At 9:34 a.m., the meeting is called to order.

Chairman Michael Scott Jr. is currently calling roll.

The meeting agenda is as follows:

1. Roll call
2. Approval of Rule 45 Report
3. Public commentary
4. Items before committee
5. Adjournment

The item before the committee deals with an ordinance to consider authorizing an agreement with Northwestern University regarding My Chi My Future program.

A quorum has been achieved.

Scott said no one signed up to provide public comment during the meeting.

Lisa Morrison Butler is briefing the committee on the agreement with Northwestern University regarding the My Chi My Future program. The initiative is organized by the mayor's office, which envisions it supporting the Austin, Back of the Yards, Roseland & other neighborhoods.

The funding to support the initiative was previously approved in the city's 2020-2021 budget.

Committee member Harry Osterman asks how the city intends to proceed with expanding the initiative.

Butler speaks of the transition the program is undertaking.

Butler said the communities currently served by the initiative will continue as such until funding is obtained to expand it.

Committee member James Cappelman asks how the city will determine if the initiative can be determined a success.

Butler speaks of how the initiative used to be organized by Chicago Public Schools to help connect families with after school programs.

Committee member Jeanette Taylor asks for data to help assess the initiative.

Butler said the four neighborhoods are getting a deeper focus under the initiative as undertaken by the city.

Committee member Raymond Lopez questioned if the office of public safety is involved in the program.

Butler said the mayor convenes a quarterly group that includes representatives from the office of public safety.

Lopez questioned if the program is funded more or less than it was under CPS.

Officials said the initiative is currently funded at $125,000.

Butler said the city is seeking local philanthropy efforts to support the initiative.

Lopez questioned how lumping the four neighborhoods into the program is beneficial.

Butler said the city is attempting to incorporate greater strategy into the initiative.

Butler said every time a request for proposal is issued in regards to the program, the city is putting its best foot forward.

Butler is the city's commissioner of the department of family and support services (DFSS).

A motion to recommend the ordinance is moved and seconded.

Action on this topic will take place later this month during the Chicago City Council meeting.

As of 10:06 a.m., a subject matter hearing is opened to discuss the reopening of Chicago Public Schools.

A roll call is underway to establish quorum for the second portion of the meeting, the subject matter hearing.

Scott said there are 15 members present at this time.

There are 9 people signed up to provide public comment.

The first public commenter said the push to reopen schools is risky. He expresses concern with the plan, saying not only are residents tasked with trying survive COVID-19 but also the mayor.

The first public commenter said the push to reopen schools is risky. He expresses concern with the plan, saying not only are residents tasked with trying to survive COVID-19 but also the mayor.

The second public commenter urges people to contact their representatives to enable the city to obtain an elected school board. He doesn't support the reopening plan.

The third public commenter said that reopening schools will result in more infections, more hospitalizations and more deaths.

The fourth public commenter said the reopening plan isn't safe. He said air filtration is at issue in CPS buildings and the city hasn't addressed it.

The fifth public commenter said the push to try to get back to normal isn't working for CPS students & their families.

She wants to see more learning hubs opened up across the city. She also would like to see that social-emotional learning is prioritized by CPS.

The sixth public commenter is opposed to the reopening plan. He said staff members are being told to "shut up and work."

The seventh public commenter said that teaching to students both online and in person adds a new layer of challenge to educators trying to navigate the pandemic.

The eighth public commenter said CPS' reopening plan creates new equities and barriers to student success.

She asks the panel to prioritize the lives of CPS students and families.

Committee member Roberto Maldonaldo asked why representatives of the Chicago Teachers Union and the Principals Union were not asked to be present for today's meeting.

Scott wants CPS to be heard as part of today's meeting. He would like CTU & the Principals Union to be heard as well. But not today, he said.

Felicia Sanders, deputy chief of elementary schools for CPS, said there must be an option available to all families for a return to in-person learning.

She said the community's interest in this topic suggests they feel it's safe for a return to in-person learning.

Marielle Fricchione, of the Chicago Department of Public Health, said she has full confidence in CPS' reopening plan.

Rabbi Shlomo Soroka, director of government affairs for the Jewish United Fund, speaks on the resumption of in-person learning and the challenges with it.

He said they have had very few in-person transmissions, but they've been addressed immediately.

Ariel Johnson of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools speaks on the effort to keep students and staff safe.

"No schools have reported any positive cases yet, but we have a very small sample size," she said.

Johnson said the three biggest challenges are device connectivity, making sure they know where students are and preparing for a return to in-person learning.

That concluded the presentation. The committee is now tasked with fielding questions to be answered by CPS.

There are 260 people watching today's livestream.

Scott asked what's the protocol if CPS staff doesn't have the necessary PPE.

Clarence Carson of CPS said the district has been providing cloth face coverings, gowns, gloves, face shields and other items as needed.

Alderwoman Sophia King said there will be a better time when CPS is more optimally prepared to reopen schools for in-person learning. She said the time isn't now.

King questioned why CPS shouldn't wait before reopening its schools.

Fricchione said the metrics are trending in the right direction. She said she welcomes the mayor's recent decision to extend the city's stay-at-home advisory for an additional 12 days.

Fricchione said the rate of COVID-19 testing isn't ideal, but it's better now than it was during the summer of 2020.

She spoke of the vaccine schedule and where teachers fall in the scheme of things.

Ald. Jeanette Taylor questioned why students would return to school buildings if there's a stay-at-home advisory. She asked if we are choosing who's going to die.

Officials tried to lessen her concern, but Taylor didn't think the answer sufficed.

Sherly Chavarria of CPS spoke of the protocols in place to keep students and staff safe upon returning to the buildings for in-person learning.

Taylor questioned if there are nurses in the school buildings.

Frank Bilecki, chief of public policy for CPS, said the schools that are open have a nurse in the building.

Ald. Anthony Beale questioned the extent to which buildings are ventilated properly.

Carson said a panel was formed to study the issue. He said the buildings have been deemed safe for students to return for in-person learning.

Carson wanted it to be made clear that it's not about killing the virus, it's about filtration within CPS buildings.

Beale questioned if the school buildings are clean.

Carson said buildings have been lightly occupied since March and they've been cleaned frequently. A new cleaning and disinfection model was implemented as well, he said.

Beale questioned why the committee is meeting virtually if the schools are safe for students to return.

Carson said CPS doesn't dictate how the committee holds public meetings.

Next up is Ald. Susan Sadłowski Garza. She said she would have liked to have seen more voices involved in today's discussion.

Garza questioned the extent to which the schools outside of CPS have returned to their buildings for in-person learning.

Ariel Johnson said some schools in the Illinois Charter School Network have not returned to the buildings for in-person learning.

Fricchione said there have been 9 nine cases where CPS could not rule out in person transmission in school buildings. https://t.co/tDyUFz2kB5

It's 12:34 p.m. I'm logging off for now. The meeting of the Committee on Education and Child Development will continue. Check out the notes when they become available online at documenters.org. #CHIdocumenters