CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Some Chicago Public Schools parents, families, students, educators, and community members are planning a sick out Monday to protest the district's COVID-19 reopening plan.
The group said Mayor Lightfoot needs to take accountability for "the multiple system failures that have happened in the past two weeks," and allow schools to immediately implement changes to make in-person attendance safer and remote learning accessible to all who want it.
Leaders of the sick out said CPS' plan for limiting the spread of COVID-19 isn't working. They point to limited social distancing in school buildings, due to classrooms being overcrowded; and added that COVID testing is not in place at all schools or is failing to provide timely, accurate results. The group said CPS contact tracers are up to a week behind, leaving parents on hold for hours, not returning parent calls. And that CPS is also trying to hide their case numbers by not updating their data dashboard daily.
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Additionally, they added that some buildings are still under construction with non-functioning sinks and bathrooms and there are rooms in some schools where windows don’t open for air circulation.
"We demand that Lori Lightfoot take accountability for the lack of leadership in the Chicago Public Schools district office and the failure to provide 'free, accessible, high-quality public education' to all students of Chicago," the group said in a statement. "We demand to have transparency about where the federal COVID relief dollars are being spent, and why money is not being spent to alleviate pressures right now by hiring more teachers and staff, nurses, counselors, social workers, IEP case managers, and contact tracers."
Leaders of the sick out said parents are confused and frustrated, and they cannot take one more week of what they are calling, "CPS chaos."
"If CPS cannot address these issues immediately, then we urge the Illinois State Board of Education to step in to force CPS to comply with state guidance and keep students and staff safe," the group said in a statement.
The group is planning a protest rally and march Monday near Mayor Lori Lightfoot's home in Logan Square.
According to CBS 2, this is the third CPS sick out from the same group this year. The first was in February, while the second was just two weeks ago before schools opened for the new school year.
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