SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KRON) – The San Francisco Unified School District announced mandatory vaccines for staff.
Starting September 7th, all employees must be fully vaccinated in order to return to school.
If employees refuse to get the vaccine, they must test for COVID at least weekly.
This reversal decision comes just a week after the school district said that it would not require employees to get vaccinated.
“Given that we are in the midst of rising cases and new variants in our community, a vaccine requirement is a necessary step to keeping our students, staff, and families safe,” said Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews.
The school district has about 10,000 employees. Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews says so far, half of them have submitted their vaccination status to the district.
Of those employees, he says a majority are already vaccinated but the district is waiting on more submissions.
The teachers union, United Educators of San Francisco, says they support this new vaccination requirement.
“We’ve played an active role not only just in our public statements but also in you know closed-door sessions with the district, look listen to educators who are coming back. We need to provide our communities with the safest environment and we’re very happy to hear they changed that right? The pandemic situation and with the delta variant changing daily, leaders need to adapt to that,” Frank Lara, executive vice president of the teacher’s union, said.
Masks will also be required inside all schools.
The new requirement does not apply to students, but the district has heavily promoted vaccine opportunities through multiple partnerships with pharmacies.
The teacher’s union says they’re also working with the school district on best safety protocols if cases do make their way into the classrooms.
Students will return to school on Monday, August 16.
According to the City’s dashboard, of the estimated 33,938 12 to 17-year-olds in San Francisco, 32,315 have been vaccinated.