CHICAGO (AP) — There's cautious optimism from both sides about reaching a contract agreement to end a nearly week-long strike by Chicago's teachers, but it's not a done deal yet.
The city's public schools will stay closed for at least one more day Friday and the union's president says the two sides are still "hammering things out."
Leaders of the Chicago Teachers Union and the school district say they are drawing closer to a deal.
Word of the progress in negotiations comes less than a day after the school board offered to modify a system that would use student test scores to help evaluate teacher performance.
The school board says its latest proposal is in the hands of the union and that the union bargaining team is meeting separately to discuss it.
%@AP Links
356-a-06-(Michelle Gunderson, elementary school teacher with 19 years of experience, on the picket line, in AP interview)-"in the back"-Michelle Gunderson, a veteran elementary school teacher who's on the picket line, says Mayor Rahm Emanuel, a leader in the Democratic party, seems to have forgotten the role that organized labor plays in elections. (13 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *356 (09/13/12)>> 00:06 "in the back"
357-a-17-(Michelle Gunderson, elementary school teacher with 19 years of experience, on the picket line, in AP interview)-"knock on doors"-Michelle Gunderson, a veteran elementary school teacher who's on the picket line, says Mayor Rahm Emanuel is treating the teachers unfairly. ((note length of cut; background voice in cut)) (13 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *357 (09/13/12)>> 00:17 "knock on doors"
353-r-06-(Sound of striking teachers chanting slogans against Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, as they walk the picket line)--Sound of striking teachers chanting slogans against Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, as they walk the picket line. (13 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *353 (09/13/12)>> 00:06
355-a-12-(Michelle Gunderson, elementary school teacher with 19 years of experience, on the picket line, in AP interview)-"my fellow teachers"-Michelle Gunderson, a veteran elementary school teacher on the picket line, says she knows the union is doing what it can to end the strike quickly and fairly. (13 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *355 (09/13/12)>> 00:12 "my fellow teachers"
354-r-21-(Sound of high school marching band members, joining Chicago teachers on the picket line)--Sound of high school marching band members, joining Chicago teachers on the picket line. (13 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *354 (09/13/12)>> 00:21
