MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:
In-school learning has begun for thousands of high schoolers in Chicago s public schools after more than a year of remote instruction. For many seniors, going back is bittersweet as they try to make the end of high school memorable despite all that has been lost. WBEZ s Adriana Cardona-Maguigad reports.
ADRIANA CARDONA-MAGUIGAD, BYLINE: Imagine being a high school senior trying to pack a whole school year s worth of memories in about eight weeks. That s what thousands of high schoolers in Chicago public schools like Cecilia Dominguez will be trying to do before the school year ends.
CECILIA DOMINGUEZ: I was like, I don t want to come because you know how, like, the virus is still going on. At the same time, I wanted to come to do my work.
Winter Weather Causing Delays in Federal COVID Vaccine Delivery in Illinois
According to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker s office, the federal government has notified all states of COVID-19 vaccine delivery delays across the entire country due to adverse weather and road conditions.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Operation Warp Speed deliveries slated for Tuesday would be significantly impacted as adverse weather impacted operations at facilities where vaccines and ancillary supply kits originate.
The departments warned that delays could continue throughout the week. To help offset delayed vaccine deliveries, the state of Illinois proactively ordered vaccine to be delivered to its Strategic National Stockpile Receipt, Store, and Stage site in anticipation of adverse weather, Pritzker s office said in a release. Illinois is distributing that vaccine to many providers around the state today and tomorrow, as weather permits, to continue to s
Chicago Opens 4 COVID-19 Vaccine Sites for School Employees
Four COVID-19 vaccination sites dedicated to Chicago Public Schools teachers and staff are expected to be fully operational in the coming week, district officials said.
Starting Monday, Chicago will reserve 1,500 shots weekly for employees in the nation s third-largest school district. That’s on top of about 2,000 doses offered in recent days to teachers who are at higher risk of illness or starting back in classrooms sooner as the district gradually reopens. Some pre-K and special education students started in-person classes Thursday.
The vaccination sites are at four schools, including Clemente High School where some educators have already received shots. District officials said employees will be excused from work duties during their vaccination appointments.