Chicago mayor orders teachers to be in the classroom this week
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Public Schools CEO Dr. Janice Jackson on Sunday insisted that teachers return to the classroom on Monday amid the heated situation between CPS and the union representing thousands of educators over the debate of resuming in-person learning amid the coronavirus pandemic. Chicago Teachers Union has been telling teachers to stay remote, out of concern for safety during the pandemic. Therefore, the Chicago Public Schools said adequate staffing cannot be assured, so students will still be learning remotely on Monday — with the expectation that students in pre-kindergarten, special education and K-8 students should be returning to in-person learning on Tuesday, according to CBS Chicago. The mayor said all pre-K to eighth grade teachers are to return to the classroom on Monday, unless they have received a special accommodation. If they don’t comply, “we’re going to have to take action,” Lightfoot said, but didn’t elaborate. Lightfoot said multiple times on Sunday that “our schools are safe” and told the CTU leadership needs to return to the bargaining table. The mayor also said that “remote learning is failing too many of our kids” and accused the CTU of lacking a sense of urgency in having students return
