Chicago teachers at ‘impasse’ with district ahead of reopening, union president says

The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) is at an “impasse” with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) amid negotiations regarding the resumption of in-person learning in less than two weeks, the Chicago Tribune reported.

“We are beginning without a comprehensive reopening agreement,” CTU President Jesse Sharkey said Wednesday. “This is a real problem. So far the city has not been willing to agree to metrics, which would close schools and keep us safe if this surge continues.”

Sharkey added that CPS is trying to cut social distancing requirements in half and get rid of other provisions that were put in place last spring, leading the two groups to an “impasse,” according to the Tribune. 

Chicago schools are planning to welcome students back for in-person learning Aug. 30. The city’s daily average of new coronavirus cases topped 400 this week, which marked the standard that CPS officials used last year when they decided that the 2020-21 school year would be completely remote, the Tribune noted.

Sharkey said he thinks the state should allow the option of remote learning for students given the rise in cases due to the delta variant.

“The district isn’t willing to commit to the things that we think we need. We’re not willing to sign an agreement that doesn’t have those commitments in it,” he told the Tribune. “So at this point what I think I would have to say is, that if we go back in and there’s a dangerous surge, we would count on the mayor and the district to do the right thing. And if they don’t, we’ll take matters into our own hands.”

CPS announced in July that masks would be required in schools, and just Wednesday Chicago announced a citywide mask mandate for all indoor public places. CPS is also requiring teachers and school staff to get vaccinated unless they have a religious or medical exemption.