Lawmakers Call for State Intervention Over Conditions in Cook County School District 130 (Blue Island, IL) – State lawmakers are calling on the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to investigate and intervene in reported health and sanitation problems at schools in Cook County School District 130.
State Rep. Robert “Bob” Rita joined state Sen. Bill Cunningham and state Reps. Justin Slaughter and Mary Gill in issuing a joint statement urging immediate action after reports from teachers described what lawmakers characterized as unsafe and unsanitary learning conditions.
The concerns reportedly followed the school district’s termination of SEIU Local 73 janitorial employees before the start of the school year. According to the legislators, schools have gone weeks without basic sanitation services.
Teachers have reported mold exposure, mice and other animal infestations, overflowing garbage and bathrooms lacking basic necessities, including soap and toilet paper.
“We are horrified by the conditions being reported by teachers throughout schools in Cook County School District 130,” the legislators said. “We are calling for immediate intervention and investigation by the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Public Health to act to protect students and teachers where the School District has failed.”
The lawmakers also criticized the district’s decision to terminate the union janitorial staff and called for district officials to resume negotiations with SEIU Local 73.
“The termination of union janitorial staff was a failure that must be immediately addressed by the School District by going back to the negotiating table with SEIU Local 73,” the legislators said.
The lawmakers said maintaining clean and safe schools should be an immediate priority while also emphasizing the need to protect workers’ rights.
“Anything less than clean, safe schools is unacceptable,” they said. “We must protect students and teachers and protect the rights of workers. The schools need to be cleaned up now.”
Lawmakers Call for State Intervention Over Conditions in Cook County School District 130
