mainstream corporate media - which is owned by big business and thus anti-union - could watch the meeting that is internal union business. Delegates discuss sensitive subjects such as problems with their principals that if made public could jeopardize their jobs, Sharkey said. Still, he said meetings should be as open as possible.

Sharkey lamented that the recent presidential election was not an outright "repudiation" of Trump as he was hoping for. There were only about 3 million more votes against Trump.

"He is anti-working class, immigrant and native workers," Sharkey said. "We don’t get stronger by crapping on our neighbors. It weakens our cause ... Unions need to organize against Trumpism."

The following Resolutions were passed:

• Resolution for CTU to stand in support of members in the schools who take collective action to safeguard their safety of families and community in defiance of employers refusing to respect rights of school staff;

• Resolution for unions to protest if Trump tries to stop counting the ballots. Against any effort to subvert outcome of the presidential election. Take any non violent actions necessary including a strike to protect our democracy for constitutionally mandated peaceful transition of power as result of 2020 Presidential elections.  (95% Yes, passes) from AFT.

The union organizers said they want to stop 3 school closings in Lawndale to build a new magnet public school. Why close these schools instead of giving the neighborhood schools the resources they need? Why are they doing this during Covid-19? They say they are working with politicians. Have meetings about this!

The union said Acero Charter trying to expand into Michigan, and they asked if this controversial charter operator formerly known as UNO was using tax dollars to expand into Michigan. They are looking into it.

There are 11 contracts with charter schools expiring in 2022. The CTU Charter Strategy Summit is scheduled in early 2021 to prepare.

"They want to divide our staffs to go back, we need to be unified," Sharkey said.

One delegate said their paid parent volunteers were being pressured to come into the building in Brighton Park where Covid positivity is pushing 20. The union said she should work with the PPC and the union organizer in her network.

One delegate asked if the union can work with the Governor to keep the schools closed during the pandemic. VP Stacy Gates said to "not hold our breath" for the governor to shut down the economy like before unless we see more deaths.

For now, it's a wait and see approach on the part of the union to protect teachers and students and the Chicago public schools focused on kids learning in schools so parents can go back to work.