CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Chicago Teacher’s Union commissioned a poll of voting-age Chicagoans and found few are comfortable with sending kids back to classrooms.
The poll, according to the CTU, found that more than 60-percent of respondents believe the CPS should stick with remote learning while COVID-19 rates remain high.
Broken down by race and ethnicity, it found 85-percent of Latinx, 75-percent of black and 55-percent of white voters oppose a return to classrooms.
"Why is a city and a school district run by people of color ignoring the voices of families of color?" CTU Vice President Stacy Davis Gates said. "If we’re talking seriously about equity, and ameliorating inequity, then let's talk about keeping the communities hit hardest by COVID-19 safe and improving remote learning."
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The poll also found that 73 percent of voters who identify as Chicago Public Schools parents are against reopening.
According to CTU, 68-percent of voters agree with the statement, “Chicago schools should not be reopened until the spread of the virus is controlled;” including 57 percent of voters who strongly agree. Just 26 percent of voters disagree.
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CPS has a plan for a phased-in return, starting with preschoolers and special education students in January and elementary students in February.
High school students would continue with remote education.
“Our families and educators, who are the people with the most skin in the game, want safety, equity and trust in any reopening plan,” CTU President Jesse Sharkey said. “Schools aren't closed because of our union; schools are closed because of COVID-19, and it's the lack of trust that people have in CPS that's keeping them closed."