CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Chicago Public Schools open for the new academic year on Monday. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said they’ll be ready for students, but how many students will show up?
Mayor Lightfoot said 30,000 students did not connect online or in-person with the school system last year, and that efforts continue to try to contact their families to make sure they’re ready to go for the new academic year.
The mayor said COVID-prevention efforts are in place.
"Our number one priority is making sure our schools are safe. We believe that they are safe based upon all the mitigation efforts that we took last year, and listening more, in addition, to parents, to teachers, faculty, staff and other stakeholders in the community, we’ve made some enhancements," Lightfoot said.
"We’ll be flexible as the school year rolls on, but starting on Monday, we believe that the schools are safe and ready to welcome students full time."
The city is still in discussions with the Chicago Teachers Union over safety protocols. COVID tests will be offered to all students and staff.
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Mayor Lightfoot made her comments after the ribbon-cutting for the new, $90 million John Hancock High School on the Southwest Side. Sor Juana Elementary School will move into the old Hancock building.