* WBEZ…
Half of all teachers who were required to report to Chicago Public Schools buildings on Monday failed to do so, and officials say if these 1,000 missing teachers don’t return they will face disciplinary action that could lead to termination.
Overall, 5,800 teachers and other staff were required back to prepare for in-person learning. Among this larger group of teachers, teachers aides and others, 40% did not return.
CPS CEO Janice Jackson said Monday morning she respects that some staff feel trepidation about returning during the pandemic. But she said students are relying on staff to be there for them when they walk into school buildings.
* Sun-Times…
Chicago Public Schools chief Janice Jackson took aim Tuesday at 36 aldermen who have criticized the city’s school reopening plan, calling a public letter they sent to her and the mayor over the weekend “purely political” and hypocritical.
Jackson ended a morning news conference on the district’s plans with heated remarks about “the intentions behind” the letter — signed by a majority of City Council — that said the aldermen were “deeply concerned” with the school district’s decision to bring back thousands of teachers and students this month as COVID-19 infections remain at high levels in the city.
“There have been schools operating in every single ward, in every single community throughout this city,” Jackson said, referring to private schools that have been open. “And so why the concern now? Do they care more about the lives of CPS teachers than the Catholic school teachers that have been going to school since August?”
* Daily Herald…
A growing number of suburban school districts are preparing to roll out a COVID-19 saliva screening program aimed at curbing the spread of the virus as students return to in-person learning.
Naperville Unit District 203 is the latest to sign off on the testing, following the lead of Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200, Glenbard Township High School District 87 and others that have recently approved contracts with Safeguard Surveillance LLC. […]
Safeguard Surveillance has reported a false-positive rate of less than 0.01% since the testing was first implemented in late August at LaGrange District 102, documents show. Prior to winter break, the screenings detected high viral loads in 53 employees or students — more than 80% of whom were asymptomatic, Superintendent Kyle Schumacher said.
As we saw with the White House outbreaks, the drawback to these fast saliva tests is not false positives, but large numbers of false negatives. That’s why they’re best for congregate settings. If somebody in a group tests positive, everybody should then take a more reliable test to pin down which people actually have it.
* Much of this delay is on the U of I for making assumptions up front about the approval process that duped the governor and turned out to be false…
The University of Illinois has completed a critical step toward obtaining federal approval for its saliva-based COVID-19 test, but some lawmakers worry it’s taking too long to help other state colleges, school districts and companies struggling to operate amid the pandemic. […]
News of the FDA submission comes after a public snafu in which the university and Gov. J.B. Pritzker mistakenly stated the test had received federal approval in August.
The FDA informed the university in September that such statements, shared in a news briefing and on the U. of I. website, did “not appropriately represent the status of your test and which may be contributing to the misunderstandings regarding your test.”
The university, however, blamed the FDA for confusing protocols. The school erroneously thought it obtained approval by comparing its test to one developed at Yale University, which had been granted emergency use authorization.
Oops.
* The amount of news media cheerleading for the return of high school sports has been quite something to behold. Pantagraph…
The turn of the new year did not result in any good news in regards to the Illinois High School Association and the pause it has on winter sports.
As of Tuesday, IHSA Board president Katy Hasson said that no new talks are planned with Gov. JB Pritzker or the Illinois Department of Public Health which still has the state in Tier 3 mitigation levels because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
* These questions have been answered repeatedly for months…
Parents of four Illinois high school athletes filed a lawsuit Monday against Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois High School Association in LaSalle County Court.
The suit claims Pritzker’s cancellation of the winter high school sports season ‘‘is an unconstitutional violation of the Plaintiffs’ right to equal protection under the Constitution of the State of Illinois.’’ The suit seeks to bar Pritzker and the IHSA from enforcing the cancellation of the winter sports season.
‘‘[Pritzker] is using this emergency statute to create these restrictions,’’ said Laura Grochocki, the attorney for the plaintiffs. ‘‘They are supposed to have a rational basis. We are asking why high school sports have the restrictions and why college sports and pro sports do not. Is there a rational basis for the restrictions on high schools? Or is there something else at work here, why [colleges and pros] are allowed to play and high schools are not?’’
Colleges and professional leagues have the money and other resources to do the needed testing and mitigations and high schools do not.
* This Center Square story appears to stretching what the professor is actually saying…
A researcher from the University of Illinois Springfield said data shows schools are safe and should be reopened. […]
UIS professor Gary Reinbold said data he reviewed from nearly a dozen different studies indicates in-person education is safe.
“When I say in-school that doesn’t necessarily mean back to going to school all the time because most of the data is coming from places that are doing some form of hybrid schooling,” Reinbold told WMAY. “But having them in school at least part of the time doesn’t seem to be leading to new cases.”
* Chalkbeat…
Opening school buildings doesn’t increase the spread of COVID-19 in places where cases or hospitalizations from the virus are rare, according to two new studies.
Reopening schools in areas with higher caseloads, though, does spread the virus, one found, while the other couldn’t rule out that possibility. It remains unclear exactly at what point school reopening becomes more risky.
* Related…
* Seven things to know as Chicago reopens schools
* Chicago Teachers Union Refuses In-Person Learning Until Buildings Are Safe
* Unmotivated Students, Confusing Requirements: Illinois Student Teachers Are Struggling
* 50% of students in Wabash Community Schools received an ‘F’ last semester
* Some District 186 board members against hybrid learning
* D-205 Parents Decry Continued Remote Learning: Two residents took the Elmhurst school board to task Tuesday night for continuing remote learning.
- Ok - Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 11:25 am:
Schools need to reopen with teachers, and CPS needs to actually make sure schools are safe to reopen. Both those things can be true.
The challenge is that CPS just bought a bunch of air purifiers from Bed Bath and Beyond and called it a day.
But good luck spotting any.
- Right - Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 11:25 am:
That’s cute of CPS. Exactly where would they plan to find 1000 new teachers? It’s not like teachers are chomping at the bit to teach for CPS.
- Smalls - Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 11:32 am:
The actual studies from epidemiologists have shown that while being back in school is “safe” for students, it contributes significantly to community spread. Yes, the students are “safe” because they generally are asymptomatic at that age, so they don’t turn up as positive cases. But they take the virus home and spread it to their older relatives, significantly driving up community spread.
- Dr. Normal - Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 11:43 am:
Irrespective of the merits of the CPS/CTU dispute, the fact that teachers are publicly defying the Mayor and it’s playing out in the news media can’t be good for either party. This seems like another glaring reason for folks to consider moving to suburbia.
- Mr. Hand - Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 11:50 am:
===It’s not like teachers are chomping at the bit to teach for CPS.===
Or in the state of Illinois
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 12:01 pm:
If masking, distacing, and sanitation protocols are followed schools are safe for students and adults. Whether CPS can do that is anpother question, but those are the CDC,WHO, ILDPH protocols and recommendations.
We have been open with students since AUgust, gradually moving from hybrid to all students as we built our capacity to follow the protocols with fidelity. We have not experienced school-based spread. Our size has helped us in that regard, we are small, but we are in Region 1 where the community issues are a totally different story.
CTU and their push to negotiate an opening of school is flirting with an unfair labor practices issue. This is not subject to negotiation, nor are they expert in the matter. Although I represent the school board during bargaining, I consider myself very supportive of our teachers and the association. The CTU on the other hand, is more like the FOP in their behavior. Not good for kids.
- A - Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 12:05 pm:
While it may be true that children get very mild symptoms from COVID, is there any consideration at all——any?— for the adults who do not often get very mild symptoms? A friend’s granddaughter brought COVID home to the entire family (she had sniffles) and her 50 year old dad ended up in the hospital. The entire family was infected. That was one child. As a teacher in another life, I dealt with upwards of 160 in my windowless classroom every day in Junior high. What are the odds for a teacher like this?
Teachers are taking huge risks being in contact with the number of children from so many different households. Even medical people don’t deal with hundreds of people a day, yet there is great concern for their health (rightly so).
I have to wonder if this new highly contagious strain, that appears to hit the under 20 age group the hardest would quickly change that thinking about schools being attended.
- Rabbit - Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 12:11 pm:
“Colleges and professional leagues have the money and other resources to do the needed testing and mitigations and high schools do not.”
I would argue that D211 (Largest HS district) in the state, with an annual budget of over $250M is better funded than Eastern Illinois University with it’s $142M annual budget…
Equal Protections should not be invalidated based on assumptions of affordability. Otherwise, our universities would be able to deny applicants based on resources instead of academic merits.
- thisjustinagain - Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 12:29 pm:
Nevermind the science that says gatherings improve spread (and a school is a giant gathering), we wants schools open and sports. The usual Covidiotcy continues. And I’d like to know when reporters and editors plan to stop editorializing in news stories; it’s become rampant.
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 12:41 pm:
Special needs, I believe, is the main issue. Many autistic children will not wear a mask for 7+ hours a day. What happens when that situation occurs? Can they be sent home? Doubtful. If they are removed from their pod, will they need to be tested? What about the others in that pod? Many students with special needs require 1-on-1 aides and need to be accompanied to the bathroom for assistance. How is that going to work? Social distance certainly cannot be maintained in that situation. I haven’t heard any of these questions being answered.
Further, children with Down’s syndrome are at high risk for Covid-19 because of the many underlying medical conditions attendant to the disease. With the the new more virulent strain of covid beginning its spread, and because it spreads more easily in children, why can’t we wait until, at the very least, this spring, when we can get the covid vaccine to all of our first responders? I mean, what’s the rush here? While far from perfect, distance learning is certainly more sate than in-person learning during a pandemic, and certainly immediately after the expected holiday surge. Dr. Murphy, an immunologist that regularly appears on WGN just stated this morning that he thinks it’s a mistake to go back to in-person attendance now.
I think keeping the students and staff safe, when distance learning is a viable alternative, is the reasonable thing to do here. We need to work on getting the proper broadband connectivity to all communities, as well as the equipment needed to allow that distance learning to reach more students.
- striketoo - Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 12:48 pm:
With the more infectious strain around and vaccines becoming available it is insane to risk in school learning now. How many have to die needlessly? Keep the schools closed.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 12:50 pm:
=Nevermind the science that says gatherings improve spread…=
Science also says that masking, distancing, and sanitation measures make it safe.
I will not advocate for sports to return, I have so many more issues to care about first. But the idea that schools that following the mitigation protocols with fidelity are unsafe flies in the face of science.
Schools can be safe.
=A friend’s granddaughter brought COVID home to the entire family=
And that means they brought it home from school? Quite an unscientific leap.
- Mr. Hand - Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 1:04 pm:
== But the idea that schools that following the mitigation protocols with fidelity are unsafe flies in the face of science.==
Amen and Awomen - teachers are at a risk, but with the proper protocols it can be managed. There is never a 0% risk.
It is difficult not to see what Unions are doing as a negotiating ploy and makes it sound silly when they say they do their profession for the kids.
- Jibba - Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 1:23 pm:
===Equal Protections should not be invalidated based on assumptions of affordability. ===
Another good argument for cancelling the whole thing.
- Abbey - Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 2:47 pm:
Also in La Salle County: Mendota High School (enrollment 522) has had over 300 excused student absences due to Covid 19 (per local newspaper) and at least one board member is recovering from Covid 19.
But sure, let’s sue to have basketball.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 3:03 pm:
@Abbey- reading the article- the absences were during the semester not at one time. And it was 300 students had extended absences due to covid. Not good and it makes me wonder if they are following the protocols with fidelity. They may have quarantined many students in an abundance of caution. Hard to know without a complete explanation.
- A - Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 6:30 pm:
JS Mill
The granddaughter might not have brought COVID home to her parents and 18 yr old brother (dad in hospital) from school. The point is that a child can bring home the virus and spread to adults. There is much said about kids not infecting adults. This proves that theory wrong.
I wrote this earlier but forgot to post it under my name, instead Anonymous. Sorry.