With Chicago Public Schools set to fully reopen in the fall, the Chicago Teachers Union is calling for 80% of students 12 and older to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by October.

       The vaccination goal is part of a CTU proposal submitted Monday that also asks for ventilation system upgrades at school buildings; union members to fill positions at CPS’s new remote-learning Virtual Academy; and a 10% increase in the number of special education teachers, bilingual teachers, English language program teachers, teacher assistants and arts educators by Jan. 27, 2022.

       “We’re scheduled to bargain this afternoon with CPS, where we will invite them to join us as true partners in advancing real equity across the district this fall and going forward,” CTU leaders said in a statement Tuesday.

       Also Tuesday, Chicago Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady expressed confidence about fall reopening plans even though children younger than 12 won’t be vaccinated against the coronavirus by the time classes start next month.

       Students enter South Loop Elementary School on June 22, the last day of the CPS school year. Far fewer than half of all CPS students returned for any in-person classes last year. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

       “We’ve talked about this a lot,” Arwady said during her regular online Q-and-A session about the pandemic. “The basic answer is that even before we had a vaccine available, we saw that where you have appropriate COVID precautions in place, schools have not been sources of outbreaks. They have not really contributed to community spread significantly. And we’ve seen such negative impacts, particularly in the youngest children, where a lot of the social, emotional learning, a lot of the needs where young children have struggled with trying to learn via Zoom.”

       “The brief answer is, especially with the vaccine being available for all adults, I am extremely confident about school being open in the fall, and feeling really good about that.”

       As part of its proposal, CTU is calling for 80% of younger students to be vaccinated within 60 days after the Food and Drug Administration authorizes use of the vaccine for their age group.

       tswartz@tribpub.com

       jebyrne@chicagotribune.com

       As schools prep for full reopening, Chicago Teachers Union wants a student vaccine goal met by October

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