CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Under public pressure from some aldermen, state lawmakers, and county officials, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said nothing has been decided about when some Chicago public school students may return to the classrooms.
More than 40 aldermen, legislators and county commissioners wrote Mayor Lightfoot asking that the Chicago Public Schools improve remote learning and safety measures at schools before bringing kids back to the buildings.
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CPS, last week, announced plans to phase-in in-person instruction, starting with the youngest children and special education students.
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Mayor Lightfoot said younger students and those with special needs haven't done as well as others with online lessons, despite best efforts.
"Remote learning works for some, it works quite well. But for some, it does not work well, despite all the energy and effort that Dr. Jackson, Dr. McDade, and the whole CPS team have done to bridge the digital divide," she said.
"What CPS announced on Friday was the start of a reengagement process with parents, with students, with people in the school community from building principals and staff, and of course, teachers. So no definitive decision has been made."
As for safety, the Mayor notes that other schools that have opened their classrooms, like Catholic schools and some charter schools, have not appeared to spread COVID.