DOWNTOWN — Final exams would be canceled, but graduation ceremonies would go on as planned in the event of a teachers strike, CPS officials said.
In a letter sent to all principals from Chicago Public Schools Chief Education Officer Janice Jackson and obtained by DNAinfo, the school district lists several contingency plans in the event of the "unfortunate possibility" of a "work stoppage" before the official end of the school year June 21.
Teachers have declared an impasse in negotiations for a new contract with CPS, and a fact-finding report — one of the last legal obstacles to be cleared before a strike can be declared — was issued April 16. A walkout could legally begin May 27, union officials have said.
In the event of a work stoppage, Jackson said in the letter dated April 18 that grades must be updated by May 11 and all grade changes must be made by May 13. Gradebook, the online grades portal, could be reopened if a strike is either avoided or ended before June 21.
If schools are shut down for the rest of the year, there will be a new schedule for distributing report cards, the letter states.
"In the event the work stoppage continues through the remainder of the school year, report cards will be generated and ready for schools to print based on an updated schedule," the letter reads.
The letter to principals also stipulates that "in the event of a work stoppage, final exams will be canceled," but that "graduation ceremonies will still be held as scheduled" for eighth-graders and high school seniors. They would be staffed by nonunion workers and central office staff, the memo said.
Jackson also advised that "due to the potentially fluid nature of the remaining weeks in this school year, I ask that you make every effort to ensure you have accurate contact information for your families. Information may need to move quickly, and it is imperative you are able to facilitate that."
CPS said it was clearing contingency plans with principals and getting their feedback before sharing final plans with parents and students.
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