Share
Nearly 500 Los Angeles Unified School District employees were fired this week for refusing to comply with a mandate that they get vaccinated against COVID-19, while some 34,000 students have not yet been vaccinated as required.
The school board voted 7-0 in separate motions on Tuesday to terminate 496 employees, who make up less than 1% of the district’s approximately 73,000 workers.
Most of those fired had likely been on leave since mid-October when LAUSD staffers were to have received at least their first vaccine dose, the Daily News reported. Employees were required to receive their second dose by Nov. 15.
“Parting ways with individuals who choose not to be vaccinated is an extremely difficult, but necessary decision to ensure the safety of all in our school communities,” interim Superintendent Megan Reilly said in a statement. “We wish everyone the best in their future endeavors and encourage everyone to get vaccinated.”
Unvaccinated Students Face Choice in January
Meanwhile, with thousands of students not yet complying with the mandate, there’s no longer enough time for kids who have not gotten their first shot to be fully inoculated by the Jan. 10 start of the second semester, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Students who are not fully vaccinated — or exempt — will be forced into the district’s independent study program or will have to leave the Los Angeles public school system.
Shifting 34,000 students into independent study would be challenging because the program faces staffing shortages, according to the Times.
About 85% of the district’s approximately 600,000 students are in compliance with the mandate requiring those 12 and older to get their COVID-19 shots.
That percentage includes students who have received at least one vaccine dose, individuals with a medical exemption or qualify for conditional admission to the district. This last group include homeless or foster youths, students whose families are in the military or certain special education students.
RELATED TOPICS:
Despite Clashes With US Presidents, Israel’s Netanyahu Usually Gets His Way
4 hours ago
Pope Leo Urges International Diplomacy to Prevent ‘Irreparable Abyss’
4 hours ago
Oil to Open Higher as US Strikes on Iran Boost Supply Risk Premium
4 hours ago
US Bombing of Iran Started With a Fake-Out
4 hours ago
Pakistan Condemns Trump’s Bombing of Iran a Day After Nominating Him for Peace Prize
5 hours ago
Mysterious Ancient Humans Now Have a Face
6 hours ago
World Leaders React to US Attack on Iran
18 hours ago
Advisory Warns of ‘Heightened Threat Environment’ in US After Iran Strikes
4 hours ago
Categories

Advisory Warns of ‘Heightened Threat Environment’ in US After Iran Strikes

Muslim Countries to Set up Contact Group to Seek Israel-Iran De-Escalation

Visalia Police Seek Public’s Help in Sexual Assault Investigation

Despite Clashes With US Presidents, Israel’s Netanyahu Usually Gets His Way

Pope Leo Urges International Diplomacy to Prevent ‘Irreparable Abyss’

Oil to Open Higher as US Strikes on Iran Boost Supply Risk Premium
