Goodsend partnered with Noble Charter Schools

By Abel Rodriguez for Built In Chi

“Goodsend is a giving platform in which local consumers and companies can donate directly to Chicago students in need. In its partnership with Noble Charter Schools, Goodsend will launch a new feature in which users can donate directly to students and their families. Students and families in need from the school’s 18 campuses must submit an application to be eligible for the one-time micro-grant.”

 

Chicago and CPS see rising COVID-19 numbers but ‘nothing alarming at this point,’ city’s top doc says

By Tracy Swartz for The Chicago Tribune

“The rise is attributed to the persistence of the highly contagious omicron subvariant BA.2, which accounts for just over half of COVID-19 infections in Chicago, according to city data. Arwady noted that coronavirus hospitalizations are down to eight per day here, with few Chicagoans dying of the virus. Chicago is logging 284 daily coronavirus cases, up from 214 cases per day last week. Chicago Public Schools, meanwhile, recorded 295 student and 119 staff cases last week, an increase from 199 student and 65 staff cases the prior week.”

 

Pritzker signs bill creating paid COVID sick leave for all vaccinated school employees

By Samantha Smylie for Chalkbeat

“Gov. J.B Pritzker signed into law a bill that gives paid sick leave to all fully vaccinated Illinois school staff who have to take time off for COVID-related reasons and provides wage protection for hourly school employees who miss school because of closures or e-learning. The bill creates paid administrative leave for all employees of public schools, charter schools, community colleges, and universities throughout the state who have to stay home for COVID-related reasons. It also restores COVID-related sick days to employees who had to use them earlier in the 2021-2022 school year. The bill “ensures that if a teacher has done their part to keep their classroom safe for their most vulnerable students, they won’t have to worry for a second about their pay or their paid time off if they get COVID, if they’re required to isolate or if the school has moved to e-learning and their work can’t be done at home,” Pritzker said Tuesday morning at the state capitol. The bill, which went into effect immediately, passed both chambers of the legislature in late March.”

 

Most Chicago schools have enough applicants for active Local School Council

By Mauricio Pena for Chalkbeat

“After extending its application deadline last month, Chicago Public Schools has enough candidates for Local School Councils at nearly 95% of district-run schools. Across the district, 485 out of 509 schools have enough candidates to meet quorum requirements for the governing bodies of public schools known as Local School Councils, or LSCs. About 24 schools did not garner enough applicants to meet quorum, according to the district. The district received 6,123 candidate applications out of the 6,239 total positions across 509 schools. The LSC elections will be held on April 20 for elementary schools and April 21 for high schools. A list of candidates running for a seat can be found here.”