Lightfoot Sets Goal To Reopen Chicago Public Schools in Fall

CHICAGO — Mayor Lori Lightfoot said it's her goal to reopen Chicago Public Schools in the fall, but only if it's possible to do it safely.

Lightfoot floated the idea in an interview with the Sun-Times published Friday. Chicago Teachers Union officials quickly criticized her for talking publicly about the idea without "to the people who are supposed to actually be going into those buildings and do the work."

During an afternoon news conference, the mayor said she put word out about her desire to reopen schools because she believes Chicago kids, particularly in grade school, need the school structure and services that remote learning doesn't provide. As for the CTU's concerns, the mayor said her administration is in regular contact with CTU leaders and would continue to be.

Lightfoot said reopening schools would be decided on "area by area and school by school" basis, discussed with the "entire CPS community, particularly students and their parents."

One idea being considered is having students attend classes on alternative days to maintain social distancing.

"But we're only gonna do something if we can do it safely," Lightfoot said.