Lawmakers pen letter to mayor, CPS, want safety, remote improvements

A group of elected officials has written an open letter to Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Public Schools asking for improvements to remote learning and stronger safety measures at schools before a return to inperson classes.

The letter — signed by a group of 14 Chicago aldermen from across the city, 24 state legislators, including Democratic Reps. LaShawn Ford and Kam Buckner, and Cook County Commissioners Brandon Johnson, Dennis Deer and Alma Anaya — comes days after CPS announced plans to phase students back to in-person learning next month, starting with preschoolers and some special education students. Other students may start returning in January.

“So far the Mayor and CPS have been tight-lipped on the specifics of how they plan to return to in-person instruction, cutting students, parents, Aldermen and other elected officials, and our labor partners out of this very necessary planning process,” Ald. Byron SigchoLopez (25th), who signed the letter, said in a statement. “We should be working together to find the best solutions to create safe learning environments for students, teachers and staff.”

Others signing the letter according to Sigcho-Lopez’s statement are Aldermen Daniel LaSpata (1st); Brian Hopkins (2nd), Sophia King (4th); Leslie Hairston (5th), Roderick Sawyer (6th), Stephanie Coleman (16th); David Moore (17th); Jeanette Taylor (20th); Michael Rodriguez (22nd); Rossana Rodriguez (33rd); Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th); Andre Vasquez (40th); Matt Martin (47th) and Maria Hadden (49th).