Chicago Turns to Transit for Students Displaced by
Teacher’s Strike Te Chicago Teachers Union strike, which ended Sept. 18, shut down the na- tion’s third-largest school district just days after school commenced. Chicago Pub- lic Schools spokeswoman Robyn Ziegler told STN the strike did not affect the dis- trict’s charter schools, but approximately 350,000 other students were displaced. “During the strike, we continued to pro- vide transportation to students who attend charter schools and other non-CPS schools that we normally transport,” said Ziegler. Priscilla Ammon of area contractor Am- mon Transportation Services told STN the company rotated its 45 drivers on the dis- trict’s charter routes, yet many remained off work and without pay for some of the seven days. In the interim, Ziegler said the district kept nearly 150 schools open for thousands of students who could not at- tend school from Sept. 10–18. “Te Children First sites did not provide any school functions or instructional op- portunities but were sites where parents could bring children during the day,” she said, adding that about 85 percent of CPS students are eligible for free or reduced- price lunch. “It was very important to have a safety net where we could provide two meals a day and a safe environment for kids as an option if needed.”
Ziegler clarified that CPS did not have any of its vendors transport students to those sites. Rather, the Chicago Transit Au- thority offered free student transportation to and from those campuses. Te district did remain responsible for transporting students with disabilities who receive transportation per their Individualized Education Program, or IEP.
“Even though we didn’t provide trans- portation to those sites, we did offer those (special education) students who are eli- gible for transportation and parents who ride with their children paid cards from the CTA,” she added. She also noted that the school district worked with sister agencies, local libraries and park districts to provide other cam- puses and services to students.
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