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Archdiocese of Chicago plans to reopen schools for in-person learning

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* As we discussed yesterday, CPS has decided to start the school year with remote learning. Catholic schools in the city, however, are taking a much different approach…

August 5, 2020

Dear Catholic School Parents and Guardians,

This morning, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) announced a change in their planned reopening of school buildings. They have chosen to conduct classes via full-time remote learning for the first 10 weeks of the fall.

The Archdiocese of Chicago believes strongly that our reopening plan, which provides for full-time in-person learning, is in the best interests of children and our mission. In-person learning is essential for the intellectual, emotional, physical and spiritual growth of our students. Our reopening plan maximizes the safety of our students and employees while allowing the resumption of in-person learning. It is therefore our intention to remain committed to our plan to offer five-day, in-person learning in addition to a remote, e-learning, option for those students who are unable or whose parents are unwilling to return to classrooms.

In designing our reopening plan, we consulted guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as input on safely reopening and important mitigation efforts from the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), state health officials and infectious disease experts on our own task force. CDPH has recognized that our school system is different from CPS and supports our specific plan to reopen. If this guidance were to change, we would adjust our plan accordingly.

In the meantime, schools are working hard to implement health and safety requirements ahead of the start of the year. Schools are also preparing a virtual learning option with support from the Archdiocese. More information about virtual learning will be released to parents in the days ahead.

I realize this is a time of anxiety and stress. Know that we deeply care about the needs of our child and are looking forward to the year to come. If you have questions, I encourage you to contact your school’s principal or the Archdiocese at ReopenSchools@archchicago.org.

Thank you for your partnership and trust.

Yours in Christ,

Jim Rigg, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Catholic Schools
Archdiocese of Chicago

* In related news…

Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery released the following statement on Chicago Public Schools’ decision to start the 2020-2021 school year remotely:

“We applaud the Chicago Teachers Union for their continued dedication to students, teachers, and the community. Their commitment to equity and justice prevented Chicago schools from becoming COVID-19 hot spots.

“COVID-19 lifted the veil on the disparities that exist among our students and families, especially our Black and Brown students, who have been disproportionately impacted by the virus. The decision to start the 2020 school year remotely presents many challenges, but it is the safest path for our students, teachers, and staff as COVID-19 cases are surging in Chicago. This moment requires stability and equity for our families and children, so we call on the Chicago Public Schools to provide wide broadband access and devices. We acknowledge that remote learning will create logistical and financial challenges for thousands of Chicago parents. For this reason, we continue to ask that all educational institutions work to identify the families that need childcare and work to provide opportunities with local partners and organizations in helping fill gaps during the instructional day.

“We call on Illinois school districts to follow Chicago’s lead and base their decision on science. In the current environment, the safest option for students and staff is to start school remotely.”

* Also from the IFT…

Hundreds of faculty, staff, and students from 42 Illinois institutions logged on to Zoom last night to participate in a virtual town hall hosted by a coalition of higher education unions statewide. The hour-and-a-half conversation included a presentation and commentary by a panel of expert scientists followed by a Q&A session.

John Miller, President of the University Professionals of Illinois, IFT Local 4100, and an organizer of the event was sympathetic but frank: “The desire to return to normal should not take the place of science.” Columbia Faculty Association President and event organizer Diana Vallera introduced the purpose of the event: “To ensure faculty, staff, students, and parents have the scientific information needed… so that we can all make informed decisions when it comes to safety.” Vallera also had good news to share on Columbia College specifically: after major collective action on the part of the CFAC union, college administration announced new safety measures and the movement of more classes to an online setting. “This is a start,” said Vallera.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 1:52 pm

Comments

Maybe the Arch will attract some parents desperate to get their kids into a school. we’ll see how that works.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 2:07 pm
Pro-life?

Comment by Abbey Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 2:13 pm
“which provides for full-time in-person learning”

Just a terrible idea.

“in addition to a remote, e-learning, option”

Giving people an opt-out from in-person learning, also, is like one of the anti-mask arguments: You can wear a mask all you like but have no right to make me wear one. The irresponsible parents and school administration are going to spread the virus by forcing children back in schools, just like the anti-maskers.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 2:13 pm
@ - Amalia

Catholic schools in Springfield have had the phone ringing pretty steady with new applicants as public schools start to trend virtual to start.

Comment by Cool Papa Bell Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 2:16 pm
Too much time in the Baltimore Catechism yet not enough time studying science. Guess times have not changed over decades.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 2:18 pm
This is exactly why we pulled our kids from parochial school and are homeschooling. This “experiment” will last roughly 2-4 weeks and then they will go remote too, but after having collected enough tuition dollars to keep the Catholic schools afloat. Their brand of e-learning just isn’t worth $10k.

Comment by DirtLawyer Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 2:21 pm
After being forced to close quite a few of their schools over the past decade due to fallen enrollment, this is perhaps their last ditch effort to keep the rest of them afloat.

Hope the Archdiocese fully realizes that multiple schools with outbreaks could be a death knell to their entire system.

Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 2:23 pm
By all means listen the scientists from around the world in countries where schools have reopened safely not the special interests

“Early this spring, school gates around the world slammed shut. By early April, an astonishing 1.5 billion young people were staying home as part of broader shutdowns to protect people from the novel coronavirus. The drastic measures worked in many places, dramatically slowing the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

However, as weeks turned into months, pediatricians and educators began to voice concern that school closures were doing more harm than good, especially as evidence mounted that children rarely develop severe symptoms from COVID-19. (An inflammatory condition first recognized in April, which seems to follow infection in some children, appears uncommon and generally treatable, although scientists continue to study the virus’ effect on youngsters.)

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/07/school-openings-across-globe-suggest-ways-keep-coronavirus-bay-despite-outbreaks

Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 2:25 pm
Dr. Rigg states: “CDPH has recognized that our school system is different from CPS and supports our specific plan to reopen. If this guidance were to change, we would adjust our plan accordingly.”

This begs some questions: When did Dr. Arwady sign off on the plan? This week? Several weeks ago? Timing is everything.

Also, besides the fact its schools collect tuition and teach religion, how is the Archdiocesan school system differnt from CPS?

Comment by GA Watcher Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 2:32 pm
Because the only people in the schools are children, right? And they won’t be allowed out of the schools once they enter?

Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 2:34 pm
Everyone likes to talk about White Privileged and racism baked into today’s society. Well assuming you can work from home and help your child with remote learning is a perfect example of both. Parents have to work and grandma and grandpa can’t come over to watch the kids because the virus hits the elderly the hardest. So what’s the choice?

I applaud them for at least giving this a chance and their plan is solid. But it also has to be fluid and able to change.

Comment by Peter Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 2:42 pm
The Archdiocese is also offering a remote option and has contracted with a non-profit on-line entity to provide on-line learning. Catholic schools are giving their parents some viable options, which is quite a bit more than CPS’ either-or approach. And yes, I understand that students in parochial schools, on average, have access to many more learning resources than the average CPS student.

A lot of parents were counting on CPS to give this a go, to see if it was possible to do it safely in smaller numbers. That’s what the Archdiocese is trying to do, in my opinion.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 2:44 pm
Lucky - Did you read the entire article? It focuses on reopening schools with intense safety protocols including; small groups, teaching outside (one school did so in a graveyard), mask wearing..

If the parents who are sending kids to school would be willing to adopt those measures then by all means five day a week in person school should be attempted. Does that sound what the open the schools crowd is really advocating?

Comment by Cool Papa Bell Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 2:49 pm
Adding… “The degree of viral spread in the community may impact school reopenings.”

Good thing the viral spread has been contained in so many areas of the United States.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 2:51 pm
=The Archdiocese is also offering a remote option and has contracted with a non-profit on-line entity to provide on-line learning.=

Not quite. The Archdiocese is requiring their schools to provide in-person education and offer e-learning to those parents that require it. Most schools don’t have the means or resources to execute both models. A third party may be used to deliver remote learning for those schools that have no means to do so, but that will be the exception. The reality is that most schools need to choose between remote or in-person learning. More and more are going the remote route because even if they implement all of the controls and safety protocols they possibly can, they simply can’t control what people do when they’re away from school and then return.

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 2:51 pm
The Archdiocese’s efforts to maintain distance and safety in the classroom (after looking at their reopening plan) appear appropriate and reasonable and, yes, Cool Papa Bell, with intense safety protocols including masks (don’t know if every school has a graveyard nearby, though). I am sure the Governor will be watching the COVID-19 numbers connected to schools which do reopen and force re-closing of all schools if such safety measures don’t stop outbreaks relating to schools (if he doesn’t do that before schools open in the first place).

Comment by Simply Sayin' Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 2:55 pm
Interested to see how long it will be before all schools in Illinois are forced to “follow Chicago’s lead.”

Comment by JB13 Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 2:56 pm
===The reality is that most schools need to choose between remote or in-person learning===

Yes. A choice. Which is more than CPS is offering. Who knows how long these schools will even be able to stay open anyway? I’m glad the Archdiocese is at least trying. CTU and CPS threw in the towel already.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 2:56 pm
I’m taking 12 days of instruction before the CDPH goes to remote instruction in the pool someone should be creating.

Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 3:00 pm
Weird. The Catholic Church has always done such a great job protecting the safety of children in its care.

Comment by Graybeard Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 3:06 pm
All I can say is with the disordered confusion in this country it’s every parent for themselves to judge the local dangers and decide. I’m unhappy about this, but as the trump says “it is what it is” for now. Ok we are doing education at home, but we also have the life circumstances to have a chance of pulling it off…

Comment by Don Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 3:36 pm
It seems private schools are going to cash in. I heard this morning many kids moving to private to get 5 days in school.

Comment by the Patriot Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 4:02 pm
I think there’s a cost to the online only learning plans. there will be a percentage of kids who will fall behind without being in school kids who struggle to focus at home, whose parents can’t be there to help, parents don’t care, old/slow internet, etc. I think it’s good that the Diocesse are offering in person with what appears to be reasonable precautions, sadly I’m not sure their clientele is the kids most likely to fall behind.

I completely get the concern from the teachers unions, I do, I just worry about the social cost of kids falling behind. if it weren’t for COVID we’d likely all be screaming if a district proposed all E-learning.

Sadly no good options now.

Comment by Mason born Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 4:26 pm
===Maybe the Arch will attract some parents desperate to get their kids into a school.===

Call me a cynical recovering Catholic if you want, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if this was the entire reason for their decision

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 4:37 pm
=I’m glad the Archdiocese is at least trying. CTU and CPS threw in the towel already.=

Not really, the Archdiocese is “offering” a remote learning option knowing that most schools lack the resources to provide it. In that sense in classroom learning becomes the default. More importantly when the schools inevitably have to shift to remote learning the teachers won’t have the resources to do it effectively. But by then parents will have no option but to stick it out. The Archdiocese sees in person learning as the only path to staying viable in the face of declining enrollment.

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 5:01 pm
I agree, Joe B. In addition to the “positive” of the Arch finding a new revenue stream, I doubt that their reopening plan “maximizes the safety of our employees.” The recent SCOTUS “ministerial exemption” ruling would seem to make that consideration unnecessary. You can call me a cynical recovering former Catholic school teacher.

Comment by Need A Suggestion Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 5:12 pm
Glad to see the Catholic schools will be open. Time to flatten the fear.

Comment by Captain Obvious Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 5:13 pm
Day care centers been open for months, lots of kids and haven’t heard any outbreaks. Good sign for return to school.

Comment by 44th Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 5:33 pm
==Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery released the following statement on Chicago Public Schools’ decision to start the 2020-2021 school year remotely==

Where was Montgomery and the IFT protesting when Secretary of State announced that all employees and offices would reopen and return to work (no more remote work) on June 1st long before other constitutionals? Ever since then, several drivers’ facilities and offices have had to temporarily close due to an employee testing positive. Which happened recently at the Chicago South facility–but even then SOS only closed Half the building and told the other employees to keep coming to work. Where’s IFT (and SEIU) protesting on that–shouldn’t they be looking out for all their members, not just teachers? IFT covers some SOS employees, although most are SEIU.

https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/08/04/workers-say-they-walked-off-job-after-illinois-secretary-of-states-employee-tested-positive-for-covid-19-but-only-half-of-chicago-south-building-was-closed/

…On Monday, the Secretary of State’s office announced that an employee at the Driver Services facility at the Chicago South office had tested positive for COVID-19. The Driver Services facility will be closed until Wednesday, Aug. 12, and all employees at that facility were to quarantine for two weeks, the Secretary of State’s office said in a Monday news release.

But the Secretary of State’s office said the Vehicle Services and Administrative Hearings sections of the building would still be open for those who have hearings scheduled or who have to renew license plate stickers or apply for titles and registrations…”

Comment by Just Wondering Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 5:41 pm
47th ward, you are TOTALLY missing the point. The teachers in the archdiocese do not have a union to represent their interests. The teachers are stressed out, and the arch’s plan is constantly evolving. the remote option is Catapult Learning, and it offers students who choose this option a completely remote learning environment, separate from their school, teachers, and classmates. The arch also failed to adequately survey its parents, so the catapult option has been overwhelmed., Now the arch is encouraging individual schools to develop their own e learning plans. the arch is blowing this. when schools inevitably shut down due to covid, the catapult option will not be available to the students. no investment in curriculum, not investment in technology, and 0 input from teachers and parents. typical catholic nonsense.

Comment by rentoria sanatoria Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 6:35 pm
Peter raises a good point. It’s a certainly not an easy thing to just say go remote when you have parents who cannot stay at home with kids and don’t have a support structure in place to watch the kids at home. Unfortunately that will fall heavily on low income and minority families. This was easier when we were under the stay at home order, it’s a lot different now under Phase 3 or Phase 4.

Certainly there will be some bumps in the road and it will all depend on the procedures put in place but with the proper plans some schools might be able to pull it off. In this regard Catholic schools are in a slightly better position than public schools because if a family or kids don’t like the requirements (for example always wearing masks) tough, pack up and leave.

Comment by MyTwoCents Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 6:48 pm
Hard to have a monopoly if you’re shut down and your competition is open for business. Only a matter of time until the CTU pressures the Governor to order all schools closed. Once private schools shut down, no chance publics open….it is where the public school teachers send their children.

Comment by Ed Equity Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 7:41 pm
=== The teachers in the archdiocese do not have a union to represent their interests===

So I guess, for you, that is TOTALLY the only point in this story. Well, you be you, Ima be me.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 8:03 pm
Most districts as well as the Archdiocese had plans to reasonably protect students and teachers. They expected to return to their classrooms. But then we started to see an increase in community spread, parents became increasingly worried, and the schools realized that the virus would be brought into their buildings despite their best efforts. Districts are now adapting their plans to reflect this reality. The Archdiocese hasn’t - yet.

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 8:18 pm
=== The Archdiocese hasn’t - yet.===

You raise good points. It’s all a gamble. Yes, there are serious public health consequences from this, but as of now, the Archdiocese plan is consistent with current public health guidance. Until it isn’t, why urge them to shut down before they even having a chance to give parents an option?

We’re all concerned about the impact of going back to school. But there are real benefits for students and families from doing so. The Archdiocesan plan is consistent with public health guidance. And yes, that could change, but until it does, why pressure Catholic schools that have the ability to reopen the chance to do so?

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 8:27 pm
= Until it isn’t, why urge them to shut down before they even having a chance to give parents an option?=

Because the lives of teachers, staff, and the parents these kids will come home to have to be taken into consideration as well. The virus is spreading in our communities and open schools at this point will only exacerbate things. And the Archdiocese schools will have to shut down in whole or in part at some point and there is no remote learning contingency plan.

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 8:56 pm
=== Because the lives of teachers, staff, and the parents these kids===

Teachers, staff and parents at my kids school are committed to safety. Our school has a plan. It may not work. But it is our plan, for our school. That used to count for something. No one is being forced into an unsafe situation.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 10:44 pm
Catholic schools for 8 years here.
Horrible idea. Like, really bad.

Comment by low level Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 11:30 pm
=Our school has a plan. It may not work. But it is our plan, for our school.=

If your school is a Catholic school their plan is the Archdiocese plan. I’ve reviewed it and provided input on it. It’s a good plan. It follows established guidelines and is more or less the equivalent of most public school plans. But the public schools aren’t switching to remote learning because of a lack of confidence in their plans, they’re doing so because of the community spread of the virus. They’ve also acknowledged what Pritzker indicated yesterday. Further community spread may necessitate school shut downs. They don’t want the disruption of opening and then having to close and pivot to an entirely different learning model. And our testing data says that’s where we’re heading. I suspect this will be moot in two weeks when that happens. And then the Archdiocese will have to scramble to create a plan that doesn’t exist today.

Comment by Pundent Thursday, Aug 6, 20 @ 7:48 am
This is just another attempt by the Arch to put money ahead of what’s best for our kids. As they continue to close schools and force families into the public school systems, it is absurd to believe they care about our kids education. They are doing in class learning to try and attract those students who left. Make the right call and listen to the experts if Major League Baseball can’t handle the problem how in the world will an elementary school be able to keep kids from removing their mask or social distance. Has anyone thought about the negative effects of being in classroom and forcing kids to be socially distant?

Comment by Jose Thursday, Aug 6, 20 @ 9:28 am
Muy buen post. Me gustó mucho la cantidad de información que das. Se agradece.

Comment by Higiene alimentaria Friday, Aug 14, 20 @ 5:17 am
No 3rd party e-learning provider anymore. The e-learning will be provided by the already overworked & underpaid Catholic school teachers WHILE they are teaching in person classes.
Because miracles?

Comment by Brian Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 10:57 pm