CPS cancels school after CTU votes against in-person teaching

Officials at Chicago Public Schools have canceled classes today after 73% of Chicago Teachers Union members voted to suspend in-person teaching to protest COVID safety conditions in schools.

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Why it matters: The move affects the lives of about 360,000 students and staffers along with their families and the businesses that rely on them.

CPS view: District officials call the move “an illegal work stoppage” and a “walkout.”

CTU view: Union officials call the move a vote to “return to remote education,” but say they’re being “locked out” of online teaching by CPS — which the district disputes.

The impetus: The CTU says CPS has ignored its longstanding safety demands on testing, masking and metrics that would trigger remote.

Testing: CTU wants CPS to require students and staff to show negative PCR tests to resume school, as Los Angeles schools are requiring.

Masks: CTU wants high quality masks for students and staff.

Metrics: CTU proposes going remote when 20% of school staff is in quarantine.

What they’re saying: “We will serve any child that comes in [a school Wednesday] and make sure they’re cared for,” says CEO Martinez. “But …we are canceling classes across the entire district if this vote goes in the affirmative.”

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The intrigue: CPS officials dodged questions Tuesday about why they recently bought 100,000 laptops and sent some home if they didn’t anticipate remote learning.

Zoom out: School districts across the nation including Washington DC, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Seattle, Newark, Milwaukee, Gary, Evanston, Skokie and Algonquin have all either delayed opening or gone temporarily remote for COVID safety.

Big picture: This is just the latest in a series of standoffs between the CTU and Lightfoot, leaving CPS families caught in the middle.

What’s next: Both CTU and CPS say they will announce next steps later today.

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