Chicago Mayor's Kids' School Remains Open

The school attended by Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel's children remains open, even though public school teachers are striking in Chicago resulting in school closures across the city.

"Mayor Rahm Emanuel has decided to send his three children to the University of Chicago Lab Schools rather than put them in the financially strapped Chicago Public Schools he’s trying desperately to reform," the Chicago Sun-Times reported last year. 

A phone call to the Lab Schools confirmed that it remains open. It is, after all, a private institution--and strikes are taking place in public schools.

The director's office, however, was not yet able immediately to confirm whether Emanuel's three children were in attendance today. (UPDATE: The school called back to say it wouldn't comment.) Emanuel's office did not respond to a request for comment.

The Lab Schools are an expensive and elite Chicago institution. The website of the school high details the annual cost:

According to the school's website, it has a "rich academic and extracurricular offerings, [a] distinct approach to education, [a] diverse student body, and [a] unique relationship to the University of Chicago."

The Chicago Sun-Times reports on the strike:

Chicago teachers began walking the picket line for the first time in 25 years Monday morning, leaving parents to scramble for alternatives for their children.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel quickly blasted the strike announcement Sunday as “a strike of choice.” He repeatedly declared Sunday night: “My team is available now.”

 More than 200 teachers marched along Addison and Western at Lane Tech High School, chanting and getting cars honking horns in support. A CTA bus joined the chorus of honking horns, and a Chicago Police car turned on its lights as it went past. ...

The school board’s last offer included a three percent raise the first year and two percent raises the next three years — a slight increase from an earlier offer of two percent raises in each of the next four years.

The package, which would cost $400 million, keeps increases for experience and credentials with some modifications.

Vitale said the contract amounted to a 16 percent raise over four years for the average teacher when factoring other increases. And the raises could not be rescinded for lack of funds — which is what happened this past school year, angering teachers and helping to set the stage for Monday’s strike.