NEW : There were no classes all last week for more than 350,000 students in Chicago , home to the nation 's third-largest school system , when the union went on strike after failing to reach a contract agreement with school board officials . A school spokeswoman says union claim 200 schools will close is `` false '' ` ` The big elephant in the room '' is possible school closings , the union chief said . By DAVID WALLACE and JOSH LEDERMAN - NBC News Chicago 's mayor pushes for a court injunction to end the teachers strike immediately .
NEW : A school spokeswoman says union claim 200 schools will close is `` false '' ` ` The big elephant in the room '' is possible school closings , the union chief said . By DAVID WALLACE and JOSH LEDERMAN - NBC News Chicago 's mayor pushes for a court injunction to end the teachers strike immediately .