Chicago Teachers Union Ratifies Return To In-Person Learning Deal

CHICAGO — Chicago Teachers Union rank-and-file members overwhelmingly voted to approve a deal on in-person learning that sets the stage for some students to return to classrooms starting Thursday.

Teachers voted in favor of the compromise that averted a second strike in two years by a more than two-to-margin — 13,681 to 6,585, union officials said.

Despite the overwhelming margin, CTU boss Jesse Sharkey expressed displeasure with the terms of the agreement. In a letter to members, Sharkey wrote that the deal "is not what any of us deserve. Not us. Not our students. Not their families. The fact that CPS could not delay reopening a few short weeks to ramp up vaccinations and preparation in schools is a disgrace."

Sharkey said the deal for a staggered return to in-person learning "represents where we should have started months ago," calling it a "stain" on Mayor Lori Lightfoot's administration.

"But the agreement does put us in a vastly better position than we were in November, when even after months of struggle, CPS’ 'planning' and 'preparation' would have been laughable were it not also so dangerous," he said.

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In a joint statement, Lightfoot and CPS chief executive Janice Jackson said the results of the vote "reaffirms the strength and fairness" of the return-to-school plan.

"The vast majority of CPS families have been separated from their schools for nearly a year, and the ratification of our agreement ensures families have options to choose in-person learning and make a plan that is best for them. We look forward to welcoming students as they return to their classrooms in the days ahead. ... Our schools are fully prepared to safely welcome back students beginning tomorrow, and we are eager to provide additional support for the families who need more than remote learning can provide." the statement said.

The return-to-school plan calls for:

• Vaccinating 1,500 teachers and staff each week, and offering vaccinations to staff that work in 15 community areas most impacted by COVID-19.
• Employees with medically vulnerable family members will be able to get vaccinated starting Monday. If they choose to be vaccinated in the next two weeks, they can work remotely for up to 14 days after the first dose. CTU members who decline to take the vaccine and want to remain home can take an unpaid leave of absence with full benefits. This new arrangement is in addition to the 5,000 accommodations CPS has already granted for staff who are either medically vulnerable or a primary caretaker of a vulnerable family member.
• In-person learning in pods and schools would be paused for 14 days if the positivity rate within CPS' surveillance testing program reaches 2.5%, or 50% of schools are on a 14-day operational pause.

Parents will have the option to send kids to school starting with prekindergarten and special education cluster program students on Thursday. Then, there will be a staggered return to school buildings, with teachers and staff reporting in advance of students. Kindergarten through fifth grade staff go back Feb. 22 with students returning March 1. Sixth through eighth grade staff return to work March 1 with students returning on March 8.

Sharkey, in his letter to members, attacked Lightfoot for pushing to reopen schools.

"Be clear: Basic safety shouldn’t even be a negotiation, let alone a privilege – yet it is in Chicago, under this mayor. It’s time for mayoral control of our public schools to end. That’s why delegates overwhelmingly passed a vote of no confidence in the mayor and the leadership of the Chicago Public Schools on Monday night," he said.