Latest news with #StacyDavisGates
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates secures second term
The Chicago Teachers Union reelected President Stacy Davis Gates and her team for another term Friday, extending the Caucus of Rank-and-file Educators' 15 years of leading the organization. Securing 64% of the vote for the three-year term, the reelection comes on the heels of the union's recently settled contract. In a news release, Davis Gates' group credited its win to the union's 'most transformative contract' to date, a deal that was overwhelmingly ratified by members without a strike vote. The union has touted key wins from the contract, such as raises for paraprofessionals and school-related personnel and smaller class sizes. To start their second term in office, union leadership said they will work to implement the contract and fight what they called growing attacks on labor and democracy. 'We will continue to build the strongest force field around our students, our members, our school communities, our city and our union,' CTU leadership said in the news release. 'The greatest protection against attacks — whether it is from an out-of-line administrator or an out-of-line president — is each other.' Erika Meza, a 25-year veteran teacher from the Respect. Educate. Advocate. Lead, or REAL, caucus, ran against Davis Gates for president of CTU. Meza and her counterpart, Alison Eichhorn, who ran for vice president, argued that the union's current leadership doesn't allow for dissenting voices, lacks financial transparency and has alienated union allies.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
CTU challenger hopes member dissatisfaction leads to upset win against union president
CHICAGO - Chicago Teachers Union members could know by early Saturday whether President Stacy Davis-Gates will stay in power — or whether challenger Erika Meza has pulled off a surprise victory. "There hasn't been transparency about our audits, about our finances," Meza said on Friday afternoon after finishing teaching a class at George Washington Elementary on the Southeast Side. Meza says she hopes to ride a growing wave of member dissatisfaction with leadership to catapult her to an upset victory over controversial longtime union leader Stacy Davis-Gates. Meza echoes concerns that Davis-Gates and the ruling faction known as 'CORE' have failed to produce financial audits. Just yesterday, a judge rejected CTU's motion to dismiss a lawsuit from some of its members demanding answers. "Even the legal side of this is in agreement that there is some type of transparency lacking in our union," Meza said. Meza is running as leader of a faction of the CTU known as 'REAL.' She says the union has spent too much money and focus on politics, putting member concerns to the side. Austin Berg of the libertarian think tank Illinois Policy Institute says it's been a losing proposition. According to an IPI analysis, the union spent nearly $3 million on recent elected school board elections – and lost three quarters of those races. Meza and Berg say CTU is more concerned with politics than taking care of members. "Folks are realizing that it's more of a political machine, it's not really about the interests of the rank and file teacher. A lot of that money is going straight to politics," Berg said. Davis-Gates led the often combative year-long contract negotiations with CPS, which netted teachers 4–5 percent raises per year. It was approved by 97% of the voting members. But CTU's public image hasn't fared as well – with once-positive approval ratings taking a significant hit as the public has turned against not only CTU but the political movement it leads. "Now today you see their favorability ratings in the 30s, with their leader Brandon Johnson, a former CTU organizer, also extraordinarily unpopular," Berg said. A spokesperson for Davis-Gates did not respond to requests for comment. The Source FOX 32's Paris Schutz reported on this story.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chicago Public Schools' Black Student Success Plan Under Investigation Over DEI
A program created to improve Black student achievement, discipline and sense of belonging in Chicago Public Schools is under investigation by the Trump administration. The U.S. Education Department's Office for Civil Rights announced on April 29 that the district's Black Student Success Plan violates federal law because it discriminates against students on the basis of race. The plan, released in February, outlines strategies over the next five years to improve Black student's daily learning experiences and life outcomes. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Stacy Davis Gates, Chicago Teachers Union president, said in a statement Tuesday that the plan was developed to address the 'man-made educational achievement gap' for Black students caused by inequitable policies such as redlining. 'We expect CPS to stand up against this baseless investigation — and we call on our city and state leaders to take real action to protect our students and schools,' Davis Gates said. An Illinois law signed in 2023 required the Chicago Board of Education to create a Black Student Achievement Committee and develop a plan to 'bring about academic parity between Black children and their peers.' The plan was based on the group's recommendations, which include providing comprehensive resources for Black students' academic and social-emotional needs and partnering with historically Black colleges and universities to create a teacher pipeline. The plan's main goals include doubling the number of Black male educators, reducing out-of-school suspensions and expulsions for Black students by 40% and increasing Black history and culture in classrooms. Related LAUSD Overhauls $120 Million Black Students Program After Activists File Complaint The investigation into the plan is based on a complaint by conservative Virginia-based advocate Defending Education, which targeted a similar program last year in the Los Angeles Unified School District called the Black Student Achievement Plan. A district spokesperson said Thursday that Los Angeles Unified resolved the complaint by opening the plan's services to all students. The Education Department said in a press release Tuesday that the Chicago plan violates federal law by focusing 'on remedial measures only for Black students, despite acknowledging that Chicago students of all races struggle academically.' It's the latest move by the Trump administration to eliminate school diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Craig Trainor, the department's acting assistant secretary for civil rights, said in a statement that the administration won't allow federal funds to be used 'in this pernicious and unlawful manner.' The department previously said government funds were at risk for states and school districts that didn't agree to end DEI programs. Last month, federal judges blocked the department from withholding federal funds because of DEI. A Chicago Public Schools spokesperson said Thursday that the district will not comment on pending or ongoing investigations.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Afternoon Briefing: Teen charged in Streeterville shooting that wounded tourist
Good afternoon, Chicago. The Chicago Teachers Union's team of 65 educators voted in favor of a proposed settlement last night that wrapped up close to a year of negotiations with the school district. At a news conference this morning, CTU celebrated its hard-fought gains for students and educators. Stacy Davis Gates, president of the teachers union said the district 'spent a lot of time marginalizing (the) table.' She reiterated the strong priorities and values baked into the contract. A vote from the 730-member House of Delegates tomorrow is the next step in ratification. A full 30,000 membership vote and approval from the Chicago Board of Education will seal the deal. Here's what to know about the contract and how it will affect CPS students. Here's what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices. Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History Authorities have accused a 15-year-old boy of shooting a woman who was walking back to her Streeterville hotel with her 11-year-old son while on a visit to Chicago in early March, police said. Read more here. More top news stories: Indiana partisan school board bill passes House Bill establishing Indiana residency for tax assessment boards passes House As classes at Northwestern University resume after spring break this week, striking dining hall workers are back on the job — even though their union, Unite Here Local 1, says it has not yet settled a contract with their employer, the British food service giant Compass Group. Read more here. More top business stories: South Shore fare hikes coming; state aid sought to continue operations Barrington Hills 5-bedroom house with 2 mudrooms and a dog-washing station: $3.8M Shortstop Dansby Swanson has been using the new 'torpedo' bat in games this season, along with second baseman Nico Hoerner. Read more here. More top sports stories: Martín Pérez continues Chicago White Sox's strong pitching to open season with 6 no-hit innings in 9-0 win Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson — with the NFL draft nearing and minicamp next week — has his foot on the gas Michelada Festival has announced its lineup for summer 2025, with headliners Grupo Firme, Danny Ocean, Anitta, Luis R. Conriquez and a Sunday performance by Netón Vega. Read more here. More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories: 'The Last Anniversary' review: From the producers of 'Big Little Lies,' another Liane Moriarty novel adapted for TV Review: 'Glengarry Glen Ross' on Broadway has a terrific cast, though some as the wrong salesmen A coalition of state attorneys general sued the Trump administration today over its decision to cut $11 billion in federal funds that go toward COVID-19 initiatives and various public health projects across the country. Read more here. More top stories from around the world: A Senate vote to reverse President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canada is testing Republican support Layoffs begin at US health agencies responsible for research, tracking disease and regulating food
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CTU reaches a contract deal: What's new and how it will affect CPS students
The Chicago Teachers Union's team of 65 educators voted in favor of a proposed settlement Monday evening that wrapped up close to a year of negotiations with the school district. Tuesday morning, CTU celebrated its hard-fought gains for students and educators. 'This city can do a lot when it is clearly connected to the community,' said CTU President Stacy Davis Gates. 'It isn't just math and reading. It is also art. It is also band and orchestra. It is also flag football. It is also cheerleading. It is also soccer and basketball.' Notably, the third-largest teachers union in the nation wrapped up bargaining for the first time in 15 years without a strike vote or strike. A vote from the 730-member House of Delegates on Wednesday is the next step in ratification. A full 30,000 membership vote and approval from the Chicago Board of Education will seal the deal. CPS Chief Executive Officer Pedro Martinez said to a room of reporters several hours after it was approved that this year's process was a 'different approach' and even 'collaborative.' Considering the amount of hours of discussion both sides put into reaching a deal and the political drama that led up to its final days, any insinuation of harmony might seem to onlookers like April Fools. 'Regardless of what some of the narratives were out there, there's never been a moment where my team didn't act in good faith,' Martinez said. 'Did we get sometimes frustrated about misinformation that was shared? Yes, we did, because we're human, and there was a lot going on.' Still, the CEO, who is leaving his position in June after Mayor Brandon Johnson, a former CTU organizer, led an effort to fire him for not taking out a loan, spoke Monday night about the hard work that his staff put into the new teachers contract — under extremely financially extenuating circumstances. Martinez said the proposed contract will cost about $1.5 billion over four years, and that 80% of those costs were for raises to account for cost-of-living: 4% in the first year and 4-5% in years two through four. The union's original slate of proposals, according to Martinez, would have resulted in a $10 billion contract. The schools chief called the final proposals 'sustainable' but acknowledged the district's looming 'structural deficit' of hundreds of millions that he said will require more substantial conversations with the city and state. Ultimately, the agreement is a boon for union President Davis Gates and Vice President Jackson Potter, who are up for re-election in May. Due to changes in state law, negotiations focused more on non-economic issues that would affect kids' experiences than in years past, union members said. The resulting contract gives veteran teachers pay increases; shifts policies around teacher planning time and evaluations; adds more teachers assistants, librarians, nurses and bilingual-endorsed educators and lowers class sizes. CTU's slate of 700 asks from mid-April was whittled to just three sticking points last week. In response to lasting disagreements about raises for veteran teachers, the district agreed to put $30 million toward pay increases for its longest-serving staff, phased in over four years. (The average salary of a CPS employee under the proposals is forecasted to be over $110,000 by the contract's end). Illinois becomes first state to mandate halal, kosher meals be available in public institutions such as schools Amid Trump administration crackdown on campus antisemitism, Northwestern reports dip in incidents CPS, teachers union reach proposed contract deal after a year of tough negotiations Gov. JB Pritzker's push to allow community colleges to offer 4-year degrees faces uphill climb in Springfield CPS senior and aspiring author to throw first pitch at White Sox game Bogdana Chkoumbova, CPS' chief education officer, acknowledged they'd spent weeks debating preparatory time in the elementary school day, and landed on 70 minutes — up from an hour. The district's hold up was that CPS 'really did not want to continue to expand planning time (at) the expense of student time,' Chkoumbova said. The extra 10 minutes could go toward meeting the state's requirement for 30-minute recess, Chkoumbova said, but it will be different for every school. The agreement also shifts three days for principal-directed professional development days to teachers, who can use that time for prep. Teachers evaluations, one of the last holdups in negotiations, will be adjusted to a three-year cycle for tenured teachers who have been with the district for over 19 years. Additional training, mentoring and professional development resources will be adjusted for teachers in high-need schools, according to CPS. CPS said it has maintained over 7,000 teachers since 2019, and will commit to approximately 800 to 900 employees over the next four years. Felton said he believes that the staffing allocations would not put the district into 'further financial distress.' He stressed that the staffing additions will be intentional. 'We think that they're going to the right schools to serve the right kids,' Felton said. The contract includes compensation for 30 additional bilingual teachers assistants in order to meet the needs of English Language Learners, a population that increased by 11% at the start of the 2024-25 school year from the previous year, reaching over 88,000 students — more than 25% of the total student population. That increase was mostly caused by the thousands of migrant children enrolled in the school district since 2022, when the first of over 50,000 asylum seekers arrived in Chicago from Texas, under the direction of Gov. Greg Abbott. Many of them settled on the South and West Sides where there wasn't the language support they needed. The contract has cemented proposals in its new contract for newcomer or immigrant students through a standing bilingual education committee. The bargaining team agreed to proposals for 24 fine arts teachers, 68 technology coordinators and 90 librarians added over three years. The finalized proposals dedicate $40 million to address class size limits, more than ever before. Kindergarten class limits will go down from 32 to 25. First through third graders will have a limit of 28 students and fourth through eighth a limit of 30. Oversized classrooms (above 23) will be required to add a teaching assistant. Other substantive proposals include $10 million in transportation, equipment and uniforms for sports. The contract will create LGBTQ+ safe spaces in schools, promising to put free hygiene products in all bathrooms and prohibiting discriminatory practices based on gender identity. It also includes academic freedom protections, giving union members the right to choose to supplement school curriculum with lessons, units and learning activities according to their professional judgment.
