300,000 Students Set To Return To Chicago Classrooms
(CBS) – More than 300,000 Chicago students return to classrooms Tuesday, where teachers are working without a contract.
Some parents are nervous. But CPS top brass say they shouldn't worry about a strike. Union leaders confirm they are discussing a potential teachers strike in October.
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Right now, we're engaged in very aggressive negotiations," Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool tells CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker.
Parents weren't necessarily reassured that a deal will be reached to avoid a repeat of the 2012 teachers strike.
"You can't control it, but you hope for the best," Blaine Elementary School parent Larry Schmit tells CBS 2's Dana Kozlov.
Meanwhile, parents went about buying their children school supplies – if they could find them.
At one retail location, the shelves were nearly empty.
"Everything is gone," parent Mely Billa-Gomez says.
What does Mayor Emanuel think about the new school year and the possibility of a teachers strike? He declined to stop for questions Monday at a school event.