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Chicago Board of Education
Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
11:57am
Fri May 24

CTU Kicks Off Effort To 'Change The Political Landscape In Chicago' (VIDEO)

In the wake of the Chicago Board of Education’s vote to close 50 schools across the Chicago Public Schools’ (CPS) district, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) hosted deputy registrar training Thursday night in an effort to get more people to the voting booths next election cycle.

“Brothers and sisters, mayoral control is a disaster,” said Karen Lewis, president of the CTU. “We must change the political landscape in Chicago.”

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Quick Hit
by Aricka Flowers
6:39pm
Thu May 23

Chronicling The Fight Against CPS School Closings (VIDEO)

Although the Chicago Board of Ed voted to close 50 schools among other school actions yesterday, education activists say the fight against the Chicago Public Schools' plan will continue.

Tonight, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) is holding an education session to train individuals on how to be deputy registrars and get people the voter rolls. This is part of a CTU initiative to get 100,000 new voters registered as a means to change the leadership in city hall.

And earlier today, hearing dates for the two lawsuits filed last week against the school closings were set, with the first date being July 18.

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PI Original
by Ashlee Rezin
9:31pm
Wed May 22

Board Of Ed Vote A 'Slap In The Face', Say CPS Parents (VIDEO)

Parents and students affected by the Chicago Public Schools closures, consolidations and turnarounds are heartbroken by the board of education's vote to shutter 50 schools and turnaround and consolidate a number of others. Progress Illinois spoke to some of the many people who were at CPS headquarters today for the highly-anticipated vote.

PI Original
by Ellyn Fortino
7:24pm
Wed May 22

Education Activists Decry CPS Closings At Tense Board Of Ed Meeting (VIDEO)

The Chicago Board of Education has voted to close 49 elementary schools and one high school in order to address the Chicago Public Schools’ (CPS) reported underutilization crisis. Progress Illinois was there for the tense and emotional meeting.

Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
2:04pm
Wed May 22

Protesters Rally Against Proposed CPS Closings Outside Board of Education Meeting (VIDEO)

Energy was high outside the Chicago Board of Education meeting Wednesday morning as education activists, union members, teachers, students and parents gathered in anticipation of a vote that could close a staggering amount of schools across the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) district.

“All I keep hearing is ‘we’re doing this for the kids,’ but there’s not been one iota of a discussion about the educational plan,” said Karen Lewis, president of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), said as she arrived for the meeting.

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Quick Hit
by Ellyn Fortino
12:23pm
Wed May 22

South Side Residents Discuss School Closings, Red Line & TIFs At Englewood Meeting

Englewood residents are not yet sure what will become of their six neighborhood schools on Chicago Public Schools’ (CPS) list to shut down or relocate in June.

But South Side community members at a Resident Association of Greater Englewood (R.A.G.E.) meeting Tuesday night said if the Chicago Board of Education approves CPS’ school action plan, they want all shuttered schools to become village centers for the neighborhood.

“We do not want any of our institutions closed in the community, but if they are going to close it, at least let it be reopened for something that can serve the community,” said community leader Aysha Butler with R.A.G.E. Read more »

Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
4:47pm
Tue May 21

Unite Here Workers Oppose Pritzker Nomination For Commerce Secretary

Senate confirmation hearings for Chicago billionaire Penny Pritzker’s nomination for U.S. Secretary of Commerce are scheduled for Thursday, but workers from the her family-owned hotel chain are already voicing their opposition to the selection.

“This is not somebody we want in Washington; this is a lady whose business model hurts workers,” said Demetrius Jackson, 25, a lifelong Chicagoan and convention service houseman at the Hyatt Regency Chicago for six years.

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