Joint Statement from Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and CPS CEO Dr. Janice K. Jackson on District's Contingency Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, October 2, 2019

CHICAGO - Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Dr. Janice K. Jackson released the following statement regarding the district’s plan to keep school buildings open in the event of a work stoppage:

"The teachers and support staff who serve in our district have been essential to the rise of Chicago Public Schools as a national leader in education, and we are committed to honoring and supporting their service by offering the most comprehensive and significant contract proposal in district history, proposing steps to address classroom overcrowding, and committing to hire hundreds of additional nurses, social workers and case managers. We all must continue to work to create a safe and nurturing environment for our children.

“While we are doing everything in our power to reach a fair deal that prevents a strike, we are fully prepared for a work stoppage should one occur. In the event of a strike, all CPS school buildings will remain open during their normal school hours to ensure students have a safe and welcoming place to spend the day and warm meals to eat. We will continue bargaining at an aggressive pace to reach a deal that is fair to our teachers and staff, supports the record-setting progress we've made, and promotes the best interests of Chicago families, so that we do not have to open our school buildings without the educators and staff members who are so crucial to our district’s success.”

For additional information on our contingency plans, please visit our website: cps.edu/contingencyplan.

And for information on the historic proposal offered to CTU last week, which would raise teacher and support staff salaries by a minimum of 16 percent, please visit cps.edu/ouroffer.

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