CHICAGO _ The former head of the Chicago Teachers Union appealed to Mayor Lori Lightfoot to "keep your promises and let's get this done," as the walkout entered its 10th day Wednesday despite indications the two sides could be close to a deal.
"When Lori ran for mayor, she gave us hope that she would represent real change in City Hall," Karen Lewis said in a statement sent out to CTU members Tuesday night as the union's House of Delegates met to review negotiations.
"She took office on a promise of being a progressive, pro-education mayor who gave her word for an elected school board for our district," added Lewis, who stepped down last year. "(She) said she would use her power to ensure that Chicago's students have the resources they need regardless of where they live in this city."
Both Lewis and the CTU had backed Cook County board president Toni Preckwinkle for mayor over Lightfoot.
CTU officials indicated later in the day Tuesday that there was a possibility a tentative agreement could emerge as early as Wednesday morning, ending a walkout and putting about 300,000 CPS students and 25,000 teachers back in school for the first time since Oct. 16.
Speculation grew when the teachers union called a Tuesday evening meeting of its House of Delegates. But the union quickly tamped that down, repeatedly saying throughout the evening that there was no deal in place.
That proved to be the case after the delegates emerged from a meeting Tuesday that lasted about 2{ hours. The delegates could meet again Wednesday after seeking further feedback from rank-and-file members about where negotiations stand.
