One Staff Member Returns to Marine Academy After Sex Scandal Investigation

By Jim Vail

Former MLA Principal Erin Galfer was accused of coverup.

The Chicago Public Schools removed 12 Marine Leadership Academy (MLA) employees including the principal, teachers and staff last fall after they were accused of sexual misconduct with students or trying to cover it up.

But an internal investigation has found one of the employees was not guilty and returned to the school in February.

"In some cases, employees return to their school after being investigated and cleared of all threats to student safety," MLA Principal Kristin Novy wrote in an email to parents on Feb 23. "One of our previously-pulled staff members has been found to be safe to return to school and will return on Thur, Feb. 24."

Novy wrote that they will be working carefully with the employee to implement a re-entry plan that supports all students and staff. She said that they are working with the Office of Student Protections and Title IX and the Office of Social Emotional Learning to identify and provide resources for the school community as well as working with the Office of Safety and Security regarding MLA social media posts.

"Our goal is to be able to move forward as a school community and work together in the best interests of the students."

The Marine Academy sex scandal rocked CPS when it was revealed teachers and employees were grooming students that dated back more than two years. However, CPS promoted Principal Galfer last summer rather than fire, which they did once everything blew up in the media.

Was this a CPS coverup?

For years, MLA staff in Logan Square alerted admin and CPS officials about pervasive sex abuse on and off the campus, but the issue was not taken seriously. The military high school had also lost two students to suicide and the whistle blowers blame the school environment. The whistleblower employees said they face harassment from other school employees for speaking out about the sex abuse.

One teacher had a sexual relationship with a student and a volunteer groomed multiple students. They say about a dozen students were affected. "We fought really hard," the whistleblower told the media. "Because it felt like the upper people were covering up."

The Chicago Tribune featured an alarming report called Betrayed in 2018 that featured a series of rampant sex abuse in the schools that were covered up, including a track star at Simeon Career Academy who was raped 40 times by the coach.

While some predators were prosecuted and fired, hundreds of teachers and staff were rounded up and investigated. Suddenly every Chicago public school teacher and staff member was being watched with suspicious eyes by a district that appeared to have covered up the crimes. At this time, many of my colleagues were under unrelenting scrutiny and in fear of losing our jobs.

What the mainstream media did not report was how many teachers were exonerated. Many moved on or transferred to other schools. Trying to wipe out pedophilia in the schools is like trying to root out corruption in the city, an impossible mission. The question not asked is how many innocent teachers and staff were forced out.

Making life a living hell for teachers across the city for the actions of a few criminals certainly aligned with the ruling money interests agenda to destroy public schools.

At Marine Leadership, while one was found not guilty, another staff member was snagged up in the continuing investigation.

"I am writing to inform you that there has been an allegation of inappropriate conduct with students; this involves one of our non-teaching staff members," Principal Novy wrote on April 7. "This employee has been removed from the school, and an investigation has been initiated by the Office of Inspector General."

HOD April

Report on the meeting of the House of Delegates held on April 4, 2022

By George Milkowski

The meeting began at 4:33 p.m. and was a Zoom webinar.

I. Officers Reports

A.   Christel Williams- Hayes – Recording Secretary.  Christel said the CTU has begun hosting a series of in-person meetings for PSRPs.  She also said the CPS is making plans to increase the privatization of Technology Coordinators.   She urged delegates to work with the their LSCs and their PPCs to protect current Techno Coordinators from budget cuts.

B.  Kathy Catalano – Financial Report.  Kathy reported that income from dues is about $200,000 ahead of what was expected in the budget.  Counting all income sources we are $2,170,917 ahead of schedule 

C. Maria Moreno – Financial Secretary – Our membership is currently 28,113 and retiree membership has increased by 17 to 1,655. 

Maria presented an Eligibility Report for the upcoming CTU election and that there are three slates with a few independents.  Sue Sebasta drew lots on camera to determine the order that the slates will appear on the ballot.  They will be 1) C.O.R.E.,

2) Members First, and 3) R.E.A.L. Caucus.

Maria said that the deadline for caucuses to pay for mailing of their campaign material has been expended to May 20, the day of the election.  Due to a change in the rules the House approved last month these materials will not be submitted for approval to the CTU but each caucus will have to sign an affidavit attesting that the material is actually theirs and that they are responsible for them.

Citywide members, such as retirees, will be first getting electronic and paper sample ballots and then on April 21 the actual ballots will be mailed out.

D.  Caroline Rutherford – Charter Division – A number of charter contracts from different operators expire July 1 so delegates from different schools are meeting to try to come up with joint demands.    The Charter Division will conduct a rally at the CPS headquarters, 42 W. Washington, on May 17 starting at 4:30 p.m. and all CTU members are asked to join in.

E.  Stacy Davis Gates - Vice President – Stacy lauded the enthusiasm and activism of the charter division.  Then she spent some time, along with Debby Pope, honoring the memory of Helen Ramirez-Odell who died a few weeks ago.  I worked with Helen on the Retired Members Standing Committee, she had been in the House of Delegates for decades, was actively involved in the Coalition of Labor Union Women, and was named Woman of the Year by the CFL a few years ago.  Regarding internal Union politics, Helen and I disagreed but I have no doubt she had the best interests of the membership in her heart.  She will be missed.

Stacy said the CTU is conducting a mental health members survey and urged all to participate in it.  The past few years have been more stressful than normal and she said we have to take care or ourselves first if we expect to do a decent job in the schools.

Lastly, Stacy said the CPS is very slow in providing data regarding COVID cases, vaccination rates, vaccination projects in the schools and so on but the CTU is working to try to collect and organize the information so we have a better understanding of what is going on and can take action on it if necessary.

II. President’s Report

Pres. Sharkey reported the CPS is developing employment opportunities for Union members to make up for the lost four days of pay due to the CPS lockout a few months ago.  However, the CPS will NOT call it make up pay.  Details are not yet available.

Jesse said that individual school budgets for the coming year are out with increases in 60% of the schools but reductions in 40% of the schools.  The final overall budget for the entire system will have to be approved by August so there is time to push for changes.  He added that the CPS has $4 billion in federal funds that they have not yet spent

III. Items for Action

The CTU will conduct its traditional debate between candidates for president and vice president on May 5.  This time it will be a hybrid event with some people being present in the Union main hall and others viewing it on-line.  If one wants to see it one must register in advance.    One delegate, Lisa Zoccoli, asked if there would be equal amounts of attendees from the three caucuses.  Jesse said that can’t be dome as there is no way to determine if an audience member belongs to a caucus, if any.

Natasha Carlson proposed an amendment to have another similar debate a week later between the candidates for recording and financial secretaries.  Jackson Potter opposed this as did Stacy Davis Gates who questioned the impact this might have on precedence.  A Citywide delegate, Emily Penn, favored the amendment and was surprised we haven’t had these extra debates sooner.  Kim Tooney (sp?) of Ravenswood opposed it as did Cristen Chapman from Hancock School.  Someone questioned the additional costs of extra debates.  Joe Linehan from Eberhart School favored it.  A motion to extend debate failed 85-15%.  The proposed amendment failed in a rather close vote, 54-46%.  I voted in favor of the amendment.

IV. Committee Reports

A.  Political/Legislative – Kurt Hilgendorf.  Kurt reported from Springfield that the bill to restore sick days to those who missed work due to COVID for themselves or their families has now become law.  To get any sick days restored faculty and staff must be fully vaccinated by mid May.

The bill to restrict testing of students in grade K-3 has passed and is awaiting the Governor’s signature.

Retirees who wish to sub USED to be restricted to subbing 100 days per year without jeopardizing their pensions.  Due to the growing lack of available subs (now called guest teachers) that number was increased to 120 days.  Now, for the 2022/23 and 2023/24 school years one may be a guest teacher 140 days.

Additionally, again to the teacher shortage, a bill (HB 4246) would reduce the $500 fee to renew a lapsed teaching license to $50.

Lastly, SB 3663 would reduce the number of hours of professional development by 20% for all whose license is up for renewal this year.

B.  Grievance – Kevin Hough – Contact tracing pay should be in checks this pay period.

Kevin also reported that school Safety Committees are to be getting automated data links from the CPS.

Every school will have the opportunity to vote on which of the possible proposed school schedules they would want for the coming school year.

The Joint Staffing Committee has additional funds to help pay for staffing problems in schools; $5 million more for CADRE guest teachers and $2 million more for incentives for regular guest teachers.

The CTU won drivers education pay for those teachers for the 2019/20 and 2020/21 school years.

At Chopin School teachers noticed increasing occurrences of black “soot” in the building but the CPS investigation found that it is not a problem.  But the school faculty and staff filed an OSHA complaint that the CTU won and now there will be a federally mandated air quality investigation.

Georgia Waller announced Wendy Williams from Lozano and Breina Washington at Poe school as the CTU’s guest teachers of the month.

C. Organizing – Rebecca Martinez.  The CTU will be holding its 11th annual Organizing Institute that be over three weeks in the summer and over four Saturdays in the fall.  There is a stipend and gas mileage reimbursement.  One must to apply for the Institute by April 22.  It will mostly by in-person

V. New Business/Question and Answers

Christel Williams Hayes submitted a resolution to have the CTU support Technology Coordinatiors.  Pres. Sharkey submitted it to the Executive Board for consideration but Christel challenged that decision.  The house voted to support Christel, 52-48%.

However, something came up in my home and I, at 7:04 p.m., I had to leave the meeting before it officially was adjourned.

Election Debate?

No Debate at CTU Election Forum

By Jim Vail

Core's Jackson Potter and Stacy Davis Gates are running for 
CTU President and Vice President May 20. They along with the other
caucuses spoke at the March 31 Kelly candidates forum.

The three caucuses running in the Chicago Teachers Union May 20 election participated in a forum at Thomas Kelly High School March 31st in which they outlined their platforms and took jabs at each other.

But they did not debate. 

The Kelly High School delegates who helped arrange the forum said that some of the caucuses were opposed to the traditional election debate where the audience could ask questions and the representatives from each caucus would answer and counter any criticisms from the other. 

After two leaders from each caucus spoke for about 3 minutes, the audience of 30 people were told that they could then visit the tables set up in each corner of the auditorium to ask questions and pick up flyers.

Stacy Davis Gates who is running for president of the union from CORE and is currently the vice president spoke first. She said the union under Core's leadership has "transformed Chicago" with the passage of an elected school board, bargaining rights that have been restored, the teachers pensions have been protected and they hit the pause button on Reach Evaluations for tenured teachers. She mentioned that schools like Kelly were able to get their funding thanks to Core's fight against the charter schools like UNO who were ready to usurp that funding during the height of privatization under Race to the Top.

Jackson Potter is the founder of CORE and running for vice president. He first ran for vice president with Karen Lewis in 2010 but was knocked off the ticket after the UPC challenged his candidacy because he had taken a sabbatical. He had served as the chief of staff of the union before he returned to teach in the high schools. He told the audience he was very happy with teaching, but at the union he got an ulcer.

"We made a point not to collaborate with the bosses," Jackson said in reference to the criticism of Members First who feel the relationship between the Mayor's office and the CTU leadership is too toxic.

Potter said not collaborating meant putting a moratorium on charter school expansion and not getting merit pay which would have tied teachers salaries to test scores, something most teachers and Core have fought vigorously against.

"Our main enemy is not each other, it's the bosses and the billionaires," Potter said.

Members First President candidate Mary Esposito Usterbowski spoke next and she said that the members are the most important people and should be the focus of the union. She said everything teachers do should be pensionable, including after-school coaching or tutoring. She said the union must be transparent and work hard to enforce the contract.

Members First Phil Weiss is running for  CTU Financial Secretary

Members First running mate Phil Weiss is running for financial secretary and was elected a pension trustee. He noted that Core named him the investment chair of the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund, and under his leadership the fund increased by one billion dollars. 

He said that the union needs to collaborate with people you do not like. 

"I don't like the mayor, but that doesn't mean I won't work with her," he said.

Joey McDermott is running for vice president of the REAL Caucus, made up of former Core members. McDermott was a union field rep with Core until he was abruptly fired and is now a high school teacher at Prosser. He said he got involved with Core after Crane High School where he earlier worked was a victim of the Ren2010 privatization plan to destroy the neighborhood schools and replace them with charter schools. The city helped destroy Crane's programs and drastically reduce its enrollment and Core started to organize and fight back against the school closings when the UPC union leadership did almost nothing.

"I experienced disinvestment in the schools," he said.

Joey McDermott is running for VP on the REAL Caucus slate. 
He joined Core to fight school closings but was fired for
criticizing the union.

McDermott used numbers to illustrate his points. He said they have gathered over 2500 petitions in over 125 schools and in his nine years as a union field rep he worked with 50 schools.   

He then aimed his revolver at Core's head. He said Core cut the grievance workers from 21 to 14 and leadership did not show interest in the day to day school grievances by attending less meetings. He also noted that the House of Delegates debates get stifled by not following the Roberts Rules of Order and therefore proposed hiring a parliamentarian. 

"We're not here to be a spoiler but to win," he said.

REAL's Allison Eichhorn spoke next. Eichhorn was a former CTU Trustee and member of the Executive Board and is running for financial secretary. She said that she was amazed the union did not have minutes of the trustees meetings to oversee a $14 million budget and was asking questions about a $1 million loan to Chuy Garcia who ran for mayor. She also said CTU Officers should not be earning two salaries - one with the CTU and other with the Illinois Federation of Teachers or IFT, and their leaders if elected would commit to not serving more than six years.

"I do believe we have to be political," she said, "but I also believe the members have a right to know."  

Change the Conversation

Do We Really Need to Change the Conversation?

By Jim Vail 

Yet another caucus has jumped into the explosive upcoming Chicago Teachers Union election this May.

Change the Conversation has been collecting signatures to get placed on the ballot. The deadline is Friday, March 24. 

The four declared caucuses running in the upcoming election are Core which currently leads the CTU, Members First, a vocal opposition group, Real, a group made up of former active Core members, and Change.

But who exactly is Change the Conversation?

Second City Teachers caught up with Mea Robinson-Davis, who is running on their ticket for recording secretary.

She said their caucus was formed about two months ago and currently has 4 members - Dr. Winnie Williams Hall, president; Nicole Flores, vice president, Jenna Brandon, treasurer and Davis.

They are currently gathering signatures and hope they will have enough to be on the ballot come election time with the other caucuses.

Davis said it has not been easy getting petitions signed.

"We've gotten some pushback," Davis told Second City Teachers. "A Members First school said they didn't want to sign the petitions because they didn't want to split the vote. There is also a lot of apathy."

Change the Conversation say they want more transparency and communication and less politics - very similar to what Members First wants.

So how are they different?

"Equity and equality," Davis said.

Davis said that their caucus wants to focus on the students as well as the teachers. 

"We are very passionate about the teachers and their lives," she said. "I feel quite ignored by our union leadership."

It appears the whole city, if not the country, is looking at this teachers union election. The CTU leadership is on edge about outside influences. They just filed a lawsuit against a former Mayor Lori Lightfoot aide who they claimed was illegally trying to influence the union election. They also called a special House of Delegates meeting where the delegates passed a resolution to denounce any outside influences on the election.

Change the Conversation uses corporate reform rhetoric such as equity and equality that groups like Educators for Excellence have used to influence union politics. This group appeared in the wake of the first Chicago teachers strike in 2012 when the union was involved in a life and death struggle with ed reformers who tried to take away the right of teachers to strike for better wages and conditions. Educators for Excellence held many meetings with teachers across the city - including at my school Hammond Elementary - where they paid for lavish lunches while saying they were concerned about the teachers and their conditions.

But there are no free lunches! This group is funded by the Gates Foundation which along with the other billionaire ed reformers want to privatize public education by closing public schools and opening up non-union charter schools. 

Davis is a special education teacher like her running mate Dr. Winnie Williams Hall. They both teach at Nicholson Elementary School in Englewood on the South Side. Niki Flores, a kindergarten bilingual teacher, and Jenna Brandon, a case manager, both teach at Peterson Elementary School on the North Side.

While they criticize union politics, their ticket looks like the perfect political statement. They have three races represented - African-American, Latinx and White, and both regions of the city represented - the South and North Sides.

But their social media presence is practically non-existent. Their Twitter account has less than a dozen followers and their Facebook page is almost non-existent.

Are they merely a plant to further increase opposition to a union that has battled the Mayor and big business plans to privatize education?

Or are they truly concerned that the teaching profession is not adequately represented by a current leadership team that critics argue is too focused on politics at the expense of rapidly deteriorating teaching conditions in the schools?

"Like many of you I've been feeling the frustration as of late," Williams Hall says in her social media campaign video. "Although grateful for the gains made by our current union leadership I do feel it is time for a change. For a while now teachers have felt their frustrations with politics over classrooms. Let's put the focus back where it belongs - support for students, teachers and staff. Educators let's change the conversation." 

HOD March

Report on the Meeting of the House of Delegates held on March 9, 2022

By George Milkowski

Pres. Jesse Sharkey announced that he has tested positive for COVID 19, has comparatively mild symptoms, and is self-isolating in his home.

I. Officers Reports

A.   Christel Williams- Hayes – Recording Secretary.  Christel kept her remarks very brief, announcing that the CTU will be hosting a series of in-person meetings for PSRPs.

B.  Kathy Catalano – Financial Report.  Kathy reported that we have completed the first half of our fiscal year and the current deficit is $2,780,130.  This deficit will be declining as dues were not collected over this past summer and we are currently receiving more dues that expected in our budget.

C. Maria Moreno – Financial Secretary – Our membership is currently 28,281 and retirees make up 1,638 of that total.

This is an election year in the Union and the deadlines for caucuses and individuals to submit their nominating petitions is March 25.

D.  Chris Baehrend – Charter Division – Chris was pleased to announce that in all 13 charter operator schools and systems COVID mitigations continue with 3 feet guaranteed social distancing and remote learning operations when required..

Chris also announced that the members in the various charter schools are starting to meet to develop common bargaining proposals when their contracts expire.  He also said the Charter Division is planning a rally in May.

E.  Stacy Davis Gates - Vice President – Stacy gave a large portion of her time to Dr. Monique Redeau-Smith, an educational researcher.  She said that ISBE is planning on increasing testing, replacing the one currently required math and reading test with three more spread out over the school year, including for grades K-2.  She cited research on the lack of validity of so much testing and said that 37 Illinois State legislators have signed a letter to ISBE opposing the measure.  She pointed out that ISBE made it clear that it did not intend to consult with parents and other stakeholders on this issue.  To learn more you can go to: teachnottest.org.  There are two bills to try to rein this plan in in the General Assembly, HB5285 and SB3986.  Contact your legislators and ask them to support these bills.  The ISBE plan would cost school districts $228 million over ten years.

Stacy has been visiting schools and has been impressed about the Union organizing and energy in the ones she visited.  She also visited striking teachers in Proviso Township and Riverdale whose members said their actions have been inspired by what the CTU has done.

Lastly, Stacy said the CPS is planning 60 poorly advertised vaccination events in March.  She asked delegates to see if their school is on the list and then contact parents to urge them to allow their children to get the vaccine.

II. President’s Report

Pres. Sharkey reported that the unilateral decision by CPS to end the mask mandate next year is a direct violation of our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).  The CPS should have met with and bargained with the CTU over this but did not, so the CTU filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) complaint with the Illinois Labor Board.  The Labor Board will hold a hearing on March 16, which is “lightning quick” for this body, and if we win, the Illinois Attorney General will be asked to seek an injunction against the CPS.  In a pre-meeting poll of delegates, 48.5% favored universal masking while 40% felt it should be optional. 

Those in schools with mostly white student bodies with higher vaccination rates were more inclined to prefer optional masking while those in schools that had higher percentages of students of color and lower vaccination rates wanted masking to still be mandatory. 

CTU attorney Latoyia Kimbrough is also in contact with disability rights groups who have an interest in this.

Jesse said we want to have universal masking re-imposed, specific open metrics that the Board should use for having or ending masking, specific requirements to protect immuno-compromised students, faculty, and staff, and a greater push to increase vaccination rates. He asked delegates to document inadequate COVID related safety conditions in the schools and bring these up to the safety committees and the CTU.

Jesse spoke regarding a previous proposal to have a CTU strike/hardship fund.  He did not have a specific proposal on this issue at this time.  To have one would cost an estimated $500,000, would probably require a membership vote, and would have to be co-ordinated with the AFT.  Most strike funds are run by international labor bodies, not locals.

III. Items for Action

A.  “Resolution to Divest from Fossil Fuels and Re-invest in Workers and Communities”.  This urges the AFT and all affiliated locals to divest from fossil fuels.  Collectively, they have an estimated $250 billion in assets in these types of companies.  Sandra Beck pointed out that it is not as easy to divest as many assume.  A lot of unions are invested in hedge funds and mutual funds so it is hard to pull out from these companies directly.  Bea Lumpkin  (retired, 103) maintained that the value of these companies are high now and this is a good time to pull out because she sees their value declining in the future.  The resolution was approved 88-12%.  I voted “yes” on this.

B.  “Resolution for Student Debt Cancellation”.  This urges Pres. Biden to cancel all student debt in his power before the moratorium on payments ends in two months on May 1, 2022.  Jesse asked delegates to put into the “chat” how much student debt they currently have for themselves or for their children.  One individual said his debt was over $145,000!  This passed, 92-8% and again I voted “yes”.

C.  The House of Delegates approved the endorsement of a number of individuals, with more endorsements to come at future meetings.  These endorsements passed 93-7%.  Those endorsed are:

U.S. House – Delia Ramirez (3rd)

Illinois Senate – Omar Aquino (2nd)

- Mike Simmons (7th)

- Ram Villivalam (8th)

- Rob Martwick (10th)

- Celina Villanueva (12th)

- Robert Peters (13th)

- Bill Cunningham (18th)

- Christina Pacione-Zayas (20th)

Illinois House – Aaron Ortiz (1st)

-Lilian Jimenez (4th)

- Lakesia Collins (9th)

- Lindsey LaPointe (19th)

- Theresa Mah (24th)

- Kam Buckner (26th)

- Marcus Evabs (33rd)

- Will Guzzardi (39th)

Cook County Board – Brandon Johnson (Dist. 1)

          - Alma Anaya (Dist. 7)

D.  There was a proposal to clarify a rule for the upcoming CTU election.  Anyone or any caucus who wanted to pay to have their campaign material mailed to Union members had been required to submit a copy of their material to the CTU beforehand.   Some felt this would “tip off” incumbents as to the election plans of challengers.  The rule was changed to end that practice.  I voted “yes” and it passed 87-13%.

E.  Lastly, there were two proposals regarding union meetings.  The first, which would allow a masked in-person delegates training workshop on March 26, passed 53-47%.  I voted “no’ on this.

The second proposal was to start having in-person House of Delegates meetings beginning in April with a virtual “Option for Medically Fragile” delegates.  I spoke and voted against this and it failed 75-25%.  The idea of meeting in-person may revisited at future meetings this school year.

IV. Committee Reports

A. Organizing - LaShawn Wallace stressed the importance of having CTU meetings in schools regarding the CPS change in mask policy.  She said delegates should strongly urge their members to continue wearing masks, contact the LSC and continue to document safety violations to the Safety Committee and the CTU.  The Union also has prepared flyers that can be handed out to parents before and after school and also door posters that can be hung in classrooms.

B.  Grievance – Jose Jiminez – Jose announced that Special Education Funds are now available in all schools and the money needs to be spent by the end of the school year.

PSRPs should have received their mid-year evaluation and is they haven’t they cannot be laid off out of seniority order when the school year ends.

Georgia Waller announced that David Prado and James Foster have been named substitute teacher of the month.

C.  Political/Legislative – Kurt Hilgendorf.  Kurt reported from Springfield that the bill to restore sick days to those who missed work due to COVID for themselves or their families, HB1167 passed the House and is now in the Senate.

Bills to prevent standardized testing in grades K-2, SB 3986 and HB 5285 have been introduced.  CTU members should contact their legislators and ask them to support this legislation. 

Another bill, SB3663, would reduce, by 20%, professional development requirements as the pandemic has made it difficult for some to meet them.

Lastly, Kurt asked for volunteers to help get our endorsed candidates elected.  If you would like to help, go to: ctulocal1.org/vote.

V. New Business/Question and Answers

Mary Esposito, a clinician delegate, asked about the status of our ULP complaint filed over the lost days due to the January lockout.  CTU attorney Robert Bloch said that, unlike the ULP filed over the change in mandatory masking, this one is still in its preliminary phase.

HOD Core Defeat

Delegates Reject CTU Proposal for In Person Meetings

By Jim Vail

The CTU went from refusing to work in the schools due to Covid
to requesting delegates return to in person House of Delegates meetings.
President Jesse Sharkey just announced that he too has Covid.

A majority of the delegates voted against a Chicago Teachers Union proposal to return to in person delegate meetings for the near future.

Two proposals were voted down to go back to in-person meetings. The first one asked if delegates wanted to attend the next March 26 delegates training workshop in person at the CTU headquarters and a simple majority of just over 50 percent said no. The second proposal asked delegates to vote on returning to in-person delegates meetings in April, May and June and a resounding 75 percent voted no.

Several delegates asked why the CTU leadership would push for holding meetings now in person when the union has been leading the fight for safety measures during a pandemic that has killed almost 1 million Americans.

"This would not look good with the media covering our next delegates meeting and see delegates entering the building without masks," one delegated stated.

Many spoke out against the measure because they are immuno-compromised and are therefore still afraid of catching the potentially deadly virus.

The CTU leadership pushed for the proposals by stating they were giving the delegates an option to stay home if they still felt threatened (medically fragile) and that it was important for democracy and union meetings to be in person where people can see each other and understand better what is happening.

As more and more delegates spoke out against the resolutions (one delegate said her voice was shaking with anger), VP Stacy Davis Gates interjected to defend the union's position which was that the proposal was only a test for one meeting and that the executive board voted "unanimously" in favor of the two proposals.

The CTU executive board is mostly under the control of CTU President Jesse Sharkey, similar to the Chicago Board of Education which is under the mayor's control. However, the executive members who almost all represent Core are elected, while the mayor selects her members. That will change soon after the CTU got an elected school board bill passed into law that will begin in 2024.

President Sharkey mentioned that the upcoming delegates elections was also on their mind for arguing for in-person meetings. He said seeing the debates live is much better.

Politics is certainly playing a bigger and bigger role before the May CTU President election.

The CTU led by the Core caucus angered many teachers when they decided to call off the work stop action that the mayor called a strike when the teachers refused to return to the buildings after the winter break as Covid was raging.

It appeared that the union was split - with almost 50 percent of the teachers, clinicians and aides voting against returning to school.

The House of Delegates meetings could be considered the boiling pot of union politics where critics and supporters battle each other out at the microphones to speak for or against resolutions, ask questions and hear officer reports.

A special House of Delegates meeting was called last month after the media reported that there were outside players connected to the mayor who were trying to influence the CTU election. The resolution that passed denounced any outside influences which is against the federal union laws. 

Some saw calling the special meeting a political move to criticize the opposition caucus Members First who were implicated in the scandal. Big business media including the Chicago Tribune are openly calling for the members to elect a new president.

Outside influences on internal union elections is nothing new. Former CTU President Debbie Lynch won a lawsuit against the Chicago Board of Education that allowed all teacher union caucuses the ability to distribute flyers in teachers' mailboxes. The lawsuit benefited Core and the other 4 caucuses who ran in the historic 2010 election. Prior to the ruling, then Chicago Public Schools CEO Ron Huberman said only the union had access to the mailboxes. Many believed Huberman under then Mayor Richard Daley preferred UPC to the other caucuses like Core who were demanding an end to the city's privatization of public education.