HOD Nov.

Report on the meeting of the House of Delegates held on November 2, 2022

By George Milkowski

CTPF Jeffrey Blackwell and Jackie Price Ward were re-elected to Pension Board.

NOTE: The CTU did not make its traditional delegates’ packet available in print for retiree delegates..  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.  The only recourse was to look at the material on our phones, which is difficult as there was so much material.

The meeting began at 4:50 p.m.. 

The meeting opened with four candidates for the Pension Fund given two minutes to explain why they are running.  This election is for active teachers only this time.  Pres Davis Gates preceded their remarks by saying that CTU Executive Board has voted to ask the House to endorse two of the candidates; Jeff Blackwell and Jacqueline Price Ward.  The vote on this will come later in the meeting.

Jeffery Blackwell has been on the Pension Board and has been able to serve as its president.  He said he worked successfully to get the State legislature to re-enact a dedicated tax levy for the Fund and also has been active in going after charter schools that have not made their required payments to the fund.

Catherine Cunnigham-Yee is running as an independent.  She is a high school Special Ed teacher and wants the CTPF to be more aggressive in divesting from fossil fuels.  She maintains the 2027 self imposed deadline to do so is too late.  She also said that if elected she would put out a monthly video report to the Pension Fund members.

Marcy Esposito-Usterbrowski wants to abolish the Tier 2 category for teachers and she strongly criticized the leadership of the Union for not being transparent.

Lastly, Jacqueline Price-Ward said she has been on the CTPF Board for 4 years and for two years chaired the Pension Fund’s Communication Committee.  She said that some of her opponents are in the Members First Caucus and are tied in with the right wing leaning Illinois Policy Institute.

I. Officers’/Committee Reports

A.   Christel Williams- Hayes – Recording Secretary.  Christel is ill so Pres. Stacy Davis Gates filled in for her.  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.

It was announced that a “Delegates & School Leaders Training” session will be conducted on Saturday, November 12 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  Breakfast and check-in will start at 8:00 a.m. and there will be a break for lunch. 

November 29 is “Giving Tuesday” and the Union is asking for donations to the CTU Foundation.  They would like donations to the Student Special assistance Fund for eyeglasses, hearing aids and clothing.  Also there will be a holiday coat and toy drive.

B. Kurt Hilgendorf gave a brief financial report with some pages posted on a screen but it was difficult to read so I have nothing to report on this.

C. Maria Moreno – Financial Secretary – Our membership is 27,569 of which 1,683 are retirees.

Retirees will have a chance to elect someone to represent them on the Pension Board.  Nominations will be taken at the scheduled December 8 luncheon.  If you would like to run for the Board you do not have to pay for the luncheon.  You can just show up for the nominating process.  Ballots will be mailed out January 17, 2023 and will need to be returned by February 14.  If needed, there will be a run-off March 9.

D.  Jennifer Conant – Charter Division – Jennifer reported that 35 charter schools in 13 different charter networks have their contracts expire this summer.  The CTU Charter Division is working to have a common baseline contract for all the schools.  She stressed that whatever the charters contracts can get will help set precedents for our own contract when negotiations begin the following year.

Jen also said the CPS has revoked the charter of Urban Prep due to financial mismanagement, substantiated cases of sexual misconduct, and the lack of the minimum required number of certified teachers.  She said they are working with the CPS to insure that the future of these schools will have union representation and involvement.

F.  Jackson Potter - Vice President –Jackson referenced 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.  This has made the growing teacher shortage worse.  He said the CTU’s program has a success retention rate of 93% for those in years 1-3 of teaching.

Jackson said he has been out canvassing for Lori Torres (36th Ward), Muise Bawamy (50th Ward), and Brandon Johnson (running for Mayor).  He said Johnson is insisting that public safety is directly tied in with public investment in communities.  

The CPS has agreed to recognize five new job categories and is negotiating with the CTU over 25 more job titles.  Once this is finalized, these workers will be eligible to be CTU members.

Jackson concluded by saying that the immigrants being shipped north from Texas and Florida are increasing the number of homeless students the CPS has to deal with.

G.  Jed Schenkier – Grievance Department.  An arbitrator has ruled in favor of a CTU member, Melissa Poeta.  She was laid off illegally and told she had to get a Special Ed endorsement if she wanted her job back.  She did at her own expense.  The arbitrator ordered the CPS to pay Melissa for the expenses she had incurred to get that endorsement..

In other grievances we won, 4,234 coaches, athletic directors and sports liaisons will receive between $1,200 and $8,500 for unpaid work they did during Fiscal year 2020-2021.  Also, over 5,000 coaches will get $20,000 for their schools for uniforms, equipment and bus transportation for 82 high schools.  261 elementary schools will be getting $13,000 for the same reason.

Lastly, Jed said the deadline to appeal one’s REACH (teacher evaluation) score for the 2021-2022 school year is November 22.

II. President’s Report

Pres. Stacy Davis-Gates opened her remarks commenting that the CTU and CPS has put a number of lingering grievances on a “fast track” and it seems to be working.

Stacy also said the CTU is opening its on-line store on November 4 to give members a chance to buy CTU “swag”.  Members can get a 10% discount if they sign up for the Union’s “Memberlink”.

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 Jedda Biddle-White (Fiske School) and CTU organizer LaShawn Wallace.

Pres. Davis Gates became emotional when she related how she and her family were recently outdoors and there were gunshots.  Her kid, playing soccer, and everyone else, had to hit the deck for their own safety.  She said that CTU endorsed mayoral candidate Brandon Johnson feels more investment in neighborhoods will help reduce crime.  She said this won’t solve all of our social problems but this is better than proposals put out by other candidates.

III.  More Reports

A. Organizing – Jhoanna Maldanado.  Jhoanna urged delegates to notify the CTU if there is an influx of immigrant students.  We are working with CPS to try to have more bilingual interpreters, especially for developing IEPs for students.  Also, they are trying to deal with the problem that the high school entrance exams are only in English.

B. Political/Legislative – Kurt Hilgendorf.  Kurt’s report was short.  He is asking for volunteers to work to get passage of the Workers’ Rights Amendment.

IV. Items for Action

A.  The House voted, without dissent, to endorse Daniel La Spata (1st Ward), Jeanette Taylor (20th Ward), Rosanna Rodrigues Sanchez (333h Ward), and Carlos Ramirez Rosa (35th Ward).  They are up for election in February 2023.  I voted “yes” for these individuals.

A motion was made to have the House of Delegates formally endorse Jeffery Blackwell and Jacqueline Price-Ward for the CTPF.  After some debate it passed.  There were a handful of “nays”.  I voted “yes” on this.

IV. New Business/Question and Answers

Retiree Delegate Lou Pyster asked about the status of renaming some Chicago schools.  He suggested a few names, including Jacob Lawrence.

The delegate from Bright School again asked that the Union take a position supporting reparations for foundational African Americans.

At that point a motion to adjourn passed.   It was 7:05 p.m..