CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Teachers at three charter schools went on strike Monday morning with about a week to go in the school year.
Teachers at Urban Prep Academies’ West, Englewood, and Bronzeville campuses have gone on strike. There are 34 teachers in all.
“These teachers have gone three years without a raise. Urban Prep management has gotten a raise every year. They’re keeping the money at the top," said Chicago Teachers Union lawyer LaToya Kimbrough.
The 650 students enrolled in Urban Prep West, Englewood, and Bronzeville campuses were to be taking final exams this week.
Ashlee Lewis teaches English at the Bronzeville campus.
“I absolutely love my students and they deserve access to the resources that they need in the classrooms. Access to the resources that Urban Prep has the funding for, but the funding is just not hitting the classrooms the way that it is supposed to be," she said.
Teachers said staff turnover is high, because of salaries that are not competitive. Teachers also want Urban Prep to promise, in writing, to follow regulations regarding special education students.
Shelley Aaron is a special education teacher at Urban Prep’s Englewood campus.
“We need certified special education teachers in front of our diverse learners. We need resources for our students. We need to retain special education teachers and have enough teachers," she said.
WBBM Newsradio has reached out to Urban Prep Academies for a response.
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