At the teachers' expense?

Walk into my school around 7:45am and you will see teachers bustling around, collaborating, and lesson planning.  Stay until 5pm and you will see teachers still hard at work.  Contract hours are from 8:30am until 2:45pm, yet very few teachers work those hours.  Most teachers come early and stay late with no overtime pay.  Teachers do it willingly because they believe in their profession and do it for the children. 

On June 15, 2011, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his self-chosen Chicago School Board unanimously decided to freeze the 4% raises that teachers receive each year that are worth about $100 million.  According to the Chicago Tribune, CPS is currently about $712 million in debt.  Is it fair that it is the teachers that have to suffer?  Or should the teachers simply be happy to be employed during this economic crisis and understand where the Chicago School Board is coming from?

According to Jean-Claude Brizard, new Chicago Public Schools CEO, “I have the utmost respect and admiration for teachers and all that they do for our children. But today's Board action was taken in response to the massive financial crisis facing our system. My team is now tasked with developing a balanced budget and presenting it to the Board and the public in August and our promise remains to minimize any impacts on the classroom and our kids.”



Jean-Claude Brizard



Of course, this was all the buzz at school the next day.  Most teachers have something to say and an opinion to share.  As teachers, we are constantly spending money on classroom supplies and books.  It is part of the job and many teachers do it willingly and without blinking an eye.  But now, without a raise, it may become more difficult with the average CPS teacher earning $69,000 per year.  Lucky for some CPS teachers, 75% will receive some sort of slight pay raise due to step and lane changes according to years of service and increased education/credentials even with the 4% raise being revoked.

On June 22, 2011, over 1,000 Chicago Teacher Union (CTU) members, parents and students marched and picketed downtown at the Chicago Board of Education to show disapproval of the removal of the 4% raise.    

Is a strike the answer? 

Should the contract be re-opened?

For the most part, the revoked 4% raise will not force teachers to leave the profession.  But is it fair?  Can budget cuts happen in other areas rather than at the teachers’ expense? 

Ms. S