Chicago parents told to prepare for strike

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CHICAGO, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Chicago school district officials are telling parents of students to prepare for a possible teachers' strike set to begin in a little more than a week.

The Chicago Teachers Union Thursday set a strike date of Monday, Sept. 10, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Robocalls, letters, e-mails and texts are going out to parents about possible contingency plans should the strike occur, district officials said.

Officials also plan to hold a telephonic town hall next week.

Some 145 schools will be open half days during the strike, district officials say. Community organizations are also being asked to submit proposals for activities for the idled children.

Parents will have to enroll their children by phone or e-mail, but officials said enrollment would not happen if the strike was called off.

"We do not want to strike but apparently the board does -- because if they didn't, we wouldn't be in this situation where we are today," CTU President Karen Lewis said after the union's house of delegates unanimously approved the strike.