Local teachers are voicing their concern with Indiana’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan. Last week, state officials announced that the next phase of the vaccine rollout will be by age, with those 80 and older being the first group eligible to get it.
Eastern Pulaski Teachers Association President Kate Daily told the school board Monday that she’s disappointed that school personnel were not prioritized in the 1B distribution phase. She said she didn’t see how the state could say it prioritizes the role that schools play if it doesn’t take measures to keep their workers safe. Daily also pointed out that the CDC included education workers in its recommendations for phase 1B.
She asked school board members to follow the lead of other school districts and ask the Pulaski County Health Department to put school personnel on a standby list for any vaccine that might be available.
In other business Monday, the Eastern Pulaski School Board agreed to continue giving teachers the ability to use COVID-19 leave through the end of March. Superintendent Dara Chezem said the legal requirement to offer extra sick leave ended December 31, but the school corporation may offer it voluntarily.
“Providing a continuation of the Expanded Paid Sick Leave Act serves the legitimate purpose of maintaining morale and providing a safe work environment for staff and students,” Chezem explained. “These days are not in addition to days already approved by the board, but will allow employees to continue to access those days that they have not already used.”
The West Central School Board took similar action last week.
