Chicago Teachers Union meets on contract today

Not when they take all the money and then kick kids out they're not. Not when they consistently don't get the test scores/mastery levels to the point where the district's high school does. Not when they take all the money and then close up shop because of some reason or other leaving students out in the cold trying to graduate on time.

to mention is that most charter schools (non-profits) receive private foundation grants which are tax-exempt and are run by for profit management companies and corporations that are paid from public funds. The argument about less expensive should be answered with "less expensive to whom?"

So that their, arguably, overpaid teachers can get paid more.

... figures provided by the Chicago Public Schools show teachers here have the highest average salary of any city in the nation. But, according to the Chicago Teachers Union’s calculations, Chicago teachers would rank second behind New York City.
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/06/12/how-much-do-chicago-public-school-teachers-make/

It is difficult to believe that Chicago schools are either the best, or even the second best, in the nation.

teachers working with urban populations of high poverty students make more money that others. In the CPS 85% of the students receive free or reduced lunches, the primary index for determining poverty. Yes, they are poor kids, in more ways than one. It has nothing to do with what teachers are paid or the length of the school year.

I'm a full-time teacher, and if I didn't get the spousal and child support I do, my children would qualify for reduced lunch, and we'd qualify for food stamps. I have to have a bachelor's degree with two majors, have only a couple years left to start my master's degree (required by the state for continued certification), and I have lost track of how many hours I worked last week (our school day is 7:20-3:40, but we have to stay 'til 5pm on Mondays for meetings and work with kids after school and then help cover Friday nights at the open school event). Add in Meet the Teacher, parent-teacher conferences, parent phone calls we have to make from home (we're to call every parent in the first month of school to make a personal contact, and I have 130 students), grading, at least 15 hours of planning at home on our own time, and it all adds up to more than full-time.

So, take all those hours, and I'm to make less than minimum wage per hour for a job that requires a master's degree? That's what your argument boils down to--teachers don't deserve to be middle class despite training the next generation how to think, read, write, and compete in a global marketplace.

I just watched her press conference. The members are feeling rushed and want more time to examine the board proposal. I don't blame them.