Read on Twitter
At 930 am, Mayor Lightfoot and Chicago Public Schools CEO Dr. Jackson will provide an update on CPS's reopening plans.
Follow along here: https://twitter.com/chicagosmayor/status/1357352739844444162?s=20
Lightfoot: We are here to update the public on status of our discussions on reopening safe and in-person learning
Lightfoot: We have no higher purpose than ensuring each and everyone of our students have resources to succeed and thrive
Lightfoot: We've had 80+ sessions with CTU
Lightfoot: Our schools are safe. We’ve said repeatedly that we will be transparent and guided by data and science, and we have been. We’ve had 3 weeks of following CDC guidance. Dr. Fauci has said with the kind of mitigations CPS has put in place, schools are safe...
Lightfoot: ... We know that to be true, based on in-person experience and over $100M we put towards it. CPS had 3 weeks of success implementation of mitigation, until CTU created chaos we are now enduring
Lightfoot: CPS staff and principals have been in schools throughout pandemic, feeding kids and getting them ready for return. By the way, there are teachers still coming into classrooms because they know it is safe as well
Lightfoot: We do not have a deal to report this morning, but we remain at the table. The ball is in CTU’s court.
Lightfoot: Yesterday, there were a series of steps backward and we have conveyed that to CTU leadership. We waited for hours last night and still did not receive a proposal from CTU, and as of this morning we are still morning — but to be clear, not patiently, not anymore.
Lightfoot: After 80+ meetings, we are out of runway.
Lightfoot: On the table: we have a comprehensive vaccination plan by Dr. Arwady, ADA accommodations for those with underlying conditions or primary caretakers for those who do, accommodate CTU who has household member with health risk + more
Lightfoot: But still no comprehensive agreement. We are still waiting on the CTU.
How is there time to orchestrate press conferences and letters but not time to get a deal done.
How is there time to orchestrate press conferences and letters but not time to get a deal done.
Lightfoot: We are here today discussing this while in the backdrop of the city positivity rate of just 5%.
Lightfoot: This week is the final week for high school students. We extended our cooling period through Friday. We’ve extended ourselves beyond measure, out of empathy for our teachers.
Lightfoot: Let me emphasize again that time is running out. We need our kids back in school. We need our parents to have that option.
While remote learning works for some, it absolutely doesn’t work for everyone.
While remote learning works for some, it absolutely doesn’t work for everyone.
Lightfoot: We are failing those children by not giving them the option to return, failing grades, depression, isolation and so much more.
Parents asked, ‘Why didn’t you let us know sooner last night?’ Because we were waiting on CTU.
Parents asked, ‘Why didn’t you let us know sooner last night?’ Because we were waiting on CTU.
CPS CEO Dr. Jackson is speaking now: Today marks the end for the 1st semester for CPS students.
It goes without saying that this is the most unusual and challenging start of the school year in our lifetimes.
We want those to have some sense of normalcy and options
It goes without saying that this is the most unusual and challenging start of the school year in our lifetimes.
We want those to have some sense of normalcy and options
Dr. Arwady is speaking:
So just briefly, we continue to make excellent progress against covid and toward vaccination.
5.4 positivity in Chicago. Average just 539 new cases per day.
So just briefly, we continue to make excellent progress against covid and toward vaccination.
5.4 positivity in Chicago. Average just 539 new cases per day.
Dr. Arwady: At peak, 16% positivity, days with more than 3000 new cases. This is the best shape our city has been in since the beginning of October.
Dr. Arwady: We are turning vaccines we receive into vaccinations, including teachers and other frontline workers who are already being vaccinated.
Dr. Arwady: As of today, administer 256,279 vaccine doses. We’re over the 6% threshold: 1 in 17 chicagoans have already gotten at least 1 dose, 1 in 8 over age 65 have gotten first dose of vaccine
Dr. Arwady: Over 3,700 CPS employees who have vaccinated or offered vaccination spots. And there are others who have been able to secure their own vaccinations.
Dr. Arwady: We are dedicated to getting this group vaccinations. But vaccination is not required for safe school reopening.
Dr. Arwady: We know that you cant have a completely normal in-school experience: you have to have masks, distancing, pods, cleaning and disinfection. All of this has been in place in schools across Chicago throughout the fall and before that, this summer at daycares, camps, etc
Dr. Arwady: When these strategies are in place, schools and other childcare are not a more dangerous place to be, and in fact it is often safer.
Dr. Arwady: CPS: routine testing, surveillance testing, already started when school opened for younger children and we didn’t see high positive rates there.
Dr. Arwady: As a reminder, we’ve shown over and over in chicago, country, world, that schools are not the source of spread. The science continues to evolve, but on this point the answers could not be more clear
Dr. Arwady: This decision, being supportive of school reopening, based on science and mitigation plans in place, is not a hard decision and has not been a hard decision for months
Dr. Arwady: In good faith, we are ensuring teachers, CPS employees are already being vaccinated and we will continue to provide vaccine for as long as there are CPS employees who want to be vaccinated
Question about parent who has not had a teacher because teacher was locked out. Will those teachers be let back in?
Jackson: the teachers who have been locked out are those who have not reported to work and have not provided an explanation. Idk any company who would...
Jackson: the teachers who have been locked out are those who have not reported to work and have not provided an explanation. Idk any company who would...
Jackson: ... allow for that. My heart goes out to that parent. You have a responsibility to your employer and teacher to explain why you’re not coming to work. I’m not going to allow political stunts and standoff. I can’t tell you if a sub showed up, but that will be addressed.
[The pool reporter is really asking the good questions. Exchanges between her and Lightfoot are moving quickly, and Lightfoot is upset that the reporter is asking questions before she's done answering]
Question about 100+ COVID cases reported in CPS during limited reopening.
Dr. Arwady: the question is not whether we ever see covid cases in school settings, the question is whether we see the spread of covid in school settings...
Dr. Arwady: the question is not whether we ever see covid cases in school settings, the question is whether we see the spread of covid in school settings...
Dr. Arwady: ... For every case in school settings, there’s a dedicated pediatric team at CDPH who investigates and looks at risk factors. We work with the CPS contact tracing team. Every week, we post the number of pediatric cases that we see in school, camp, daycare settings.
Another pool reporter is up. If no deal, what can be done? We’ve seen that you don’t want a strike, and union doesn’t want to strike
Lightfoot: we need to get a deal done today. I’m not going to speculate. There’s no reason we shouldn’t have gotten it done yesterday, or...
Lightfoot: we need to get a deal done today. I’m not going to speculate. There’s no reason we shouldn’t have gotten it done yesterday, or...
Lightfoot: ... Tuesday, or Monday. My patience is done. I’ve been personally involved in trying to craft solutions. We can’t keep taking steps back. We can’t wait hours and hours and hours and have no response other than we’re working on it. If we were in December, or maybe...
Lightfoot: ... even in January, but in February, it’s not good enough. Let’s get a deal done today. The only thing I’m focused on is today.
Question about air purifier, that it’s not HEPA. is equipment the proper equipment?
Jackson: the HEPA filters and air purifiers are all extra steps, above and beyond, to ensure proper ventilation in our classrooms. We’ve committed to not having class in any classroom that...
Jackson: the HEPA filters and air purifiers are all extra steps, above and beyond, to ensure proper ventilation in our classrooms. We’ve committed to not having class in any classroom that...
Jackson: ... doesn’t have proper ventilation. That’s no. 1. If there are problems with equipment, please share with facility manager and chief. I haven’t been made aware of these issues. Also, each engineer will have device to check air quality. Those have started...
Jackson: ... to get delivered to schools. Will show people in real-time what’s going on.
Question: Only 31 teachers didn’t show up our of possible 1700.
Jackson: i think it’s clear. 31 didn’t show up and did not give a reason for not showing up. Some failed health screener or had been traveling or had other reasons...
Jackson: i think it’s clear. 31 didn’t show up and did not give a reason for not showing up. Some failed health screener or had been traveling or had other reasons...
Jackson: ... This is an organization, we do have rules, and employees are expected to do what they need to do.
Question: What is CPS doing for staff that contract covid while working in schools now that CARES Act has expired?
Jackson: no, we’ll continue to pay people if they have to work from home due to covid
Jackson: no, we’ll continue to pay people if they have to work from home due to covid
Question: If there is no deal by tomorrow, will you do what San Francisco is doing and sue the school district?
Lightfoot: apples and oranges. In San Fran, the mayor has no authority over school district. I have no intention on suing Dr. Jackson and her colleagues
Lightfoot: apples and oranges. In San Fran, the mayor has no authority over school district. I have no intention on suing Dr. Jackson and her colleagues
Why is Black and Latino students much less than White students returning to classroom?
Lightfoot: we know there are challenges with our school system. We have a significant number of low income, single parent families that are struggling hard everyday, pre-pandemic and...
Lightfoot: we know there are challenges with our school system. We have a significant number of low income, single parent families that are struggling hard everyday, pre-pandemic and...
Lightfoot: ... even more so now. We are trying to reach out to them and have the schools be a lifeline for them. Just as early day with vaccines, a lot of people are waiting and seeing, and i’m sure that’s what’s informing these numbers. But we’ve had 3 successful...
Lightfoot: ... weeks. When we reopen and people see success, they will come
[The other pool reporter returns, challenges Lightfoot’s response. Lightfoot tells her she's new and she's breaking the rules here, but they let her ask her question.]
[questions and exchanges were moving pretty fast. i couldn't catch it all. a couple more questions came in after that previous exchange. now the presser has ended.
live tweets by EIC Tiffany Walden].
live tweets by EIC Tiffany Walden].
