Topline
Chicago Public School students will return to classrooms on Wednesday after leaders of the Chicago Teachers Union approved the school district’s plan on Covid-19 safety protocols late on Monday, ending a week-long standoff between city officials and the union after teachers last week voted to switch to remote learning due to the ongoing omicron fueled surge.
A sign on the fence outside of Lowell elementary school asks students, staff and visitors to wear a … [+]
Key Facts
In a press conference late on Monday night, Chicago city officials said the deal included provisions for additional testing and outlined metrics that would determine school closures due to the virus.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot cheered the return to in-person classes and noted that remote learning without “a public health reason to do so” would have led to more social, emotional and economic turmoil for families.
In a statement issued on Twitter, the teacher’s union said it had voted to suspend its remote work action and the new agreement will now be voted on by its rank and file members.
At their own press conference, the union leaders acknowledged that the deal was not a “home run” but teachers wanted to resume classes for the students.
As part of the deal, teachers are expected to return to school on Tuesday, with students returning to classrooms the day after.
Crucial Quote
Stacy Davis Gates, the vice president of the union said: “This agreement is the only modicum of safety that is available for anyone that steps foot in the Chicago Public Schools, especially in the places in the city where testing is low and where vaccination rates are low.”
Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/01/11/chicago-public-schools-classes-to-resume-on-wednesday-after-teachers-union-agrees-to-deal-on-covid-safeguards/