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* Background is here if you need it. WTTW…
With less than three weeks until in-person classes resume, Chicago Public Schools has announced it will require all teachers and staff to get a COVID-19 vaccine by the fall.
CPS on Friday announced the vaccine mandate will affect all employees, from school-based teachers and staff to central office workers, vendors and all other Board of Education employees.
“The science is clear: higher populations of vaccinated people means better health outcomes in communities, safer places of work and public spaces,” interim CPS CEO Jose Torres said in a statement. “This is the right move for the greater good of our school communities and will help ensure we have a successful and healthy school year starting on Monday, August 30.”
Under the new policy, all CPS employees must submit proof of full vaccination by Oct. 15, except those who qualify for a medical or religious exemption. Staffers who are without an approved exemption and aren’t fully vaccinated by Oct. 15 will be ineligible to work and won’t be paid until they are fully vaccinated and provide confirmation to the district.
Per CPS, 67% of the district’s 38,000 employees are fully vaccinated as of June, the most recent data available, while 78% of all employees are either fully vaccinated, partially vaccinated or had a vaccination scheduled.
* Sun-Times…
The Chicago Teachers Union supported the mandate but said the city “must do much more.” CTU leaders have called on the district to adjust the metrics that would call for a return to remote learning, and to expand school-based vaccination programs.
“We urge the mayor’s CPS team to build on this safety standard by concretely addressing critical outstanding safety issues, and investing CPS’ and the City’s $4 billion in federal relief funds in what our students and families need to return to schools safely this fall, and for schools to remain open,” the union said in a statement.
Kids as young as 12 are eligible to be vaccinated. Students are not required to be vaccinated for the upcoming school year.
* Tribune…
Between 80% and 90% of Chicago Teachers Union members are fully vaccinated, CTU Deputy General Counsel Thad Goodchild told reporters in a virtual news conference Friday.
“Vaccines are the best tool we have to provide safety during the pandemic, to end the pandemic,” Goodchild said. “They protect not only vaccinated individuals, but all the people that vaccinated individuals come into contact with, including students under 12 years old who are not yet eligible for vaccines. So we’ve been fighting to get CPS and the city to do more in using the school system to expand vaccination program efforts.”
He continued: “It’s not our members that the city is having the most trouble getting vaccinated. It’s members of school communities and neighborhoods across the city who have good reasons not to trust local government, but they do trust the teachers in their schools. And CPS and the city need to accept our help, our members’ help in getting more Chicagoans vaccinated.”
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 13, 21 @ 2:55 pm
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67 percent? Are you kidding me?
Comment by Ok Friday, Aug 13, 21 @ 3:00 pm
Wise and appropriate decision by CTU. Vax mandates are good for the country and what is good for the country is good for union members.
Comment by Norseman Friday, Aug 13, 21 @ 3:13 pm
“Ok”: That was in JUNE. “78% of all employees are either fully vaccinated, partially vaccinated or had a vaccination scheduled.”
either way - far better response on CTU’s part as compared to AFSCME officials.
Comment by the working poor Friday, Aug 13, 21 @ 3:31 pm
==all employees, from school-based teachers and staff to central office workers, vendors and all other Board of Education employees==
This is the correct group to include, everyone.
Comment by AC Friday, Aug 13, 21 @ 3:32 pm
Good. Wait until the vaccine clears full CDC approval. Then these mandates, which I fully agree with, will become widespread. The approval, as I understand it, will be coming in a matter of weeks. You need to cause some pain and ostracism for these anti-vax, anti-mask luddites. This is a pandemic after all.
Comment by PublicServant Friday, Aug 13, 21 @ 3:37 pm
Illinois teachers WAY behind the American Federation of Teachers. Weingarten said earlier this week her members were at 90%. Total malarkey of course. Ha.
Comment by Hector Friday, Aug 13, 21 @ 3:40 pm
- Hector - Friday, Aug 13, 21 @ 3:40 pm:
CTU is 80-90%. Reading is a skill.
Comment by Google Is Your Friend Friday, Aug 13, 21 @ 3:49 pm
Good for Chicago City Schools and good for CTU. This is the right action and response all the way around. Heads up AFSCME, time for you to get on board.
Comment by Manchester Friday, Aug 13, 21 @ 4:00 pm
This is good news for teachers, students and parents.
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Friday, Aug 13, 21 @ 4:04 pm
I support AFSCME in this. I don’t want to live in a world where everyone must have the same mind.
Comment by Real Friday, Aug 13, 21 @ 4:08 pm
=== I don’t want to live in a world where everyone must have the same mind. ===
No one is saying you do. But if you choose not to vax up, or mask up, I hope you suffer severe consequences for your foolish, selfish behavior.
Comment by PublicServant Friday, Aug 13, 21 @ 4:24 pm
===I don’t want to live in a world where everyone must have the same mind.===
Are laws against drunk driving unjust too?
Comment by Nick Name Monday, Aug 16, 21 @ 8:55 am