Board of Education
Chicago Public Schools
Education
Chicago, IL 60602 (Directions)
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Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team
Note-taking by
Anna Aguiar Kosicki
Staff vaccination, School reopening, Remote learning demands, Charter renewal
Live reporting by
Samantha Callender
Staff vaccination, School reopening, Remote learning demands, Charter renewal
samantha
@OnYourCallender
Hi! I’m Samantha and I’ll be live tweeting the @ChiPubSchools Board of Education meeting for @CHIdocumenters ! Join me in just a few moments at 10:30am CST
10:28 AM Feb 24, 2021 CST
They have yet to stream live. Currently awaiting for streaming to become available !
Live stream is now open. Miguel del Valle is thanking teachers and administration for their efforts and patience thus far.
CPS Student Keith from West Side of Austin, is currently being acknowledged by the board for his efforts to raise half a million dollars to start Austin Harvest.
Keith speaks on the fact that the Austin neighborhood is considered a food desert, and he and his friends wanted to do their part to make a difference in his community
Austin Harvest was once a looted liquor store that was converted into a market. It prides itself as a "youth-led open air fresh market that provides fresh produce to the residents"
More on Austin Harvest here bythehand.org/news/austin-ha….
More on Austin Harvest here bythehand.org/news/austin-ha….
CPS CEO Janice Jackson shifts gears, asking for parents to continue to remain engaged in meetings like these and others.
She directs folks to check the ever-updating calendar at cpsboe.org
She directs folks to check the ever-updating calendar at cpsboe.org
Jackson also speaks to reform that will be coming to the School Quality Rating Policy. She urges that folks keep up with the site to learn more.
Current SQRP can be found here cps.edu/about/district…
Current SQRP can be found here cps.edu/about/district…
Now, Jackson is speaking to the safety of reopening plans, citing that they have followed CDC guidelines.
She notes that Interim Rule 6.4 will allow for the formal requirement and tracking of vaccinations of CPS staff.
Currently, CPS offers exclusive vaccination sites for staff
She notes that Interim Rule 6.4 will allow for the formal requirement and tracking of vaccinations of CPS staff.
Currently, CPS offers exclusive vaccination sites for staff
CTU President Jesse Sharkey takes the stage. He reflects on the passing of Karen Lewis.
"It was a textbook description of an impossible negotiation." is how he describes the latest negotiation efforts between CPS and CTU
Says CTU felt "ignored" until threat of a strike
"It was a textbook description of an impossible negotiation." is how he describes the latest negotiation efforts between CPS and CTU
Says CTU felt "ignored" until threat of a strike
Sharkey also describes the negotiation process as "inhumane".
He says that at the heart of negotiations and conversations, there needs to be "trust", which he says is currently not there between CPS and CTU
He says that at the heart of negotiations and conversations, there needs to be "trust", which he says is currently not there between CPS and CTU
CTU President Sharkey says that he wasn't happy to hear about "mandatory vaccines".
Says he learned of this policy via the press, not from CPS.
Says that CPS website is misleading on the science to back up a return to in person-learning.
Says he learned of this policy via the press, not from CPS.
Says that CPS website is misleading on the science to back up a return to in person-learning.
He says that while mitigations work, they must be carried out in practice, and he doesn't have faith that CPS is able to do that.
He ends his statement with hopes that they can continue these discussions and they CPS is open to teacher's needs and concerns.
He ends his statement with hopes that they can continue these discussions and they CPS is open to teacher's needs and concerns.
Now, a speaker is speaking on the vetting process of leaders of Charter Operators.
Says they are not qualified to make decisions regarding public safety. Believes there should be a stronger process for vetting Charter School Operators
Says they are not qualified to make decisions regarding public safety. Believes there should be a stronger process for vetting Charter School Operators
Chicago Principals' Association Troy LaRaviere says that 75% of CPS Principals surveyed do not feel they have the proper support and number of staff members to safely re-open.
Says schools cannot implement proper mitigation efforts with the staff they currently have.
Says schools cannot implement proper mitigation efforts with the staff they currently have.
LaRaviere says there is no way that schools can uphold mitigation expectations and education standards the Janice Jackson and Lori Lightfoot are promising parents given the lack of staff and support in CPS schools.
LaRaviere adds that Jackson and Lightfoot give "talking points" that sound reasonable to the public but are internally unrealistic given the lack of staff in these schools (which was an issue even before COVID-19).
LaRaviere also provides a critique about the Principal eligibility. Asks that Janice Jackson put her "talking points down and acknowledge the staffing problem".
Learn more about CPS current Principal Eligibility criteria is here cps.edu/careers/school…
Learn more about CPS current Principal Eligibility criteria is here cps.edu/careers/school…
Now public comments.
Joseph Williams, the parent of 5 CPS students, says he has felt totally voiceless in CPS decision to reopen.
Says trust, learning, and care is lacking.
He asks for microgrants to support families who balance working while having school-age children
Joseph Williams, the parent of 5 CPS students, says he has felt totally voiceless in CPS decision to reopen.
Says trust, learning, and care is lacking.
He asks for microgrants to support families who balance working while having school-age children
Kristen Brody, the parent of a CPS diverse learner, also comments on the disappointment of constant "talking points" coming from CPS leadership that do not address the true concerns from parents
Dixon of the North Lawndale Parent & Community Coalition is giving comment on the disappointment of continued closures of schools in the midst of this pandemic.
Dixon is referring to:
Proposal to close 3 North Lawndale schools and open a new one put on hold, CPS says
chicago.suntimes.com/education/2020…
Proposal to close 3 North Lawndale schools and open a new one put on hold, CPS says
chicago.suntimes.com/education/2020…
Many parents are providing public comment on the fact that parents are supposed to believe mitigation efforts be followed while you merge 3 schools into 1.
More on the lack of trust from parents on the South and West sides about mitigation efforts:
Deep-Seated Mistrust In CPS Is Keeping Some Families From Choosing In-Person Learning
wbez.org/stories/deep-s…
Deep-Seated Mistrust In CPS Is Keeping Some Families From Choosing In-Person Learning
wbez.org/stories/deep-s…
CPS parent from Taft raises concern about the lack of a plan for High School students, and feels it's unacceptable that HS students can practice sports and extracurriculars, but not being able to learn in person.
Aiko Kojima Hibino raises concern for lack of support for diverse learners.
CPS Parent Group Says Kids Learning From Home Need More Support From District
blockclubchicago.org/2021/02/11/cps…
CPS Parent Group Says Kids Learning From Home Need More Support From District
blockclubchicago.org/2021/02/11/cps…
Nicholas, the father of a CPS 8th grader: Says that remote learning is not working for his soon-to-be High Schooler, but he wants some insight as to what a safe reopening plan for high school students will look like.
A member from The Academy for Urban School Leadership says that student's on Chicago's Westside cannot suffer any more divestment from their schools.
She says students like her son rely on the support of City Year employees to keep them on track.
She says students like her son rely on the support of City Year employees to keep them on track.
Maria Ortega, a parent of 3 CPS students:
She represents parents who chose to stay home during even in the midst of reopening talks.
She speaks on the falling behind of students due to the lack of preparation and refinement of the remote learning instruction by CPS.
She represents parents who chose to stay home during even in the midst of reopening talks.
She speaks on the falling behind of students due to the lack of preparation and refinement of the remote learning instruction by CPS.
Ortega says that CPS is more focused on getting students back in seats and not focused on finding ways to provide the safest, and most effective way to educate CPS students.
A commenter from Charter Schools speaks to an earlier comment that brought into question the ability of Charter Schools to safely re-open and to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Says Operators are more than prepared to make these decisions
Says Operators are more than prepared to make these decisions
Ryan Griffen of Chicago Parent's Collective (an independent group) says remote learning was never the goal, and he applauds Janice Jackson and CPS Board in wanting to re-open up school.
Condemns "zero risk tolerance rhetoric".
Condemns "zero risk tolerance rhetoric".
Griffen adds that parents should not have to quit their jobs to serve as teachers' aids.
He condemns the lack of solidarity between CPS and CTU and CPS families.
He says there will always be challenges, but lack of willingness to cooperate causes more problems.
He condemns the lack of solidarity between CPS and CTU and CPS families.
He says there will always be challenges, but lack of willingness to cooperate causes more problems.
Many commenters are parents who are supporting the "Trust, Learning, Care" list of demands from CPS parents and community organizers. Find more info on those demands here:
chicago.suntimes.com/2021/2/5/22268…
chicago.suntimes.com/2021/2/5/22268…
CPS parent is offended that CPS is slated to begin the 2021-2022 school year on September 6th, which is Rosh Hashanah.
Says that it is a gross oversight and is inconsiderate of Jewish students.
Says that it is a gross oversight and is inconsiderate of Jewish students.
Mark Brotman, parent of 8 CPS students:
Says his family is concerned with the lack of a plan for students to return for 5 full days in the Fall.
Says his family is concerned with the lack of a plan for students to return for 5 full days in the Fall.
Compares the lack of plan to the plans of schools in other parents of Illinois who are successfully implementing in person learning
Brotman also says that teachers' concerns come at a cost to students who need in-person to learn effectively.
He says teachers should trust science over their own fear.
He says teachers should trust science over their own fear.
A new CPS commenter is saying that students who were once high achieving are seeing an academic decline and that those who were already suffering are declining even further.
Asks where the safety net is? Says students are feeling hopeless and unmotivated to learn online
Asks where the safety net is? Says students are feeling hopeless and unmotivated to learn online
CPS Board Member Dwayne Truss offers this:
Black History is an important curriculum that needs to be taught in CPS schools.
He also highlights that Black LGBTQ need to be taught as well.
"Black history should be a 365 effort"
Black History is an important curriculum that needs to be taught in CPS schools.
He also highlights that Black LGBTQ need to be taught as well.
"Black history should be a 365 effort"
How CPS students are learning about black history and white supremacy — and how that’s helping them understand George Floyd
chicago.suntimes.com/education/2020…
chicago.suntimes.com/education/2020…
Now the Board will be watching the 2020-2021 Charter Contract School Renewal:
Academic, Financial, and Operational Performance will be taken into consideration for renewals
Academic, Financial, and Operational Performance will be taken into consideration for renewals
The LEARN Charter School Network meets 2/3 of criteria https://t.co/xoIOMs63T1
All reviews and information will be made public online.
Data is consistently monitored, updated, and shared.
cps.edu/about/district…
Data is consistently monitored, updated, and shared.
cps.edu/about/district…
Key Highlights for concern include
Student discipline
Diverse learners
Teacher licensure
Student safety
Facilities and ADA https://t.co/SajlfXe4sk
Student discipline
Diverse learners
Teacher licensure
Student safety
Facilities and ADA https://t.co/SajlfXe4sk
"Reopening schools is an issue of equity"
Says that families of K-8, Black and Brown, are of the highest need to return to in-person.
37,000 K-5th grade return March 2
18,000 6-8th grade return March 8
Says that families of K-8, Black and Brown, are of the highest need to return to in-person.
37,000 K-5th grade return March 2
18,000 6-8th grade return March 8
The Board notes a drop in attendance as a cause for concern, specifically for Black and Latinx students
Attendance is determined via Google Activity rates.
Overall, grades in reading are a cause for concern across the board.
Overall, grades in reading are a cause for concern across the board.
Students in temporary living situations are hurting the most academically (both Black and Latinx, across grade levels)
Labor Relations Officer, Kaitlyn Girard:
A partnership with Walgreens and the Chicago Dept of Public Health has been reached in order to help distribute vaccines to CPS staff and families
A partnership with Walgreens and the Chicago Dept of Public Health has been reached in order to help distribute vaccines to CPS staff and families
This presentation information data can be found online, in depth, here:
In-Person and Remote Learning Guides
cps.edu/school-reopeni…
In-Person and Remote Learning Guides
cps.edu/school-reopeni…
More on the vaccination efforts of CPS .
14,955 CPS employees have been offered the vaccine. https://t.co/7CXj1JftMi
14,955 CPS employees have been offered the vaccine. https://t.co/7CXj1JftMi
Janice Jackson clarifies (an earlier comment from CT) that what is being voted on (today) is an infrastructure and system that allows CPS to track.
The immediate need is tracking vaccinations, and as of now, they cannot mandate vaccines for any CPS staff or support.
The immediate need is tracking vaccinations, and as of now, they cannot mandate vaccines for any CPS staff or support.
Says not sure how the media is reporting the concept of "mandatory vaccinations" in CPS. CPS is not yet at that point, they do want to be able to track the vaccination record of staff.
Now the Board is speaking on the plan for High School students re-opening.
Says that student input is highly valued, and they can share and their is a plan to allow space for their voice to be heard.
Says that student input is highly valued, and they can share and their is a plan to allow space for their voice to be heard.
As far as the learning Hubs, a majority of these will be staffed and supported by community-based organizations
Janice Jackson wants to clarify the financial limitations within the district in regards to being able to provide grants to families.
The priority is in investing in a place for in-person and hybrid learning
The priority is in investing in a place for in-person and hybrid learning
She believes that remote learning will be used beyond the pandemic (like for snow days or for medically fragile students).
The idea is to create an infrastructure that CPS will use for years to come
The idea is to create an infrastructure that CPS will use for years to come
Janice Jackson on reducing the amount of instruction/screen time for students (a big concern from parents about remote instruction):
"We will not reduce instruction time for remote learning. We just won't agree to that ... We do have to think about using that time wisely."
"We will not reduce instruction time for remote learning. We just won't agree to that ... We do have to think about using that time wisely."
Agency Information
Chicago Public Schools
The Chicago Board of Education is charged with governing the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), setting policies, governing operations, and charting the direction of current and future programs.
A list of board members (with headshots) is here. Board members are currently appointed by the mayor. In 2021, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a bill into law that will gradually transition to a 21-member elected school board over the course of 2024-2027.
A list of CPS executive leadership is here.