CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- As in-person learning resumes at Chicago Public Schools for the first time since March, Chicago Teachers Union members are once again calling on Mayor Lightfoot and district officials to continue all-remote learning until the pandemic wanes.
In-person instruction for pre-kindergarten and some special education students started Monday, while kindergarten through 8th grade students are to return Feb. 1. But the CTU has asked Chicago Public Schools to hold off on any plans to return to in-person learning until the COVID-19 positivity is below three percent.
CTU members held a news conference Monday morning outside Nathan Davis Elementary School in Brighton Park on the Southwest Side.
They said the district's plan for reopening schools was inadequate; that the plan was confusing, and that schools do not have enough cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment.
"The district has provided air purifiers that are inadequate for the size of the room per the manufacturer," said Evan Gillum, music teacher at Nathan Davis Elementary.
Special education preschool teacher Kate O'Rourke said families know know the dangers of in-person learning and that the preschool classrooms will be empty Monday, because families have elected to keep their children home.
"It does not matter how good the school is, and we have a great school, at 16-20 percent community positivity, our students' families are just not going to take that risk," she said. "We had about a dozen, between 10-20 students signed up for in-person learning across five classes, but every single one of those families pulled out last week."
Some CTU members said they are staying home out of fear for their safety, and that it's heartless to be threatened with disciplinary action for looking out for their own health and the health of their relatives.
Chicago Public Schools said that of the staff members who were required to report to work last week, 65 percent did so and they expect that number to rise as time goes on.
