Some Chicago Public Schools board members are sounding an alarm on the federal government’s aggressive and ongoing immigration enforcement campaign, urging district leaders to do more to protect families fearful of going to school — including insisting on remote learning and pushing the governor to intervene.
Board member Emma Lozano said students are safe in school, but it’s the time before and after classes that worries parents. Her 7th district includes Pilsen and Little Village, neighborhoods which have seen regular activity by federal agents, including an increased presence this week that has led to chaotic scenes.
“It is an emergency, period,” Lozano said at Thursday’s monthly board meeting.
“Our parents are asking for remote learning if possible,” Lozano said. “We just need to work this out because our children are totally frightened that they are going to come home and they’re not going to see their parents any more.”
Interim Supt./CEO Macquline King said district leadership has discussed its options, including remote learning, but added that CPS does not have the authority to make that move without an emergency declaration from Gov. JB Pritzker.
“We should have a remote learning plan in the event of an emergency. But if the governor does not call a state of emergency, we do not have the ability to just send the district into remote learning,” King said.
She encouraged board members to lobby the state.
“Activate your bases and your individual districts, talk to legislators, elected officials,” King said. “We need help. … If you see that there are policies that need to be put in place, we will respond. You all send us questions, we will respond. It helps us to find gaps.”
The district has previously pushed back on a remote learning option, saying in-person instruction is best for students. Despite online learning being honed and refined during the COVID-19 pandemic, a recent study found in-person attendance is as important as ever to achieving higher academic results.
After the pandemic, the district created a “Virtual Academy” high school and elementary school, but enrollment is reserved for students who can’t attend school in-person for medical reasons.
The Chicago Teachers Union sent King and CPS Board President Sean Harden a letter Thursday calling on the district to reconsider, noting that it already operates the virtual schools.
“As a growing number of families shelter to protect themselves, failing to consider all available tools and put forward plans that provide education and safety to as many students as possible is irresponsible,” the letter said.
Pritzker’s office did not respond to a request for comment. A representative of his office didn’t answer questions at a news conference Thursday.
The Illinois State Board of Education said it sent guidance to districts on Oct. 8 that indicates local officials can institute a remote learning day when they determine there are emergency conditions “that jeopardize safety and access to learning.” But only five such days are allowed per school year, and they would push the whole district online. It wasn’t clear whether CPS needed the governor’s authority to allow only certain students to access remote learning.
Board member Yesenia Lopez, who shares the Latino-heavy Southwest Side district with Lozano, noted as the board meeting began that federal agents were clashing with protestors in Little Village. At least five people were detained, including two CPS high school students, according to community advocates.
It was the second consecutive day the neighborhood was targeted by federal agents.
“Parents are fearing, with a number of them either self-deporting or not leaving their house,” Lopez said. “If you were able to get up this morning, brush your teeth, take a shower, dress and make it here without looking over your shoulder, that’s privilege.”
Student board member Destiny Singleton, senior at Ogden International high school, spoke through tears about the effect the presence of federal agents is having on students.
“We feel the weight of ICE in our city, in our country, and students have been posting minute-by-minute updates on ICE agent locations,” Singleton said. “We shouldn’t need to protect ourselves in this way, and we are terrified.”
While there have been no reports of federal agents entering a school, operations and arrests nearby have sent many into lockdowns or soft-lockdowns. On Tuesday, a landscaper with CPS vendor Christy Webber Landscapes was detained by federal agents as he worked on the front lawn of Decatur Classical School on the North Side.
Karen Zaccor, a board member whose North Side 4th district includes Lake View and Lincoln Park, said CPS officials should figure out how to offer an option for remote learning as an increasing number of families ask for it.
“I think we all understand that it’s very difficult, a lot of obstacles to that,” she said. “I’m just hoping we can figure out a way to work together to make it work for the many families that are telling us they really are too fearful to allow their children to come to school.”