Demand charter operator stop stalling and negotiate a contract that provides supportive and sustainable classrooms for educators and students
CHICAGO—On Wednesday, unionized educators, students and community members will fight forward in a rally and picket for the schools our children deserve at Instituto Health Science Career Academy. After more than a year of stalling at the bargaining table by school leadership, Wednesday’s event will uplift the need for more classroom resources, prep time for educators and a push to ensure accountability and transparency from the charter school operator.
| WHAT: | A Rally and Picket for a Fair Contract and the Schools Our Kids Deserve |
| WHO: |
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| WHEN: | Wednesday, Nov. 15, 3:15 pm |
| WHERE: | Instituto Health Science Career Academy 2520 S. Western Avenue Chicago, IL 60608 |
Serving more than 550 students at the Health Science Career Academy and 64 students at the Justice and Leadership Academy, Instituto Chicago should be working hand-in-hand with educators to develop Latine students and their families fully through education, training, and employment. Instead, the charter school leadership has been more focused on demanding concessions that would limit the collective voices of educators and quashing their rights to file grievances.
Beyond just attempting to limit unionized educators from fighting for students, the school has also struggled to recruit and retain high-quality and diverse educators due to a lack of equitable pay and limited investments in classroom resources.
Since starting the contract campaign and bargaining, Instituto has seen the entire special education department resign and increased educator turnover on all its campuses. These moves have resulted in educators being asked to take on greater responsibilities and students receiving less than the high-quality education they deserve.
Unionized educators and community members will hear from CTU Vice President Jackson Potter and Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez at the rally and protest.
