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    • First day of school for CPS students: Mayor, CPS CEO greet students in person
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    First day of school for CPS students: Mayor, CPS CEO greet students in person

    Vaseline Posted on

    From screaming kids reuniting with friends to nervous — but also relieved — parents telling their children to have fun and be safe, and educators welcoming their students with hugs, Monday featured the sights and sounds of the first day of school.

    Chicago Public Schools kicked off the school year through a heatwave that’s expected to see the hottest days of the year, and with leaders saying academic achievement will continue to improve as the district works to serve students with increasing needs amid budget struggles.

    Kassandra Varela walked her son and daughter to McAuliffe Elementary from their Hermosa neighborhood home on the Northwest Side.

    She said it’s “amazing to have them back to their routine again.

    “It’s always different,” Varela said.” They’re always kind of scared. This year, they’re not scared, they’re excited to come back.”

    As long as it wasn’t their first year sending their kids to school, parents were generally ready for classes to start.

    “No free time for me,” Varela added. “As soon as I get home, I work from home.”

    Laila Fernandez was heading into 1st grade at McAuliffe “feeling nervous and excited” and hoping her new teacher would be nice.

    Laila stood in line with the other 1st graders, looking at the kindergarteners. Some were crying. What advice would she give them?

    “I would just tell them it is going to be OK,” Laila said.

    Their school was the first stop on Mayor Brandon Johnson and CPS CEO Pedro Martinez’s customary first-day-of-school tour. The Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ reported this month that the mayor’s administration is laying the groundwork to dismiss Martinez, and there was some question as to whether they would visit schools together.

    The two men didn’t interact much but Martinez said to Johnson there’s never been greater alignment between City Hall, the teachers union and the school district. “We all believe that our school should be fully financed and fully resourced,” he said. “We know we are not — and that is where the tension is at.”

    Martinez said he is ready to make the case to state lawmakers that CPS needs more money. He said his goal is to see the school district through the school year.

    “I’m a CPS kid. I sit on the shoulders of so many teachers that really helped me to get to this place,” he said. “I really believe in this district, I believe in our staff, and I’m proud of the work we have. And so that’s my focus.”

    Greeting students outside McAuliffe, Johnson claimed only Christmas Eve is more exciting than the first day of school. He promised that academic achievement would reach new heights this year. Martinez said he was “confident that this will be the best school year yet.”

    At this second stop of the morning outside Chalmers STEAM Elementary in North Lawndale, Johnson told parents, “You’re not alone” and to “keep putting your arms around (your kids) and ask for support when you need it.”

    “Kids, are you ready for the school year to start?” the mayor asked, with shouts of “Yes!” in response.

    “Parents, are we ready for the school year to start?” he added, which was met with louder shouts of “Yes!”

    Hand in hand with a few students, Johnson and Martinez rang a couple of bells near the Chalmers playground to kick off the year. The mayor asked those gathered: “Of course — to our CEO Pedro Martinez, give him a round of applause, please.”

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    Emma Skerrett waves goodbye to her mom Kasia before school at Funston Elementary School on the first day of school for CPS on Aug. 26, 2024.

    Martinez’s team will have to get schools through an excessive heat warning in effect from noon Monday until Tuesday night because of “dangerously hot conditions,” the National Weather Service said.

    Temperatures are expected to stay in the ’90s through Tuesday, testing many schools’ old air systems. CPS canceled all outdoor athletic contests Monday and Tuesday and planned to move practices indoors or nix them. Officials said recess and P.E. classes would be held indoors. CPS said all classrooms have air conditioning.

    Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates joined the party at Poe Classical School in West Pullman, where balloons and a deejay welcomed kids back.

    “First day is my favorite day of the year,” Principal Eric Dockery yelled from the building’s fire escape.

    Dockery announced each homeroom teacher over the mic, like a starting line-up, to a roar of applause. The principal and the school’s mascot, Raven, high-fived each kid as they entered the building while “It’s Time for the Percolator” played over the loudspeakers.

    “This is joyful,” Davis Gates told the Sun-Times. “You have a principal who’s high-fiving his staff and his faculty. You have staff and faculty who are, you know, standing shoulder to shoulder with family. These are the sustainable community schools that we want to be pervasive across the district.”

    “This is a manifestation of every contract proposal that we have put forward since 2012,” Davis Gates added. “It feels good to be here.”

    Students enter school on the first day of school at Thomas Chalmers Specialty Elementary School at 2745 W. Roosevelt Rd. in North Lawndale, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

    Students and parents arrive at Edgar Allan Poe Classical Elementary School at 10538 S. Langley Ave. on the Far South Side on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

    Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates greets teachers, parents and students at Edgar Allan Poe Classical Elementary School at 10538 S. Langley Ave. on the Far South Side on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

    Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez and other city officials ring the bell to start the school day on the first day of school at Thomas Chalmers Specialty Elementary School at 2745 W. Roosevelt Rd. in North Lawndale, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

    Left to right, Robert Torres’s and his wife Lisette and their daughter Leanna, take a selfie outside of Fredrick Funston Elementary School on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Manuel Martinez/WBEZ

    Students gather at Fredrick Funston Elementary School at 3616 W. Armitage Ave. on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Manuel Martinez/WBEZ

    Students and parents arrive at Epic Academy High School at 8255 S. Houston Ave. on the South Side on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

    Left to right, Lisette Torres, her husband Robert and their daughter Leanna take photos outside of Fredrick Funston Elementary School on the Northwest Side on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Manuel Martinez/WBEZ

    Students and parents wait for class to start at Edgar Allan Poe Classical Elementary School at 10538 S. Langley Ave. on the Far South Side on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

    A student plays on the jungle gym as he waits for class to start at Edgar Allan Poe Classical Elementary School at 10538 S. Langley Ave. on the Far South Side on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

    Left to right, Carina Flores, her husband Nicolas and their son Emanuel look through his backpack before starting the first day of school at Fredrick Funston Elementary School on the Northwest Side, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Manuel Martinez/WBEZ

    Students arrive at Epic Academy High School at 8255 S. Houston Ave. on the South Side on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

    Mayor Brandon Johnson greets students on the first day of school at Thomas Chalmers Specialty Elementary School at 2745 W. Roosevelt Rd. in North Lawndale, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

    Students enter school on the first day of school at Thomas Chalmers Specialty Elementary School at 2745 W. Roosevelt Rd. in North Lawndale, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

    Students gather at Fredrick Funston Elementary School at 3616 W. Armitage Ave. on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Manuel Martinez/WBEZ

    A student walks into school at Thomas Chalmers Specialty Elementary School at 2745 W. Roosevelt Rd. in North Lawndale, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

    Students arrive at Epic Academy High School at 8255 S. Houston Ave. on the South Side on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

    Students ring the bell to start the day on the first day of school at Thomas Chalmers Specialty Elementary School at 2745 W. Roosevelt Rd. in North Lawndale, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

    Students and parents gather at Fredrick Funston Elementary School at 3616 W. Armitage Ave. on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Manuel Martinez/Manuel Martinez/WBEZ

    Students wait outside in the courtyard on the first day of school at Thomas Chalmers Specialty Elementary School at 2745 W. Roosevelt Rd. in North Lawndale, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

    Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez holds a bell to start the school day alongside Ald. Jason Ervin (28th) and Mayor Brandon Johnson on the first day of school at Thomas Chalmers Specialty Elementary School at 2745 W. Roosevelt Rd. in North Lawndale, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

    Students ring the bell to start the day on the first day of school at Thomas Chalmers Specialty Elementary School at 2745 W. Roosevelt Rd. in North Lawndale, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

    Students gather at Fredrick Funston Elementary School at 3616 W. Armitage Ave. on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Manuel Martinez/WBEZ

    Epic Academy Principal Kyla Mathews greets students and parents as they arrive at the high school at 8255 S. Houston Ave. on the South Side on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

    Students enter school on the first day of school at Thomas Chalmers Specialty Elementary School at 2745 W. Roosevelt Rd. in North Lawndale, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

    Mayor Brandon Johnson greets students on the first day of school at Thomas Chalmers Specialty Elementary School at 2745 W. Roosevelt Rd. in North Lawndale, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

    Students wait outside in the courtyard on the first day of school at Thomas Chalmers Specialty Elementary School at 2745 W. Roosevelt Rd. in North Lawndale, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

    Students gather at Fredrick Funston Elementary School at 3616 W. Armitage Ave. on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Manuel Martinez/Manuel Martinez/WBEZ

    Students enter school on the first day of school at Thomas Chalmers Specialty Elementary School at 2745 W. Roosevelt Rd. in North Lawndale, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

    Epic Academy Principal Kyla Mathews greets students and parents as they arrive at the high school at 8255 S. Houston Ave. on the South Side on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

    Students and parents arrive at Epic Academy High School at 8255 S. Houston Ave. on the South Side on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

    Students walk in a parade into school at Edgar Allan Poe Classical Elementary School at 10538 S. Langley Ave. on the Far South Side on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

    Students arrive at Epic Academy High School at 8255 S. Houston Ave. on the South Side on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

    |
    Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

    Students and parents gather at Fredrick Funston Elementary School at 3616 W. Armitage Ave. on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

    |
    Manuel Martinez/Manuel Martinez/WBEZ

    Students gather at Fredrick Funston Elementary School at 3616 W. Armitage Ave. on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

    |
    Manuel Martinez/Manuel Martinez/WBEZ

    Students arrive at Epic Academy High School at 8255 S. Houston Ave. on the South Side on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

    |
    Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

    A student plays on the jungle gym as he waits for class to start at Edgar Allan Poe Classical Elementary School at 10538 S. Langley Ave. on the Far South Side on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

    CBS News Chicago reporter Mugo Odigwe rings the bell for classes to start at Edgar Allan Poe Classical Elementary School at 10538 S. Langley Ave. on the Far South Side on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

    Students and parents wait for class to start at Edgar Allan Poe Classical Elementary School at 10538 S. Langley Ave. on the Far South Side on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

    |
    Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

    Students hug each other as they arrive at Epic Academy High School at 8255 S. Houston Ave. on the South Side on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

    Students play in the parking lot as they wait for class to start at Edgar Allan Poe Classical Elementary School at 10538 S. Langley Ave. on the Far South Side on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

    Students gather at Fredrick Funston Elementary School at 3616 W. Armitage Ave. on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

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    Manuel Martinez/WBEZ

    The CTU has raised concerns about layoffs of teacher assistants since the district’s budget was revealed this summer.

    Ben Felton, CPS’ human resources chief, said staffing is up overall despite there being fewer teacher assistant positions amid the budget deficit. He said officials prioritized other areas, and the district has 600 more teachers than last year with fewer teacher positions remaining unfilled.

    And there are more paraprofessionals, including special education classroom assistants, plus additional art teachers. About half of all new teachers are Black or Hispanic.

    “We’re super proud and we’re really pleased that we’ve got more licensed educators in front of kids than any point in recent history,” Felton said. “And the diversity of our pipeline continues to improve because we believe that representation matters in the classroom.”

    The beginning of a new semester puts CPS an additional year removed from the COVID-19 pandemic, and in a sign of students finding some stability, Martinez is touting preliminary data showing more kids are proficient in reading than before the pandemic. These new test scores come on the heels of a national study that found reading scores increased more than any other large urban district.

    But math proficiency has been much slower to improve and is still below where it was before the pandemic.

    Edgar Allan Poe Classical Elementary School Principal Eric Dockery gives high fives to students at they walk in a parade into the school at 10538 S. Langley Ave. on the Far South Side on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

    Edgar Allan Poe Classical Elementary School Principal Eric Dockery gives high fives to students as they walk in a parade Monday morning into the school at 10538 S. Langley Ave. on the Far South Side on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools.

    Martinez has not provided any insight into high school test scores from last school year. Previous results showed they were significantly behind where they were before the pandemic. Absenteeism rates remained high.

    But graduation rates continue to inch up and are now at 83%.

    Martinez and his team attribute the improvements, at least partly, to how they spent $2.8 billion in federal COVID-19 relief money over the last few years. Every school got an extra teacher and many got a cadre of tutors to work with struggling students. Felton said CPS has 2,500 more teachers today than before the pandemic. In addition, schools got money for summer and after-school programs where they not only received enrichment but also some extra academics.

    The newfound stability could face challenges this year. That federal pandemic relief money is set to run out and the school district had to close a $505 million deficit to balance its budget. CPS officials said they kept cuts as far away from the classroom as possible, focusing instead on trimming in central office and operations.

    But extra support, such as teachers and tutors for struggling students, were targeted to high-poverty schools, and now dozens of schools are without that help. The amount of money given to schools for after-school programs was also sharply reduced, according to Chalkbeat Chicago.

    At the same time, Martinez says more high-needs students are enrolling. CPS enrolled nearly 8,900 new immigrants over the past two years, who are helping to stabilize enrollment after a more than a decade of decline. Last year, a quarter of all CPS students were learning English, compared to less than 20% in the 2019-2020 school year.

    Many of the newcomers are unhoused — a designation that requires the district to provide transportation stipends and other support services.

    The percentage of special education students has also gone up. Last year, about 16% of students required additional support such as social workers, occupational therapists and speech pathologists, as well as aides.

    Next year, CPS expects to spend $1.4 billion on special education, an increase of about $20 million from the year before.

    Students and parents arrive at Epic Academy High School at 8255 S. Houston Ave. on the South Side on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

    Students and parents arrive at Epic Academy High School at 8255 S. Houston Ave. on the South Side on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools on Monday.

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