Chicago labor and community leaders are planning a day of public action on May 1, and it now appears that the city's public school students will be able to take part as well, without penalty.
Members of the Chicago Board of Education directed CPS administrators to move a planned teacher development day to that date, to allow members of the Chicago Teachers Union and others to take part in "Day Of Action"-related events scheduled for that day, which falls on a Friday.
The teacher development day had been scheduled for June.
What's historically been a day of union activism inspired by the fatal 1886 Haymarket riot in Chicago has this year turned into a call for demonstrations in favor of progressive politics. CTU vice president Jackson Potter again urged board members this week to allow students and staff to take the day as an excused absence.
"Our students and families need and deserve this opportunity to engage in the things they care most about," Potter said during Wednesday's agenda review committee meeting. "That's an opportunity to share our collective voice."
Superintendent Dr. Macquline King had issued a memo saying that the district planned to keep schools open on May 1, but that prompted a grievance from CTU. Board member Jennifer Custer told WBBM Newsradio a majority of the board told Dr. King to make the calendar change in response to the grievance during a closed executive session of the Board.
"This is entirely political in nature," Custer said.
We've asked numerous times for an official update from CPS, but our requests for comment have not been answered.
Members side with teachers' union over schools CEO for May 1 break
Members side with teachers' union over schools CEO for May 1 break
