CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Chicago Public Schools are eliminating some COVID-19 safety protocols that were in place last year.
For the new school year, which begins Monday, Aug. 30, Chicago Public Schools students and staff will no longer have to submit daily, online health assessments or have their temperatures checked. They also won't always have to maintain three-feet of social distancing.
Additionally, there has been no metric set that would trigger a return to remote learning as there was last year.
Instead, all teachers and staff will be required to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 15; and weekly testing will be offered, but not required for students and staff.
Related
Plus, everyone will need to wear face masks, regardless of vaccination status.
Related
Meanwhile, the district and the Chicago Teachers Union are continuing to negotiate health and safety measures.
“I do think it’s possible to get an agreement,” said Chicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey during a board meeting. “CTU is already back in schools...We’re not trying to block the reopening of school. But if we’re the ones who have to do the lonely job of sounding the alarm, then so be it. I’m sounding the alarm. There are serious problems with CPS’ plan.”
Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Stacy Davis Gates said she is frustrated with the reduction of COVID safety protocols.
"Look we were able to hammer out our reopening agreement in February, and we refined that agreement in the spring. We have a mayor who is the head of our schools who said it was successful..." David Gates said.
"Ask the Mayor, why is she rolling back the mitigations that she has said were successful, last winter and last spring? Why, when 100 percent of our students are returning to our school communities, are you rolling back mitigations that even you said kept people safe?"
As far as she is concerned, the district is done bargaining.
Related
