We are very concerned about the quality of education provided to Black children in Chicago Public Schools and the safety of our families. Before the start of the pandemic, schools in African American neighborhoods struggled with maintenance, cleaning, and staffing shortages. The launch of virtual learning was a catastrophic failure leaving many students behind and without the support needed to catch up and close the gaps that persisted before the pandemic.

Public school buildings are a vital asset to our community that should serve as a hub for learning and a refuge for our most vulnerable population. To create racial equity, we must close the achievement gap and provide every opportunity for Black children to thrive. We want to ensure that schools are not just fully staffed, but staffed with adults that understand the cultural needs of Black children and are vested in their academic success. We also need Local School Councils to have the tools and financial resources necessary to govern safely through this pandemic.