HOD Sept. '22

Report on the meeting of the House of Delegates held on September 28, 2022

By George Milkowski

CTU President Stacy Gates ran her first
live delegates meeting as president.

NOTE: This was the first in-person meeting held since the pandemic began. All attendees needed to be masked. Consequently, the masking sometimes muffled the voices of the delegates and made it a bit difficult to entirely catch what they were trying to say.

Also, the CTU did not make its traditional delegates’ packet available in print. The Union put it on line, which I think is foolish as I did not have time to print up copies before I had to leave for the meeting and active teacher delegates can not use CPS machines and paper to print them up. The only recourse was to look at the material on out phones which is difficult as there where more than 21 pages of materials.

The meeting began at 4:15 p.m. with the resumption of the 30 minute pre-meeting. 

Question and Answer period

-Karen Sota (Waters Elem.) asked about using sick days during the Thanksgiving week break. The CPS is closing the school the entire week but only Thursday and Friday are paid days. The Union said “no” to this.

-One delegate said that the networks are looking into classrooms every week looking for paper postings of lesson plans, daily objectives, and so on. Teachers feel intimidated. What can be done? CTU Pres. Stacy David Gates said that principals should be welcomed into the classrooms as they are supposed to be instructional leaders.

If it turns out that their visits are perceived as punitive, the contract has an article that helps protect teachers from bullying principals.

-Jim Vail (Hammond) expressed concerns over the excess hours required of teachers to take safety training on their own time. Grievance co-ordinator Deidre Foster said the CTU has an arbitration case on this issue pending.

-The delegate from Hanson Park complained of the additional paperwork that Special Ed teachers are facing with a program called Branching Minds. It requires additional date entry time. CTU is looking into that; data entry is considered “paperwork”.

-The Cameron School delegate said he has 31 new immigrant students due to Texas shifting undocumented immigrants to Chicago. A new teaching method (Skylines) implemented by the Board is “trash”, adds more paperwork, and is ineffective. He also referenced that CPS test to get into selective enrollment high schools is in English only which, he said, is immoral and probably illegal. Stacy was sympathetic and the Union has had similar concerns expressed by others.

-The delegate from Roosevelt High asked how an individual may be removed as a contributor to the CTU Pac fund. Stacy said to send a letter requesting that to Norma Alber at the CTU, but she also stressed that this would not be a wise thing to do. There are strong forces funding candidates and positions that are against the best interests of the Union. We need to be prepared to be able to counter that.

While using Zoom during the pandemic, delegates were able to send in questions during House meetings using the “chat” function. That seemed successful and the Union will continue to take questions during the meeting using delegates’ phones

I. Officers’/Committee Reports

A. Christel Williams- Hayes – Recording Secretary. Chistel urged all delegates to include PARAs in their schools’ Professional Problems Committee (PPC). PARA issues are not the same as that of teachers.

B. Linda Perales – Organizing. Linda urged delegates to reach out to her if they need help in organizing a PPC. She also said that there are 500 new immigrant students and we are expecting a total up to 8,000. To that end the CTU has developed a “Newcomer Kit” to help them out.

Additionally, the Union is following the lead of one school and is accepting donations of toiletries, clothes and so on. Delegates were asked to consider organizing a donation drive at their respective schools. Items can be dropped off at the CTU building.

CTU pressure on the CPS is getting them to move to increase training and pay for more interpreters needed for developing students’ IEPs.

The Union is conducting a delegates and school leaders training session on November 12. This would be for delegates and members of PPCs.

The CTU is holding a webinar on Public Service Loan Forgiveness. The webinar is currently full with 200 participants, but the CTU will plan on having additional webinars as needed.

C. Kathy Catalano – Financial Report. Kathy is out on a FMLA leave so Kurt Hilgendorf gave an abbreviated financial report. The CTU, due to its standard conservative budget projections and due to a large increase in new members, ended the fiscal year (June 30, 2022) with a balance of $870,581. He said that about 47% of dues are “pass throughs” to the AFT, the IFT, and so on although some of that money comes back in services provided to the Union by those organizations. He said about 2/3 of our budget is for staff.

Lastly, Kurt said that the first month of the new fiscal year, July, 2022, had an income of only $94. That means that for that month we are heavily in the red. However, that will change as the new year has begun and the Union just received the first installment of members’ dues.

D. Maria Moreno – Financial Secretary – Our membership has grown by almost 1,800 to 29,001, of which 1,690 are retirees.

E. Jennifer Conant – Charter Division – Jennifer reported that 11 charter schools are currently in contract renewal talks while two others are in their first contract negotiations. She stressed that whatever the charters contracts can get will help set precedents for our own contract when negotiations begin next year.

F. Jackson Potter - Vice President – Jackson’s remarks stressed the importance of each schools PPC being active and up and running to set a positive tone for the school year. This is where many problems can be resolved before jumping into the grievance process.

Jackson also spoke of the Union’s “We Care Coaching and Mentoring” program.

Too many newer teachers feel isolated and lost in their first two years and end up quitting in frustration. The Union’s program pairs up newer and veteran teachers to try to help the new ones navigate the trials and tribulation of teaching.

Lastly, he reminded that delegates that the CTU’s Special Ed Committee is having a training session on how to use the State’s complaint process when the CPS ignores rules and regulations required by Illinois for Special Ed students.

G. Kathy Murray – Field Representative. Kathy reported on two important wins we had over the summer. A teacher retired in June but was denied her $32,000 sick day pay out because the Board said she had to wait to retire until August. After some back and forth the CPS relented and gave the woman what she was due.

Also, a TAT transitioned to PAT status but was denied health insurance. CPS claimed the individual never turned in the proper paperwork. Kathy was able to prove the Board was wrong and the teacher‘s insurance was restored.

Kathy said that teacher ratings for the 2021-2022 school year are out and gave the deadlines for anyone who wished to appeal.

Kathy also gave kudos to Debby Pope who serves on the join CTU-CPS committee on class size. So far 74 new positions have been established and in high schools teachers who were given six classes are now going to be properly paid.

Kathy concluded her remarks by citing that COVID testing protocols are continuing and that school Safety Committees should still be active.

H. Political/Legislative Committee – Kurt Hilgendorf. Ten years ago the CTU came out with a report titled “The Schools Chicago Students Deserve”. A newer, updated version is out now. It cites some gains but also highlights things that still need to be accomplished. Go to: www.ctulocal1.org/deserve is you would like to see it.

Kurt also stressed the importance of voting because this is election season. Early voting starts in the wards on October 24. Besides voting for endorsed CTU candidates, members should vote “Yes” on the first item on the ballot, an addition to the Illinois Constitution known as the Workers’ Rights Amendment. Note: had this been in effect earlier, then the 25 years the CTU was handicapped in negotiations by the Amendatory Act probably wouldn’t have happened. I don’t think the union busting court case (Janus v. Rauner) could have been successful, either.

Kurt said that last year the CTU’s PAC spent about $500,000 and has $1,099,761 on hand now. It is projected that the PAC will need $4,000,000 for the 2023 and 2024 election cycles.

Lastly, Kurt said the annual Legislators Educators Appreciation Dinner,

(L.E.A.D.) dinner will be Friday, September 3. This is a chance to meet with various legislators and inform them one on one of the problems we face daily in the schools or as retirees. A social hour will start at 4:30 p.m. and at 5:30 the dinner will begin. Tickets are $50 per person.

II. President’s Report

Pres. Stacy Davis-Gates opened her remarks commenting that she is new to her position in running the House meeting and asked the delegates for patience if she makes an error in procedures.

Stacy announced that the street along the CTU’s north side, Carroll Avenue, will receive the honorary name of Karen Lewis Way.

Regarding the teacher evaluation program (REACH), Stacy said most principals did not follow through on proper procedures. Generally, ratings held steady but individuals who wish to challenge their rating should contact the CTU as soon as possible.

News reports have Miami-Dade as the third largest school district in the nation.

CPS has fallen to fourth place with another drop in enrollment but that means we will have to fight to maintain and increase the resources needed in the schools. She did give kudos to Superintendent Pedro Martinez. He seems assessable and willing to listen.

Stacy also said we need to celebrate the work that our members are doing, so she specifically devoted some time highlighting the work done by Delegate Moselean Parker (McKay School) and Field representative Kathy Murray.

Looking to the future, Stacy said we are currently working on the new contracts and renewed contracts for charter schools; next year we will have municipal elections; and in 2024 our contract expires plus there will be the first round of elections for a new, elected, representative school board. To that end we need to continue contributing to the CTU PAC fund.

III. Items for Action

A. Stacy asked for and received a suspension of the rules to allow three CTU members to speak. The first was Muise Bawany who is running for alderperson in the 50th Ward and the second was Lori Torres who is running for alderperson in the 36th Ward. The third member to speak was Brandon Johnson who is up for re-election to the Cook County Board and may run for mayor next year. All three gave moving speeches as to their background and why they feel the need to run for office.

B. A resolution was presented endorsing Bawany and Torres for alderpersons and also for Johnson IF he decides to run for mayor. Retiree Delegate Lou Pyster presented an amendment to defer endorsing Johnson’s possible mayoral run. Lou cited our past support of Chuy Garcia and that Garcia is considering running again. He wonders how supporting Johnson now may affect the mayoral race if Garcia ends up going into a runoff against Lightfoot. After much debate, Pyster’s proposal was defeated. I voted against his amendment. Then the original endorsement resolution passed. I voted in favor of it.

C. A resolution supporting the new immigrant families being bused to Chicago from Texas passed. I voted in favor of that, too.

D. The last item was a resolution honoring State Rep. Greg Harris who is retiring from the General assembly. He has been supportive of CTU positions in Springfield. I voted yes on this item too.

IV. New Business/Question and Answers

There was an announcement asking CTU members to support workers of Howard Brown who may be going on strike. (I think that is the name of the company. The voice was too muffled for me to be sure).

V. Question and Answers

Lou Pyster asked about the status of renaming some Chicago schools, including a proposal to name one after Karen Lewis. Stacy said the CTU will follow up on that.

A delegate asked about when we can expect to have a retiree meeting as we haven’t had one in more than a year. Stacy said the various Union committees are being organized and she expects to have one in a month.

The delegate from Bright Elementary strongly objected to Brandon Johnson’s remarks. Johnson mentioned the name of a student who was murdered just outside of Kenwood High, where Johnson’s son goes to school. The delegate said the student was in her class at Bright School and she chided Johnson for using his name “for political purposes”. (I didn’t take it that way. I felt he was just highlighting the unequal resources and situations that are faced in too many schools). She also was upset that the Union has not taken a position supporting reparations for foundational African Americans. Stacy referred her to the head of the Policy Committee on that issue.

Another delegate pointed out that there are class size limitations for K-3 and in high school, but not middle school. Stacy recognized this and said the Union will have it in mind when contract negotiations start up next year.

Jim MacIntosh (Roosevelt High) referenced class size excess in high school P.E. classes. Stacy recognized this problem, too.

Jim Vail asked about reports in some right wing news outlets that the CTU gave a $62,000 loan to Brandon Johnson. Stacy made it very clear that the Union does not give out loans; that any money given is a donation from our PAC fund.

At that point a motion to adjourn passed. It was 7:37 p.m.