CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Tensions are mounting again between the Chicago Teachers Union and the district administration: the CTU is considering a strike over safety concerns with a return to in-person education, while the Chicago Public School system is insisting it is safe and will move forward.
Chicago Public Schools CEO Dr. Janice K. Jackson said there does not have to be an agreement with the union to return to classrooms, and notes there have been about 50 meetings since June.
Overall, 62 percent of staff members showed up Monday, Jackson said. But as for the teachers who were supposed to report back to school buildings Monday, just under 50 percent reported to work. She said there will be progressive discipline.
"Look, at the end of the day it serves no one's interests to fire teachers, but we do have a clear policy around expectations to return to work," she said. "...We do fully intend to look at these on a case-by-case basis and individuals who are refusing to report to work, and will be considered absent without leave, will face progressive discipline."
She said notices have been sent to staff who have not returned to ensure that CPS' expectations are clear.
Jackson said she has concerns about allowing a generation to fall behind.
“When we open up the schools, which many people see as assets and resources in their community, people will come,” she said. “We cannot sit back and allow a generation to falter because of made up reason about why we can’t do reopening. A year from now there’s going to be a reckoning about what happened to those students that have been sitting at home not being properly served, because many of them have families who have to be essential workers who have to go out and work.”
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Jackson spoke shortly after the President of the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association likened the actions of Mayor Lightfoot and school officials to those of a child.
“The biggest obstacle to reopening is the management of CPS, because they failed to meet the standard set by teachers and principals for our support of a reopening plan,” Troy LaRaviere, President of the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association.
“If you tell your child that he can’t play outside until he cleans his room, but the child keeps his room a mess, who is the biggest obstacle to him playing outside? You for setting the standard or the child for not meeting the standard?” he continued. “The mayor and CEO are like that child, whining about us setting standards for opening schools, rather than accepting responsibility for their failure to meet those standards.”
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LaRaviere described as a lack of transparency by the school district, a history of deceptive practices that have undercut trust, and a refusal to hear from stakeholders while creating a reopening plan while spinning “its message” to the media.
"CPS has breached stakeholders trust so often, before and during the pandemic, that few stakeholder groups have faith in any plan made by this district behind closed doors," he said.
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Chicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey said the union held discussions with about 2,400 rank-and-file members in a first wave Monday night and about half indicated they had not shown up on what was to be their first day of in-person instruction since March. Of those who did return, 69 percent felt conditions were not adequate, the Tribune reported.
"I do believe that the district's claims about safety lack credibility. You know, there are a tremendous amount of concerns, and many of our members are not feeling safe at all and are feeling more anxious and scared than ever," Sharkey said.
A doctor with the Chicago Department of Public Health said returning to in-person instruction is not zero risk, but it has proven to be safe.