CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- For the first time since last March, there will be students learning again inside Chicago Public School buildings.
About 6,000 pre-kindergarten and special education cluster students returned Monday for in-person learning in Chicago Public Schools - the first phase of a return to in-person instruction for more than 75,000 students who do not want to learn remotely.
"Most importantly, we’re reopening our schools because we believe it is safe to do so," said Chicago Schools CEO Janice Jackson.
She said it won’t be until later in the week before CPS will have numbers on how many teachers and students showed up of the ones who were supposed to.
If last week is any indication, Dr. Jackson said most teachers have been reporting to work.
"There’s a small group of individuals that are just simply resisting," she said.
The Chicago Teachers Union has been contending since CPS began outlining its in-person instruction option that it's not safe to have teachers and students back in school buildings.
Principal Jasmine Thurmond of King Academy of Social Justice School in Englewood said that while she may not be able to hug her students as they return Monday, she’s really looking forward to hearing their voices and laughter in the building once again.
"My school building is already filled with signage, hand sanitizer dispensers, shields and other materials that will help keep students and staff safe," she said.
Thurmond said there’s a HEPA air filter in all classrooms, able to filter out 99 percent of any viruses in the air.
Sarah Sachen is the parent of three CPS students, including a 5th grader with autism, who she said has not done well with remote learning and has begged her every day to do what she could to get him back inside a school building. Monday is that day.
"I believe there’s a lot to look forward to in 2021 and I know that one of the things I'm especially looking forward to is to see my children’s eyes light up on their first day back to school as their teacher warmly welcomes them back into the building," Sachen said.
Related
Maria Vasquez is the mother of two pre-k students who returned to their classrooms Monday morning at Dawes Elementary School. Through an interpreter, she said, "I chose in-person learning because, despite doing everything I can as a parent, these are critical years and children need the social-emotional support and stability that comes along with in-person learning."
Vasquez said she feels her children are safe from contracting COVID-19 at school.
CPS CEO Janice Jackson said CPS had contingency plans had teachers not shown up for work inside school buildings Monday, but she said classes were covered.
Dr. Jackson said any teachers who did not show in-person without permission Monday will be considered AWOL, absent without leave, and will not be paid.
“Throughout the week, we have sent clear messages to those who have chosen not to attend work,” Jackson said last week. “Those individuals will be deemed absent without leave, and they will not be eligible for pay going forward. This is not a measure that we take lightly, and it can be avoided if staff chooses to return to school. We believe we’ve done every single thing within our power to ensure a safe return to school.”
On Monday, she said, "any teacher who would be denied access to their Google Suite or pay, they have had several conversations and warnings and reminders and opportunities to explain why they aren’t at work last week. We’ve gone above and beyond."
Dr. Jackson said CPS has also gone above and beyond in making schools as COVID-safe as possible and she added, "we are not done." She also said it's CPS' mission to bring back all students to school buildings over the next few months.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Teachers Union is proposing that Chicago Public Schools delay a return to in-person instruction until all employees have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and for the union and district to reach an agreement on extending the school year.
Related
