De Diego teacher and Chicago Teachers Union delegate sheds light on negotiations

Statements by David Vitale, President of the Chicago Board of Education, and  Karen Lewis, Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) President, Monday night made listeners wonder if they were negotiating in the same room. Tuesday morning, Diana Monarrez, Jose de Diego teacher and Chicago Teachers Union delegate, gave this reporter some clarification. Tuesday afternoon more has come out from Chicago Public Schools and some parent bloggers. 

"Teachers are not ready to talk about it, but we are," said David Vitale, President of the Chicago Board of Education, regarding the supposed two major issues perpetuating the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) strike. In addition, he said that settling the strike could and should happen quickly because the parties are very close. Also last night Karen Lewis, CTU President, said that while they had made progress in Monday's negotiations, the Board had made no new offers on the major two issues.

In an interview this morning, Lewis said that of the 49 points they have on the agenda, only 6 have been covered!

Diana Monarrez, who is a Jose DeDiego special education and science lab teacher as well as a Chicago Teachers Union delegate, helped to clarify Lewis' statement, "We want to keep language in the contract that was fought for by people even before my time. I've been teaching for twelve years. What we are trying to do now is to restore the language and make sure whatever we fought for previously, we still get. So that is what the 49 points include.

"Since the beginning of talks months and months ago there has been no urgency from the Board. I think Emanuel showed up to two or three of the meetings thus far out of 50 or more. He is the leader of this City. I would want more first hand information (..if I was the leader). Brizard as well. The only people at the table are members of the non-elected school board.

"I want to be in my school room, this is the beginning of the school year. After this, we are going to have to go back and start all over again from the beginning with the students."

Chicago Public Schools' Chief Education Advisor Barbara Byrd-Bennett participated in a conference call with parent bloggers from across the city. They discussed contract talks and their impact on students. As a result participants began reporting on their opinions.  Here are two of them:

Not A Good Lesson by Dwana De La Cerna and Chicago Teachers Strike: Issues on the Bargaining Table from Wendy of Families in the Loop.

Do you know of others? What are your thoughts and experiences with?