CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Evanston Township High School is planning to bring some students and all teachers back to classrooms next month and the teachers union is not happy.
For almost a year now, Evanston Township High School students have been learning remotely.
Now, Superintendent Eric Witherspoon announced “At this time, ETHS expects to transition to a hybrid learning model in April, after spring break.”
Spring break ends April 2. The statement did not specify if in-person classes through the hybrid model will start will start immediately after the break, or sometime later in the month.
Previously, Supt. Witherspoon said in-person instruction would not resume until teachers are vaccinated.
"For me and for ETHS, being able to get our employees vaccinated is critical," Supt. Witherspoon said.
"When we know all our employees have had an opportunity to be vaccinated, it is going to be a game changer."
Right now, it’s unclear whether teachers will be vaccinated by April 2.
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When Supt. Witherspoon made the vaccination remarks, he noted that more than 50-percent of the teachers and staff are people of color.
The ETHS Teachers Council, the union of the high school’s 300-plus teachers, said the announcement creates conflict.
Union President GionMatthias Schelbert told Evanston Now the superintendent is “not putting students first, and not putting education first, but is putting white privilege first.”
While parents can choose whether or not to send their children back to school, teachers would be required to be at ETHS daily under the hybrid system.
Schelbert said Supt. Witherspoon’s plan is a “change in working conditions” which requires negotiations before the teachers would go back.
The teachers plan to voice their opposition during a school board meeting next Monday.