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So my mentions and DMs are getting the, “we need to open schools, it’s best for kids and some medical folks agree.” So let me explain myself. You missed that I said open schools WHEN ITS SAFE. I didn’t say don’t ever open schools. Let me be clear:
It’s like when folks argue about Black Lives Matter, the too is there at the end. So stay remote UNTIL ITS SAFE is what I mean. So let’s start with what y’all think you know,
“We have school open here and it’s been working.” Excellent, so happy you have a safe plan. Let’s compare: what’s the infection rate where you live? In Chicago it’s 10% and as high as 17% in some places.
1. I bet you have a public health metric that triggers remote learning ...
1. I bet you have a public health metric that triggers remote learning ...
CPS refuses to set one, that doesn’t feel like it’s safe. And yes families can absolutely choose to keep kids home or send them. Staff isn’t given that safety choice. With no public health metric they don’t ever have to say it’s unsafe to come to work.
If your community rate is manageable and schools are open then I am happy your community is safe and healthy.
2. Happy you were able to get back safely. Do you have a nurse in every school? A social worker for the mental health of students? Does your district follow the ratio of clinical to student ratios recommended? Great news, but..
CPS doesn’t have a nurse or social worker in every building or counselors for that matter and the ratio of clinicians to students is double or triple in some schools. Doesn’t seem safe to open buildings and not be able to keep our students physically or mentally healthy.
3. Your schools open and it’s running smooth with in person and simultaneous teaching. Awesome. I bet you have the infrastructure to support it. CPS does not on every level:
School WiFi will not be able to support the district’s gmeets across buildings with teachers and students. Students/teachers have old or not fully functioning devices. But come at me with how it’s working for your schools.
Who does your district serve? Are the demographics the same as Chicago? Likely not, so when you serve families that are predominantly Black and Brown and low income and are facing disproportionate infections rate, let’s compare what’s safe.
“We listened to our families and they wanted to return.” Again, well done, do you have an elected school board? We don’t. You listened to families, CPS did not or any other stakeholders, because 2/3 of caregivers said to stay remote.
Speaking of stakeholders CPS has a long history of telling their stakeholders what’s best. What do I mean?
CPS students wanted cops out of their schools used their own experiences, data and ways to spend funds that better supported them instead of cops. BOE, CEO and mayor said, too bad cops are what YOU need.
Closing community schools. CPS has not listened to folks in community when they have begged and pleaded to keep their schools open. They hold community meetings and “listen” then proceed to close. Only with hunger strikes and losing lawsuits do they not close a school.
Back to schools. “We have found with proper mitigation we were able to open.” Again good, congrats. Have you looked at the CPS plan before you came to my mentions to tell me it’s safe to open? Let me help you,
False sense of safety with pods. 15 kids per pod. Perfect, sounds safe. Those pods will be exposed to up to 10 adults per day. Those adults up to 10
Pods. My exposure per week is up to 120 children without thinking about my adult exposure.
Pods. My exposure per week is up to 120 children without thinking about my adult exposure.
Ventilation is up to date in your workplace? Schools? Congrats! CPS is not. It’s been “checked” but refuse to let an outside contractor confirm. Seems fishy right? If they were sure they should be happy to share. They also tested empty buildings without humans.
But they have HEPA filters! Yes. Only in spaces where windows won’t open. It’s January in Chicago. Not sure if you have been here to visit in these winter months. Also the filters purchased are recommended for 500 sqft. Like a bedroom. Not the same, most classrooms are >500 ft.
Another mitigation strategy: testing. CPS is doing 25% a week, only AFTER pressure. Not enough for a double digit community infection rate. Needs to be better to be safe. You test more and better, excellent. Stay safe.
I’m so tired of folks who use their privilege, title, position to tell stakeholders what is best. So again, I’ll ask how many students, parents, staff, administrators have you spoke to who are actually IN CPS? Who know how this district works and runs? Me: LOTS. How bout you?
I work in one. A good one. And organized one. A newer building. But guess what it still didn’t have warm water in the spring or sanitizing wipes or hand sanitizer. All CPS schools have to be safe for return. If you are going to say sounds safe for YOU, you don’t get it.
Thank you for reading, please stay out of my dms and mentions with your advice, directives and self appointed expertise. I’ve asked before, I’ll keep asking. Try reflecting on why you are in them in the first place. Thank you for coming to my Ted talk.
