Chicago Public Schools CEO Dr. Macquline King has now made it clear classes will not be canceled on May Day. Regardless, Mayor Brandon Johnson says the city is coming up with a plan for parents and families to participate.
By. Regardless, Mayor Brandon Johnson says the city is coming up with a plan for parents and families to participate. May Day is when organized labor comes together to celebrate workers' rights. This year, nationwide protests are planned to stand up against President Donald Trump's policies.
The tug of war over closing Chicago Public Schools on May 1 became even more confusing for parents when Mayor Brandon Johnson weighed in Wednesday after a City Council Meeting.Johnson signaled he remains aligned with his former employer and his biggest political supporter to close schools on May 1. For almost a year, the Chicago Teachers Union has pushed to change the CPS calendar to allow the teachers, parents and students to participate in May Day protests, an annual international celebration of workers rights. "I'm going to make sure that people remain engaged and that all the city departments and agencies participate to ensure that there's a strong plan for parents and families," Johnson said.Despite what the mayor is coordinating or planning, CPS remains open on May 1. "CPS, the CEO, Maqueline King has been exceptionally clear. Class will be in session on May 1st," Chicago School Board Member Jessica Biggs said. But, Dr. King has left the door open only if the school board publicly votes to change the calendar. CTU is requesting to swap May 1 for a professional development day in June, a non-attendance day for students. "No special meeting has been called for any reason, and as far as I'm aware... there is no intention of voting on any sort of change," Biggs said. Biggs, an elected school board member who is running for school board president, does not believe there are enough votes for a calendar change. CPS parents group Kids First Chicago is conducting a parents survey."Parents are very concerned about significant challenges to childcare, to their work responsibilities, and so some parents just want a decision, one way or another," said Hal Woods, Kids First Chicago Chief of Policy. As of now, as far as CPS is concerned, schools remain open on May 1, a decision Illinois Governor JB Pritzker says is the right one. "Speaking as to which days are on and off, that's not something that I want to opine about, but I can say that, you know, political operators trying to determine what the calendar should be for kids seems inappropriate," Pritzker. The Chicago School Board holds its monthly meeting next Thursday. As of now, there is no indication a calendar change vote is on the agenda. But, in a text message, School Board President Sean Harden told ABC7 says there is more to come regarding May 1.
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