(WTTW News)

As Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union work toward a new contract this summer, the sides have already come to at least one agreement: welcoming the public into their negotiations.

CTU Vice President Jackson Potter on Thursday confirmed the union and school district have agreed to hold open bargaining sessions that will allow community stakeholders to attend negotiations for the first time.

“Public bargaining, it opens up more dialogue, but it also allows us to create a tidal wave of voices calling for the same thing and envisioning a new school day that can bring joy back into the classroom, that’s got librarians and libraries, sports, music, arts for every student, and we’re looking forward to this process and engaging more stakeholders,” Potter said during Thursday’s Chicago Board of Education meeting. “I think it’s going to be very popular and historic.”

Spokespeople for CPS did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

Bargaining officially began last month as the sides work toward a new labor contract — the first since former CTU organizer and educator Brandon Johnson was elected mayor. The union’s existing agreement is set to expire at the end of next month.

CTU officials including President Stacy Davis Gates had previously expressed a desire to include the public in the union’s negotiations with CPS, saying last month they were intent on “showing our work” in this round of negotiations.

The union’s contract demands include staffing improvements, housing assistance, expanded dual language programs, and sustainable community schools. CTU officials are also demanding a 9% annual pay increase.

Potter said specific public bargaining meetings — which would allow the public to attend in person or view over a livestream — have not yet been scheduled. But he said the union is hopeful this will be a “very robust summer of engagement.”

“If our contract’s gonna be what everyone needs and deserves, then parents and Chicagoans, broadly, have to be part of that,” Potter said. “And so we’re excited to address other issues in public bargaining such as sustainable community schools … to address class sizes, bilingual and multilingual education — we’ve heard that from the students — special education and many others.”

Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson | [email protected] | (773) 509-5431