Zombies expected at protest... CTU plans press conference before October 28 meeting of the Chicago Board of Education to protest charter schools expansion and other attacks on Chicago's real public schools...
Some of the students who took part in the massive (between 700 and 1,000 people marching across the Southwest Side) protest against charter school expansion on October 26, 2015 carried tombstones listing the dollars lost at local schools under "student based budgeting." Substance photo by David Vance.Chicago Teachers Union vice president Jesse Sharkey will be one of many speakers at the nine a.m. press conference outside the headquarters of the Chicago Board of Education at 42 W. Madison St. on October 28. The Board's meeting is scheduled to begin at 10:30, and the agenda includes a plan to expand two of the city's existing charter schools (Noble and KIPP) despite massive protests against the expansions and the fact that the majority of members of the Chicago City Council have signed a letter asking for a freeze on charter expansions.
A CTU press release states:
Chicago Teachers Union to hold 9 a.m. press conference to discuss the horrific charter �tricks� that are ruining public education in the city
NEWS ADVISORY/PLANNING. IMMEDIATE. RELEASE CONTACT: Stephanie Gadlin
October 27, 2015 312-329-6250
CHICAGO � As Mayor Rahm Emanuel�s handpicked Board of Education is set to meet to vote on whether or not to waste more Chicago Public School dollars by expanding charter schools in neighborhoods where they are not needed, thousands of citizens are calling on CPS to end its political �tricks� and treat the students to the schools they deserve. CTU Vice President Jesse Sharkey will be joined by a coalition of educators, parents, students and concerned citizens in a news conference calling for sensible solutions to the district�s �broke on purpose� state of affairs and a closer examination of Noble Street Charter Schools� ties to city decision makers.
WHO: Chicago Teachers Union leaders, parents, activists, public school students and others
WHAT: Will hold a press conference and speak out on the horrific CPS policies that have
created a financially strapped district, a proliferation of charter operations, and a lack of confidence in the Board of Education as fiscally responsible leaders.
WHEN: Wednesday, October 28, 2015 9:00 a.m.
WHERE: Chicago Public Schools 42 W. Madison
WHAT ELSE: With the Halloween season upon us, thousands of educators, students and their parents take special note of the Board�s zombie-like loyalty to City Hall, bankers, hedge fund managers and misguided education reform stakeholders who are trying to destroy public education in Chicago.
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The Chicago Teachers Union represents nearly 27,000 teachers and educational support personnel working in the Chicago Public Schools, and by extension, the more than 400,000 students and families they serve. The CTU is an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Federation of Teachers and is the third largest teachers local in the United States and the largest local union in Illinois. For more information please visit CTU�s website at
www.ctunet.com.
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