Teachers at 6th Chicago school OK longer day

Teachers at two more Chicago schools have voted to lengthen the school day in exchange for cash from the district.

The Chicago Tribune reports teachers at Disney II Magnet Elementary School and Nash Elementary School on Tuesday approved a waiver to add 90 minutes of instructional time per day. They are the sixth and seventh schools to approve the change that starts in January.

Chicago Public Schools says it will give schools agreeing to longer days by January at least $75,000, while teachers will get lump sum payments equal to 2 percent of the average salary.

The change requires teachers to work outside the union contract. The Chicago Teachers Union has filed a grievance over the process used by the schools to vote on the contract waiver.