By Becky Vevea, WBEZ

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is pushing for big changes at Chicago Public Schools next year, including a longer school day, a different calendar and new teacher evaluations.

Chicago Teachers Union officials say teachers at more than 150 schools are ready to go on strike.

Union president Karen Lewis told reporters Thursday that teachers at those schools are testing the “pro-strike sentiment” through informal polls.

“Teachers and paraprofessionals there have voted overwhelmingly, overwhelmingly, to strike should contract negotiations fail and CPS and the mayor does not reverse the hostile climate against us,” Lewis said.

http://www.wbez.org/news/education/chicago-teachers-ready-strike-union-says-97977