Chicago schools strike stretches into third day

Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union failed to reach a deal on the third day of the ongoing teachers strike despite progress over the weekend, according to ABC7 Chicago.

The two sides reached a key agreement on issues such as an ongoing moratorium on charter schools Saturday, according to the outlet, but remain at an impasse over the union’s main demands, which include reduced class sizes and nurses, librarians and social workers in every school.

{mosads}”Our whole point is to get to a settlement and move the ball forward,” Stacy Davis Gates of the CTU said, according to ABC7. “Today we got a little farther than we were yesterday. I’m good with that. And we’re going to keep doing that until we get it right.”

Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) said that while she is cautiously optimistic a deal can be reached, she could not commit to any timetable for a resolution.

“I would be very surprised if classes are going to be open Monday, but I will check in with CPS to make sure we get the word out,” Lightfoot said. “But my expectation is that we will not be back in class on Monday.”

Twenty-six thousand teachers as well as 8,000 support staff, custodians, bus aides and special education assistants are participating in the strike. Several dozen health care workers also turned out in support of the striking teachers over the weekend, according to ABC7.