redasheville
12th June 2010, 17:10
http://www.suntimes.com/news/education/2385568,chicago-teachers-union-new-leader-061110.article
The Chicago Teachers Union has a new leadership team.
In a runoff election held Friday, the Caucus of Rank and File Educators (CORE) team of Karen Lewis for President, Jesse Sharkey for Vice-President, Michael Brunson for Recording Secretary and Kristine Mayle for Financial Secretary beat the United Progressive Caucus (UPC) team led by two-term CTA President Marilyn Stewart, according to a release from the CTU.
The ballots were tabulated by the American Arbitration Association (AAA), which also counted the May 21st returns, the release said. Lewis garnered 12,080 votes, while Stewart had 8,326.
Early Saturday morning, Stewart released the following statement:
“I want to congratulate Karen Lewis and her entire CORE team, and want them to know they can count on me for any assistance I can offer as they take on what will be one of the toughest challenges in the 73-year history of the Chicago Teachers Union.
“For when all is said and done, this election was never about Karen or me. It was about the 32,000 union members whose futures and well-being are now being threatened by an uncaring and insensitive Chicago Public Schools system. A system that thinks it can balance its budget on the backs of this city’s teachers and students. A system that thinks stuffing 35 students into a classroom and cutting teachers’ pay is the answer to their problems."
Stewart asked “all members of this union -- those who voted for me as well as those who didn’t -- to stand behind Karen and her team and support them as they take over the fight in your behalf.”
CORE's platform, according to its website, included:
• Capping CTU officer and staff salaries to the average teacher salary prorated over 12 months.
• Limit standardized tests. Ban using test results to punish, label or denigrate schools, students or teachers.
• Repeal mayoral control of schools and restore our right to collectively bargain class sizes, counselor loads and stop school closings and reconstitutions.
• Lead legislation to fund all schools equitably and return all TIF (Tax Increment Financing) funds to each school taxing district.
The Chicago Teachers Union has a new leadership team.
In a runoff election held Friday, the Caucus of Rank and File Educators (CORE) team of Karen Lewis for President, Jesse Sharkey for Vice-President, Michael Brunson for Recording Secretary and Kristine Mayle for Financial Secretary beat the United Progressive Caucus (UPC) team led by two-term CTA President Marilyn Stewart, according to a release from the CTU.
The ballots were tabulated by the American Arbitration Association (AAA), which also counted the May 21st returns, the release said. Lewis garnered 12,080 votes, while Stewart had 8,326.
Early Saturday morning, Stewart released the following statement:
“I want to congratulate Karen Lewis and her entire CORE team, and want them to know they can count on me for any assistance I can offer as they take on what will be one of the toughest challenges in the 73-year history of the Chicago Teachers Union.
“For when all is said and done, this election was never about Karen or me. It was about the 32,000 union members whose futures and well-being are now being threatened by an uncaring and insensitive Chicago Public Schools system. A system that thinks it can balance its budget on the backs of this city’s teachers and students. A system that thinks stuffing 35 students into a classroom and cutting teachers’ pay is the answer to their problems."
Stewart asked “all members of this union -- those who voted for me as well as those who didn’t -- to stand behind Karen and her team and support them as they take over the fight in your behalf.”
CORE's platform, according to its website, included:
• Capping CTU officer and staff salaries to the average teacher salary prorated over 12 months.
• Limit standardized tests. Ban using test results to punish, label or denigrate schools, students or teachers.
• Repeal mayoral control of schools and restore our right to collectively bargain class sizes, counselor loads and stop school closings and reconstitutions.
• Lead legislation to fund all schools equitably and return all TIF (Tax Increment Financing) funds to each school taxing district.