[ad_1]
A Chicago principals’ organization has proposed a plan to gradually reopen the city’s schools that it says could “end the stalemate dividing district officials and [the] Chicago Teachers Union. ”
The idea comes as Chicago Public Schools (CPS) – for the second day in a row – is ordering parents not to send their children to its facilities for in-person learning as their fight against the union continues.
The two sides are yet to come to an agreement on reopening conditions during the coronavirus pandemic – and the deadlock jeopardizes the district’s scheduled date of February 1 to bring students back from kindergarten to grade 8 for in person.
“We’re the ones they’re handing the plans to, aren’t we? … There isn’t a bigger group of people involved in this process than us,” Troy LaRaviere said Wednesday, president of the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association. by announcing the plan of its organization. “And for some inexplicable reason, the district has not done this and continues to not consult with us.”
Preschool students listen to their teacher read a story at Dawes Elementary in Chicago on January 11. Chicago Public Schools wanted thousands of K-8 teachers and staff to return to class on Monday to prepare for the resumption of in-person learning, but now that return date has been delayed . (AP / Chicago Sun-Times)
CHICAGO PARENTS SAID NOT TO BRING CHILDREN TO SCHOOL UNTIL THE DIFFICULTY CONTINUES
“Even the NBA had enough common sense to get the players’ union to participate in the design of the process that led to the successful resumption of their season,” he added.
The organization’s plan calls for Chicago to begin returning its students to school by opening only about 75 schools, and then increasing them every three to four weeks, if possible.
“Open a small group of schools in a cross section of Chicago communities where administrative staff and an adequate number of teachers and paraprofessionals feel they have what it takes for a safe return. Make these staff a priority. for vaccinations before the pilot starts, “it says. “Consider allowing some pilot schools to open in person at specific levels to accommodate staffing or lack of space, and expand as preparation issues are resolved.”
The plan, as an example, says Chicago could have more than 400 of its 642 schools open for in-person learning by April 15 if it follows a safe and successful phased approach.
“A pilot approach will allow for the stress testing necessary for the district to assess the needs of each school against the ‘one size fits all’ approach in the current plan,” he says.
“Schools engaged for later phases of the pilot project would not have to endure the constant and confusing policy updates and changes we are currently undergoing, as the pilot period would give the CPS the time and space to develop and refine a coherent set of guidance documents. and supports based on the questions, concerns and experiences of schools as part of the initial pilot, ”adds the plan.
CHICAGO’S SCHOOL REOPENING PLAN HITS ANOTHER BARRIER AS UNION THREATS HIT
The Chicago Principals and Administrators Association’s plan was drafted following a survey of 377 local principals and vice-principals – less than 17% of whom, they say, believe the district is ready and ready to open schools. February 1.
“We applaud the goals of the district,” LaRaviere said in a statement. “However, their plans are neither realistic nor secure for most of our schools.”
LaRaviere said the investigation found its members did not believe there would be enough staff in schools to safely reopen, or enough safety supplies to guard against the spread of COVID-19. And, he said, members have not received adequate advice from the district on how to reopen schools that have been closed since March.
LaRaviere added that the organization presented its plan to the CPS on Tuesday.
But Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the plan was still to welcome K-8 students on Monday, and the union said its members would continue to teach remotely without a deal but would pick up if they were excluded from education systems.
Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson said the district has implemented the type of phased approach principals are advocating by opening schools to kindergarten and special education students this month.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“They’ve been back to school for three weeks and the plan is working,” she said at a school board meeting Wednesday.
However, statistics CPS provided to Fox News on the same day showed that only 485 – or about 28% of its pre-K and special education teachers – were in attendance on Wednesday, compared to about 66% (1,126 teachers) the day before.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
[ad_2]
Source link