CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- At a Wednesday press conference, the Chicago Teachers Union membership applauded Governor Pritzker’s decision to require masking in public schools across the state.
Members of the Chicago Teachers Union were already focused Wednesday on planned efforts to canvas several neighborhoods promoting COVID-19 vaccines, when Governor Pritzker announced that masks would be required in all public school buildings state wide.
"We are glad that the Governor is again out in front, showing a lead position, making the mask mandate. We were advocating for masking and we had already been in conversation with CPS about that," said CTU Chief of Staff Jen Johnson.
CTU Chief of Staff Jen Johnson, while going door to door in Hyde Park, told WBBM Newsradio she hopes that the City of Chicago and CPS will follow the Governor’s suit with an increased focus on a safe return to school.
"We ought to be doing mass vaccination opportunities across our schools. It's why we are saying we ought to spending the $2 billion on the city's side and the $2 billion on the district's side," she said.
"We also have to be thinking about ventilation improvements, social distancing still, and we have to be thinking about COVID testing, so masking is a critical part of layered mitigation; but all of the different pieces need to be in place in order to have the maximum safety when we go back to school in a few weeks."
Elementary school music teacher Quentin Washington said he has his students in mind while joining other teachers in canvassing Chicago neighborhoods promoting the vaccine.
"My goal is that our students will feel safe and feel like there are some concerned adults downtown making decision that they are going to be practical and beneficial for them and their families," he said.
Related
