RYH Newsletter 2.3.21
Reimagining School Safety In CPS
Sat, Feb 6 | 11AM - 12:30 PM | Register
One thing is certain, when Chicago’s children return to schools they will need safe havens. Reimagining Safety is an all-hands on deck approach. Join us to hear the current state of safety in CPS as it relates to CPD SROs and what's possible when we collectively organize resources to reimagine safety. This event is the first in a series of upcoming events and workshops.
Register to join us on Zoom to hear from CPS youth, parents, LSC members, teachers and neighbors. You can also watch live on Facebook.
[SRO = School Resource Officer AKA police officers in the school]
And ICYMI... From CPS: "The Whole School Comprehensive Safety Plan is a part of CPS’ effort to create a more holistic approach to school safety." CPS has a webpage which lists the 5 lead organizations who are working with CPS on engagement plus all the Community Engagement Dates, Times and Registration Information (the first meeting is tonight, Wed, Feb 3.)
For more:
Block Club Chicago: West Side Violence Prevention Group Helping CPS Design Alternatives To Cops In Schools: 'A Whole Different Way Of Them Doing Things'
Sun-Times: CPS partners with 5 community groups to develop new safety alternatives to in-school officers
Special Education: 2 Upcoming Workshops + Transition Programs
1) Here’s a free workshop from Family Resource Center on Disabilities.
Six Principles of IDEA: Special Education Rights Seminar | Feb 6 | 10AM - 12PM | Register
2) Here’s a free workshop from one of our SPEACC (Special Education Advocacy Coalition of Chicago) partners, Special Education Attorney, Tracy Hartlieb.
Being Your Child’s Best Advocate: Special Education Rights for Students During the Pandemic
Feb 11 | 5:30-6:30PM | Register
If you or anyone you know has an adult child who has aged out of (or will soon age out of) CPS Transition Programs (or any IL school district transition program) at age 22 -- especially those who missed out on vital vocational training out in the Community due to Covid -- please give us your contact information via this form and we'll be in touch. Thanks. Please share.
LSC Connection + Letters/Resolutions + Upcoming Trainings + OLSCR Meeting
If you are a LSC member and would like to connect to a larger group of LSC members from across the city, please email us: info@ilraiseyourhand.org.
We have a Google folder where we are posting LSC letters and resolutions about the CPS reopening plan- there are 130 in the folder so far. These letters are worth a look- they are very nuanced and many express specific concerns and questions as they relate to their individual schools and as it relates to both in person and remote learners. If we are missing your letter, please email it to: info@ilraiseyourhand.org
Hope Center is offering several LSC Trainings during February. Details and registration here.
Session IX LSC Engagement Session with Myra Winding and The OLSCR Team
Hosted by CPS’ Office of Local School Council Relations (OLSCR)
Th, Feb 4 | 4PM | Register here by 3PM on Th, Feb 4
Flyer : Why it's Safe To Reopen From A Health Perspective, presented by Dr. Ken Fox (CPS Chief Medical Officer) and Dr. Jennifer Seo (Chicago Department of Public Health)
LSC Summit 2021
The LSCs.4.ALL coalition decided to reschedule our annual LSC summit to Feb 27, 10AM-3PM. Please also note that we are adding additional time to the end of our Summit for an organizing plenary.
Pandemic Schooling This Week (So Far)
Here's some press which will tell the story of what’s happened since last we spoke...
Chalkbeat Chicago’s live blog: Chicago schools reopening amid COVID: The latest. This contains quicker snippets of what’s happening and includes links to longer stories if you want/need more.
Two reads worth your time from WBEZ:
Sun-Times: Drained students say CPS should do more to help teens’ mental health, improve remote learning
Things were pretty tumultuous Friday - Monday.
Friday culminated in a late night press conference where Mayor Lightfoot declared, “The CTU leadership has failed and left us with a big bag of nothing.” The CTU responded, “The educators in the room were working toward an agreement. The politician is blowing it all to pieces.” Apparently both CTU leadership & CPS insiders were shocked at the Mayor’s tone. Read it all here in the Sun-Times: Lightfoot demands schools reopen Monday, sets stage for potential CTU strike
Sunday involved both the City/CPS and the CTU accusing each other of not showing up for the negotiation Zoom. The result was that in person learning for students was called off for Monday (postponed until Tuesday), and teachers who were expected to return to buildings on Monday were told by CPS that they were still expected to return to buildings on Monday. CPS said that teachers that did not show would be denied access to their CPS Google Suite by the end of business Monday. WBEZ: No In-Person School For CPS Students On Monday As Strike Threat Rises
Here is the RYH statement from Sunday evening which we posted before the press conferences:
On Sunday and Monday, Jackson and Lightfoot appeared on various national television news programs.
On Monday:
Parents organized #CPSSickOut to bring attention to CPS parents having had no voice in the CPS Reopening Plan. Kudos to these organizing parents for this Toolkit for parents, for getting lots of media coverage, and for giving parents an action they could take and to know that they are not alone.
Sun-Times: CPS reaches reopening deal with 9,000 district staff represented by SEIU Local 73
WTTW: CPS Parents Caught in the Middle as Negotiations Drag On
By Monday night, things were calmer. The Mayor announced that the City/CPS and CTU would take a “48 hour cooling off period” which resulted in no in person learning for students until at least Thursday, and negotiations have continued. Comprehensive coverage of Monday here from the Chicago Tribune: CPS calls for 2 days of ‘cooling off’ as it reports progress in averting a CTU strike; remote learning continues Tuesday and Wednesday.
Things were relatively quiet Tuesday and we are hopeful that we will all have news by this afternoon (Wed) regarding classes on Thursday. As a friendly reminder, 1st Semester ends Thursday and there is no school for students on Fri, Feb 5, as it is a “School Improvement Day.”
Sun-Times: 3,700 CPS workers have been vaccinated or offered a shot, but teachers criticize disorderly rollout
WBEZ (Karp on Reset): CPS Calls For 48-Hour ‘Cooling-Off’ Period As Union Talks Continue
Chicago Tribune: CPS-CTU strike watch: What you need to know about how we got here, and where things might be headed, with school reopening talks
And, hey! Is anyone talking about high schools??? Chalkbeat Chicago: Missing from Chicago’s reopening debate: high schools. ‘We are a forgotten group.’
Ways To Sound Off and/or Take Action
Updated! THIS is the Office of the Mayor's phone number: 312 744 9500.
New! Petition to push for continued negotiations avoiding a strike.
Petition: CPS, Don't Lock Out or Leave Behind Remote Learners! ***Still relevant! The original locked out PreK and cluster teachers are still locked out.
Petition: CPS, give high schools the scheduling flexibility to meet students’ needs in a global pandemic! ***Also still relevant!
Survey from Chalkbeat Chicago: Chicago school reopening is under scrutiny. Tell us what you think. | Encuesta: ¿Qué piensan los estudiantes y las familias sobre el plan de reapertura de Chicago?
CPS’ “Ask The Expert” Sessions Continue
CPS FACE YouTube Channel- Ask The Expert session videos are here.
From CPS’ Family & Community Engagement (FACE):
Date: February 4, 2021, 4pm - 5pm
The Expert: Dr. Michael Deuser, Chief of college & career success. As chief of college and career success, Dr. Michael Deuser promotes social and economic mobility by ensuring that all CPS students have the guidance, support, and experiences necessary to earn valuable postsecondary credential and enter into fulfilling family-sustaining careers
Topic: Learn more about the college application crisis
Click Here to RSVP (required in order to receive the invitation; they tend to not allow RSVPs after 3PM on the day of)
National Ed News + Standardized Testing Suspension: Send A Letter
Chalkbeat: 5 big questions Miguel Cardona may face during his confirmation hearing (His confirmation hearing is today, Wed, Feb 3.)
The Network for Public Education allows you to send a letter here to Secretary of Ed nominee, Miguel Cardona, re: cancelling the spring's federally mandated standardized tests.
Over 70 local, state, and national organizations (including RYH!) ask Dr. Cardona to please cancel the tests! Read the coalition letter here.
Washington Post: Biden administration urged to allow states to cancel spring standardized testing
Data Privacy Survey
The Parent Coalition for Student Privacy is researching which ed tech apps schools are asking students to use , and whether they are sufficiently protective of their privacy. Blog + link to survey here.
In Other News
WTTW: As CPS Talks Continue, Some Suburban Schools Reopen
Sun-Times: Manford Byrd Jr., former CPS superintendent, dies at 92
Chalkbeat Chicago: I’m a Chicago teacher headed back to campus. I’m just as confused as you are. (First Person piece from a CPS teacher.)
Upcoming Event
Toward A New Agenda for Public Education: Recommendations To The Biden Administration
With Diane Ravitch
Hosted by DePaul College of Education
Wed, Feb 10 | 5:30-6:30PM CST | Register | Flyer
Wondering about the “Like Sands Through The Hourglass” reference? :)