Teachers at 3 Chicago schools vote longer day

CHICAGO — The Chicago Teachers Union is crying foul over a decision by teachers at three public schools to add 90 minutes to their school day this year.

Union vice president Jesse Sharkey says the decision Friday has nothing to do with improving kids’ education. He calls the action supported by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard “political football school reform at its worst.”

Emanuel and Brizard in a joint statement thanked the “courageous” teachers and principals for “investing in our children’s future.”

Sharkey says the Chicago Board of Education used “pressure, coercion and bribing,” to get the votes for a proposal he says is unpopular among the majority of teachers. He says it’s unlikely many other schools will follow the example of Melody, Skinner and STEM, all elementary schools.