CPS Students Return To School Full-Time Monday, With Mask Requirement And Amid COVID-19 Delta Variant Worries

CHICAGO (CBS) — Thousands of Chicago Public Schools students will step back into the hallways of their school buildings full-time on Monday.

And due to the COVID-19 delta variant, it is sure to be a year like no other.

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This school year, all students and staff must wear masks, and teacher shave to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by mid-October.

City leaders are encouraging children over the age of 12 to get the shot as well.

Some parents and students are anxious about the in-person return to class. One mom, Nashondra Henderson, said her seven children are eager to return to school – but she is nervous because her 14-year-old son recently got COVID and had to be hospitalized.

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“It’s just the simple fact that it could happen to my other children, and going through that whole thing over again – it’s scary,” Henderson said.

Meanwhile, schools are also dealing with a bus driver shortage.

CPS said dozens of drivers have resigned in the past week, likely because of vaccine requirements. That has forced the district to cancel some bus routes.

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The district is offering up to $1,000 to parents to help cover the cost of extra driving or rideshares.