* Mayor Rahm Emanuel claims there are just two unresolved issues in the first Chicago teachers strike in 25 years…

Although union officials say more topics are still being debated, the mayor said the two remaining stumbling blocks involve re-hiring laid off teachers from schools that get shut down or shaken up and a new teacher evaluation process that the union says puts far too much weight on student test scores.

* But…

Progress had been made over the weekend regarding teacher pay, but not enough on teacher evaluations, job security or classroom conditions to entice union members to sign a contract, [Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis] said.

“We do not intend to sign an agreement until all matters of our contract are addressed,” Lewis said. “We are committed to staying at the table.”

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 And the raises could not be rescinded for lack of funds — which is what happened this past school year, angering teachers and helping to set the stage for Monday’s strike. […]

CTU officials contend that CPS’ offer of raises over the next four years does not fairly compensate them for the 4 percent raise they lost this past school year and the longer and “harder” school year they will face this school year, with the introduction of a tougher new curriculum.

The union also has pushed for improved working conditions, such as smaller class sizes, more libraries, air-conditioned schools, and more social workers and counselors to address the increasing needs of students surrounded by violence — all big-ticket items. CPS officials contend they are seeking a “fair” contract, with raises for teachers, but are limited by funding and the threat of a $1 billion deficit at the end of this school year.

* Our quote of the day is from the Tribune’s constantly updated strike page…

[CTU delegate Darryl Reed] said he always knew there would be a strike. “If you go back to legislation last year making it harder for us to strike, they bragged that we’d never reach that threshold. The attitude they had this whole time gave us the attitude we have had this whole time.”

* And here’s another passage that isn’t a quote, but ranks right up there…

Sending Emanuel into negotiations to broker a last-minute deal wasn’t an option because there was so much bad blood between him and Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis, several sources said.

* I’ll be adjusting this ScribbleLive feed throughout the day and week as new hashtags and sites pop up. BlackBerry users click here. Everybody else can just watch..