A poll conducted in August showed that a majority of likely Chicago voters have low confidence in the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) ahead of the upcoming school board election.
About 36% of likely Chicago voters have a favorable opinion of CTU, compared to 46% who have a favorable opinion of CTU. According to In response to a Monday press release from the Illinois Policy Institute, which commissioned the study from M3 Strategies. The poll found that 17% of likely voters have a favorable opinion of CTU President Stacey Davis Gates, while 39% have a negative opinion and 6% have no opinion. It turned out that he didn't have either.
According to one source, CTU spent more than $175,000 on candidates running for this year's Chicago Board of Education election. report From Wednesday by the Illinois Policy Institute. CTU plans to spend up to $1 million to 10 school board districts, according to budget documents.
“For the first time, Chicagoans have the opportunity to vote for radical CTU leadership,” Miley Smith, senior director of labor policy at the Illinois Policy Institute, said in a press release. “The city faces a battle over its future: follow CTU's lead and increase spending and worsen student outcomes, or say no to extreme political policies.” (Related: Exclusive: Chicago Public Schools Refuses to Release Detailed Records of Gender and Sex Education Training)
“The CTU has become increasingly unpopular, and its leaders are desperately trying to solidify their ranks with allies ahead of important talks about districts, unions and taxpayer funds. “We are,” Smith continued in the press release. “Voters can decide whether they want CTU to formally take over decisions regarding the school board, school district and the city as a whole.”
Several Chicago public schools have been plagued by a variety of problems for years, including steep enrollment declines over the past two decades and continued budget pressures. According to To the Wirepoints September report. Although many experts call for the consolidation of these schools, CTU opposes these measures.
CTU is in ongoing contract negotiations with Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez. According to Chalkbeat to Chicago. Teachers unions had previously opposed the reopening of Chicago schools after pandemic closures and demanded that teachers be vaccinated before returning to the classroom from working from home.
CHICAGO, IL – JANUARY 12: Students arrive for class at AN Pritzker Elementary School on January 12, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. Students returned to Chicago Public Schools today after canceling classes for the past six days as the city consulted with teachers unions over COVID-19 safety measures. are. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
“The Chicago Teachers Union is a former staffer of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and they poured millions of dollars into his campaign to get him elected,” said Dylan Shirkey, deputy editor at the Illinois Policy Institute. told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “And now, in a similar fashion, he is appointing members of the school board, and in the other half, the school board supports who gets elected. So essentially, they are appointing school board members. They are involved in decisions for the organization as a whole and for Chicago Public Schools.”
CTU declined to comment to DCNF, while the Chicago Board of Education did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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