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* Tribune…
Gov. J.B. Pritzker told school superintendents statewide on a call Friday that we he will order schools to close from Tuesday, with classes set to resume March 30, a source familiar with the call told the Chicago Tribune.
This came a day after Pritzker ordered the cancellation of public events in Illinois with more than 1,000 people to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the Archdiocese of Chicago canceled public masses and closed all Chicago-area Catholic schools. Meanwhile, the Chicago Teachers Union issued a demand Friday morning for all Chicago public schools to be closed.
The governor is about to begin a press conference, so this post will be updated. Click here to watch.
* Sun-Times...
The decision, to be announced Friday afternoon, comes after days of steadfast resistance from Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to close Chicago Public Schools, the nation’s third largest public school district, serving more than 350,000 students. […]
The moves follows other states and cities — including Ohio, Maryland, Michigan, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Seattle, San Diego and San Francisco — that announced widespread school closures this week.
…Adding… The governor on the president’s national emergency announcement…
This is an important step and we will work to bring every resource available to us into the state. But make no mistake, we have long since passed the moment when we thought we could count on the federal government to lead in the face of this unprecedented situation
Remember, I’m using Otter for transcription, so typos will happen.
* On the school closures…
Here in Illinois, we are doing everything we can to keep transmission rates as low as possible to flatten the curve for our healthcare workers and our first responders, for our most vulnerable populations and our older citizens. And we’re working with other states and with federal officials to ensure that our national mindset reflects those same priorities. It’s with that in mind, that I have determined that we will close all k-12 schools, public and private statewide starting Tuesday, March 17 through March 30.
This is the timeline that we are laying out today. Let me be clear, I understand the gravity of this action, and what it means for every community in our state, as well as the families and caretakers of the 2 million students that gather in large groups every day in school classrooms and assemblies. None of the choices that we have had to make over the last week have been easy or simple. All of these choices have cascading effects for citizens and vulnerable populations. When it comes to food access and safety childcare and social services. It’s my job to weigh the benefits and risks of any one particular course of action, and to come to the best possible conclusion.
* Food insecurity…
I want to address the first consequence that will come to mind for so many: food access. Our State Board of Education has received the necessary waivers to continue to distribute two meals a day to children who qualify for free and reduced lunch, through a combination of delivery and parent pickup meal options. ISBE is working with local school districts across the state to develop guidelines on how to best distribute meals across the community in a safe and healthy manner. We’re also working directly with the eight major food banks across the state, as well as food manufacturers to ramp up capacity to serve our most vulnerable children.
* Why schools?…
I know a lot of people are wondering why schools when we know that children seem to be less susceptible to CORVID-19 than other populations. But this is a critical part of our larger social distancing efforts. In addition to kids with immunocompromised conditions. We have teachers and administrators, parents, and the larger population to consider. I’m speaking in the very literal sense when I say that having the general public stay home one day at a time, will have a massive effect on bending this curve. And that means lives saved.
We have seen positive results in countries that took aggressive action. And we have seen the tragic outcomes in countries that did not.
* The governor asks people to stay home this weekend…
So please, this weekend, if you can, stay home. If you’re able to telework, do so. If you don’t have to travel, don’t. This isn’t forever. This is a sacrifice in the short term, to help our hospitals our healthcare workers, our testing laboratories, and our vulnerable and elderly residents. We all have a duty to each of them.
* Mayor Lightfoot, who opposed the school closings and is not at the governor’s press conference, will hold her own briefing with CPS at 6 tonight.
* Illinois Superintendent of Education Carmen Ayala…
We have asked that at least one administrator stay on site during regular school hours. In case children whose parents cannot be home, or children experiencing homelessness need a safe place to go. This is a scary time, but please know that we are here to do anything and everything we can to help our schools and our students get through this crisis.
* Ayala on if teachers will be paid…
These days would be classified as Act of God days. And so, attendance really isn’t impacted. It’s like a normal working day. And so the preliminary information that we’re looking at is that school personnel would continue to be paid during the Act of God days in the emergency days
*** UPDATE *** IDPH director…
Today we are announcing an additional 14 cases. All but one are in the Chicago Cook County area.
* Illinois Federations of Teachers President Dan Montgomery…
We support Governor Pritzker’s decision to close Illinois schools to prevent further spread of COVID-19. This is an historic and difficult decision, but it is the responsible action to ensure the health of our students, faculty, staff, and communities.
* Pritzker was asked why the mayor isn’t at the presser…
I’ve been in consultation all day, they’re quite busy also figuring out all of the things that will need to be doing as well.
* Why Tuesday?…
One of the things that school districts are concerned about is if you’re sending kids home, will they have lesson plans, will they have elearning, some schools have elearning some kids have available to them internet others don’t. And so we wanted to make sure that the teachers were able to get lesson plans, put together over the weekend, whether they’re online or offline and get together with their kids to explain to them the work that they could do over the next two weeks when they’re not in session together, that they might do either online or just on paper.
* Why just two weeks?…
We’ll be making this decision frankly every day through the two weeks if we could go back into school earlier we’ll choose to do that. But as we approach the end of this two week period, we’ll make a decision, but I think that two weeks is the right time. […]
Look, this is unprecedented so it’s very difficult to give guidance about something in the future that you’re asking about. I don’t think that I would tell parents to prepare unnecessarily for a very lengthy time period, out of school, on the other hand I would say to parents, they should be monitoring this every day they should go to the IDPH website. they should be listening in on these broadcasts. They should be listening, mostly to our health care professionals. And we’ll be making decisions as we go but as of now we think this is the right period of time.
* Again, what changed overnight?…
Over the course of the evening and overnight and this morning, and contemplating as well, having made the decisions that we made already about limiting gatherings, I started to think about the kids who will go to school and who may in fact, end up going home and bringing it home to their parents or grandparents, and I really came to the conclusion that you know we’re telling adults essentially don’t gather in large groups. But we’re telling kids, you know that you can bump up against each other in a hallway, even if you might not have an assembly.
I also was reading a lot of the new information coming out of Italy. And I’m very concerned I’m very concerned about flattening this curve. And I think this is the right thing to do. We’re all focused on getting past this situation this circumstance, and I think this is a short term measure that will help us. Also, alleviate the burden on our healthcare workers in our hospitals, because we’re going to see more cases.
* Daycare and mass transit…
There’s no new consideration right now around mass transit, but I will tell you about daycare centers that number one we’re working on expanding childcare availability. We’re also giving guidance to those childcare facilities, again those are very small groups typically in childcare centers. But we are giving guidance and we’re importantly, trying to expand unemployment benefits for people who say ‘listen I need to be home with my child.’ And so we’re working hard at the federal government level, you know that there’s a piece of legislation that’s working its way through this afternoon. Hopefully it may have passed while we’re standing here but but hopefully by the end of the evening, it will that will help us with our unemployment benefit challenge so we can offer that to everybody we are going to offer benefits, but the federal government has a bill that will expand those benefits and open up health care for a lot of people who might otherwise not get it.
* Test availability and the federal government…
I have been asking that question every single day of the federal government. I’m not going to stop asking it. We don’t know. And it’s because they didn’t plan well enough. Here’s what I will tell you though. I met with many of the hospital leaders in the state of Illinois. Many of those hospitals or research centers are developing or have already developed their own test, and they’re going through rapid FDA approval processes that now the federal government is allowing, So we will be able to expand the tests. Their homegrown, meaning that we made them here in Illinois, but these are some of the greatest medical institutions in the country, and they’ve developed tests that work. And so we’ll have at least more that are available, but still not enough the federal government needs to step up.
Press conference is over.
…Adding… Press release…
The Illinois Education Association (IEA) President Kathi Griffin released the following statement after Gov. JB Pritzker announced Illinois schools will be shut down beginning on Tues., March 17:
“In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we applaud the Governor for taking action to keep our students, our schools and our communities safe. Thank you for hearing our voices and recognizing our concerns. We especially appreciate efforts to make sure students will continue to receive two meals each day and that funding will not be interrupted. We realize closing schools across the state is a decision that comes with enormous responsibility. There is no replacement for the one-to-one connection between our educators and our students, but health and safety take precedence. We will get through this. We must continue to stand together.”
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:05 pm
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Well, here we go. They best be getting better guidance than “wash your hands” out to state agencies pretty quickly if this is the route they’re going.
Comment by Fixer Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:10 pm
This announcement was just made. Most staff is already gone for the weekend. That one day will buy a great deal.
Comment by A Parent Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:11 pm
Dude, it’s Friday afternoon. People need one day to make adjustments and figure schedules out. Take the tinfoil hat off for one minute Betsey Devos.
Comment by Anon For Now Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:11 pm
ImHere: This will give schools a day to prep for the students to be out for two weeks including prepping materials and potential e-learning resources for the closure period. The press conference is at 4 p.m. on a Friday after schools have let out for the weekend.
Comment by Sitting the Bench Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:12 pm
The troll was deleted. Move along.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:13 pm
The one day gives the schools a chance to arrange an orderly shutdown if they feel that they cannot do it without a planning day. I suspect most will not open for students on Monday. I wish he had made the call earlier but he is still showing a lot more leadership than tweety bird.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:14 pm
This gives 3 full days to prepare.
This is good. Good on the Governor.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:15 pm
Imhere== Umm it will give them a weekend and a day to lesson plan and then provide students said plan for their extended time off which some of will have to be made up at some point.
Comment by NorthsideNoMore Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:15 pm
From a public health standpoint this is an odd choice.
We know the virus transmits effectively person to person, lingering in the air and on surfaces.
We know that infected people can shed the virus all over the place before they have any symptom of infections.
So — we’re ordering schools closed starting next Tuesday so that we can give everyone infected but not yet contagious a couple of more days to incubate before coming back to the classrooms or school yards to infect children and teachers that have not yet been infected.
This is sort of a two steps forward, a step and a half back public health policy choice.
Meanwhile the Governor’s own state agencies are treating a highly contagious pandemic like it’s a big joke.
I just hope that when the deaths start occurring some of these decision makers are cognoscente enough to realize that some of those death are their fault for failing to act sooner to prevent it.
Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:18 pm
State following the Japan model seems like a good idea.
Comment by NorthsideNoMore Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:18 pm
This feels very awkward given Lightfoot I thought said they were staying open
Comment by Nick Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:20 pm
Not well executed by Pritzker.
Comment by Ham handed Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:21 pm
IDPH website btw has us up to 46 cases
Comment by NIck Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:22 pm
Our school is sending home 15 days worth of homework today. I would guess most schools have been preparing for this. It’s the working parents who aren’t prepared to take off two weeks when daycare is also closed.
Comment by A State Worker Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:23 pm
Curious how those of you knocking this idea think it should have been handled. Personally, I think this announcement is a few days late in coming but the correct decision.
Comment by Fixer Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:24 pm
The “boiling the frog” technique: No school for two weeks, then, schools closed till the end of April, then see you in September.
I just hope it is not too late.
Comment by Groundhog Day Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:27 pm
This is what leadership looks like.
Comment by Jibba Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:28 pm
And yet state employees are told report to the office like usual. My department just sent around their plan for our office…come in like normal but wash your hands and switch to elbow bumps. Gotcha. Also avoid large groups. Hard to do when you have to commute via CTA. Not everyone is in Springfield with cars and plenty of parking.
Comment by Cyclotron Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:28 pm
=So — we’re ordering schools closed starting next Tuesday so that we can give everyone infected but not yet contagious a couple of more days to incubate before coming back to the classrooms or school yards to infect children and teachers that have not yet been infected.=
They had to buy time for CPS and other school districts that may be similarly challenged. Don’t underestimate the significance of that. Not everyone’s lives are such that they can turn on a dime and implement a plan.
I agree that the state agencies are still not being adequately addresses. But I’d say exercise a bit of patience as I expect that will be worked out as well.
Keep in mind that it was only a few days ago that the President said this wasn’t too bad and people could still go to work even if they had the virus. And that was from a guy who was told by the medical community that he had an amazing grasp of this.
Pritzker and others (Dem and Republican) have had to quickly step up to do what the federal government has failed miserably at. We’re actually move at light speed on some of this considering the norm. Anybody remember Quincy?
Comment by Pundent Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:29 pm
“If you’re able to telework some so”
I’m a State employee waiting for you to allow me to do so. Meanwhile, I take the el and work in a crowded building that is still holding meeting with members of the public. Closing schools is a step in the right direction, but we need to be doing more for our State employees at this time.
Comment by Anon Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:30 pm
14 new cases of COVID-19. This closure of schools is more than justified.
Comment by Wensicia Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:30 pm
–Personally, I think this announcement is a few days late in coming but the correct decision. –
Yes, I had just noted this on the previous thread.
The (incipient, I assume) plan to distribute meals via combination of delivery and parent pick-up is good - this is one of the key issues that must have kept schools open, as 75% of CPS students are on free/reduced meal programs.
This is the first state-wide plan for continued meal provision I’ve seen. If it works out, it will be truly helpful.
Comment by dbk Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:33 pm
So as of right now still no word from DoIT on being able to work from home. So now to figure out how I am going to take care of three kid’s for the rest of the month without being able to take days off. I just went though all my sick days in January when the whole family ended up with influenza b.
Comment by ConfusedWorker Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:33 pm
I see it in an earlier comment, but I will repeat: if the governor is telling people to telework if they can, why are our state employees, like university staff, being told the exact opposite?
Comment by fairycat Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:34 pm
CDC guidelines don’t recommend short-term closures such as this…
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/considerations-for-school-closure.pdf
Comment by Right Field Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:34 pm
how many people has the state of illinois tested outside of cook county?
some coworkers are really upset at the school closings because no one has tested positive in our downstate county but i explained they’ve only tested a handful of people here
Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:36 pm
Sad our oversized Governor couldn’t resist being critical of Trump even as the Federal govt is going to be bailing out our sorry State
Comment by Sue Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:37 pm
Good call. A little late, but neccessary for public safety
Comment by Morty Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:37 pm
is there any mechanism to close the state courts for all non-urgent matters (cases that do not involve violent crime, orders of protection or domestic/child abuse neglect) ?
that is another public space
Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:42 pm
=Sad our oversized Governor couldn’t resist being critical of Trump=
The President has failed miserably at this. The states are being forced to take action because the President used the deliberate tactic of downplaying the threat, is more focused on blaming others, and is incapable of leading.
Comment by Pundent Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:44 pm
- Sue -
It’s sad your oversized distain is so petty.
To the numerous updates;
When Rich has his QOTD, I thought close, but it’s the Governors call, he, and his administration, has the best resources and facts available.
When Chicago Archdiocese closed schools, and given that pressure, and other states, with the same or new facts, the governor made the call now, with 3 days to implement.
It’s been thoughtful, even if it’s been “slower”, but it’s never been indecisive. This whole situation is fluid, and we are all still watching and assessing what is going on and what is different than even an hour ago.
The call has been made, we’ll see on March 30th what might be next, but between March 17 to March 30… lots is going to change, be fluid, and need adjusting.
Calm, patience, prudence, and doing what needs to be done, that’s where we are.
Schools are closing. Now we will see the next step.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:46 pm
Sue - Sadder still is the gross incompetence of our overweight President.
Comment by TominChicago Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:47 pm
The right call. Have been preparing for it with the idea that it was inevitable.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:47 pm
Stay classy, Sue…
Comment by DuPage Dave Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:47 pm
-right wing
Good link. From CDC: Available modeling data indicate that early, short to medium closures do not impact the epi curve of COVID-19 or available health care measures (e.g., hospitalizations). There may be some impact of much longer closures (8 weeks, 20 weeks) further into community spread, but that modelling also shows that other mitigation efforts (e.g., handwashing, home isolation) have more impact on both spread of disease and health care measures. In other countries, those places who closed school (e.g., Hong Kong) have not had more success in reducing spread than those that did not (e.g., Singapore).
Comment by phenom_Anon Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:49 pm
His Girl- the State Supreme Ct has exclusive and final authority over State Courts
Comment by Sue Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:50 pm
Nice strong move by JB.
The next strong move he could make would be to jettison for good the completely pointless PARCC/IAR test, which robs from Illinois kids close to two weeks of instructional time. Most states have jettisoned this standardized test already. ISBE has holdovers that have stubbornly retained it. With classroom hours likely to be lost this year, jettisoning this exam would win some time back.
Comment by Lowden Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:52 pm
It’s interesting the ISBE Superintendent said all school staff will be paid during the shutdown because of an “Act of God” situation. But, she didn’t mention if any days will need to be made up by students at the end of the school year. I don’t think lesson plans can be provided for an extended length of time.
Comment by Wensicia Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 4:54 pm
Look, I am going to cut this governor som slack here.
Yes, the data probably told us on Tuesday that closing school starting next Monday was the right call, which would have allowed some orderly planning, etc.
That is not the way the public mind works, however. It took images of overflowing European hospitals, some infected celebrities and elected officials, collapsing markets, the cancellation of every sporting event, etc to convince the public that this was no joke.
JB Pritzker could not have convinced Illinois to do this on his own, governors lead but only with a short rein, and no public health plan is going to be effective unless the people are willing to apply some peer pressure to enforce it.
I am talking to you, Yorkville, and your St. Patrick’s Day party this weekend.
And every employer that has yet to achknowledge that if there is any feasible way an employee’s work can be done from home, thats where it should be done from.
Instead of criticizing Pritzker, we should applaud him for sticking his neck out to make unpopular decisions, while others tucked their necks in like turtles.
We should help him, by staying home this weekend, telling our employees to work from home on Monday if they can, and checking in on our family, neighbors and friends to make sure they are okay.
Now is not the time to be eating each other.
Now is the time to share toilet paper.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 5:14 pm