CTU Organizing Car Caravan Monday, Demands Remote Learning For CPS In The Fall
More than 20 community groups are forming a car caravan to urge the city to put safety first when it comes to this fall's education plan.
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More than 20 community groups are forming a car caravan to urge the city to put safety first when it comes to this fall's education plan.
"I want people to know we will not open school under circumstances if it is not safe to do so."
CPS officials have said a final decision on whether schools will resume in-person classes in the fall won't be made until late August.
Teachers used a car caravan to drive home their point that the classroom is no place for anyone during the pandemic.
A final decision on whether schools will reopen for in-person classes will not be made until late August, depending on how Chicago is handling the COVID-19 outbreak at the time.
The union says Chicago Public Schools and the mayor have yet to roll out a concrete plan of how to ensure safety if students and teachers go back into the classroom.
With spiking COVID-19 numbers in some areas in Chicago and schools planning to reopen soon, teachers worry. They are asking if they and their students will be able to stay safe.
"Until we feel like we are in a good place, and we're starting to see a slight uptick in cases, the beaches conversation is one that's going to have to come down the road."
"Irresponsible actions like this put our entire city at risk and will not be tolerated," The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection stated in a news release.
This week, Chicago Public Schools will take steps to bring back sports for students.
The district announced Thursday that schools can begin summer sports programming on Monday "for the potential return of high school sports in the fall."
"I don't put much weight into what President Trump says, particularly given his lack of leadership over the course of this pandemic, but making those kinds of decisions has to lie with the local school district," Mayor Lightfoot said.
A lengthy debate on the value of police officers in schools came as an ordinance to remove them has been at least temporarily bottled up in committee.
City Council committees will meet to talk about Chicago Police School Resource Officers in public schools.
"This program is a critical component of our STEP agenda and the efforts to end poverty and a part of our mission to drive improved academic outcomes at CPS."
The Chicago Teachers Union doubled up on its demands Wednesday, calling for police out of the schools but also for more protective measures against coronavirus.
By a 4-3 vote, Mayor Lori Lightfoot's hand-picked board voted down a motion to terminate a $33 million contract with the Chicago Police Department to provide more than 200 school resource officers and staff sergeants at 72 high schools.
Wednesday, the CPS board will vote on a resolution to terminate the $33 million contract between CPS and the Chicago Police Department.
Chicago Public Schools officials addressed safety plans as concerns grow over School Resource Officers.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot has opposed entirely removing police officers from public schools, arguing it should be up to elected Local School Councils to decide if police should be stationed at individual schools.
Millions of tax dollars are at stake in the push to remove police officers from inside Chicago Public Schools. But those who are pushing for the move say it's about so much more.
The "Police Free Schools Ordinance" would require CPD to terminate its $33 million contract to provide police officers as security at CPS buildings within 75 days.
Recent Chicago Public Schools graduates marched on the South Side on Sunday, demanding the school district cut its contract with the Chicago Police Department.
"Completing high school is a momentous occasion and while this year's graduation ceremony might not be what they expected, this is an opportunity to send our students off in style."
Kanye West was in attendance Thursday evening for a protest rally in solidarity with George Floyd, who died at the hands of Minneapolis police last week.
