Board Adopts Resolution To Give School Employees COVID Vaccine Priority
The Hays CISD Board of Trustees has adopted a resolution advocating that teachers and public school employees be designated as essential frontline workers and given appropriate vaccine priority. The resolution was delievered to state leaders following its adoption at the Board's regular meeting on December 14, 2020.
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A RESOLUTION REQUESTING GOVERNOR ABBOTT TO INCLUDE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT PERSONNEL IN THE OFFICIAL EXPERT VACCINE ALLOTMENT PANEL’S DEFINITION OF FRONTLINE WORKERS
WHEREAS, the Hays Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees recognizes that the United States, the State of Texas and Local Health Authorities, as well as the World Health Organization, have declared a public health disaster and emergency regarding Coronavirus or COVID-19 prioritizing disease surveillance and putting in place precautionary measures to stop its spread;
WHEREAS, Public Schools impact millions of students and staff having a profound impact on families while charged with the care, education, nourishment of their students and are an integral part of the health and safety of our communities;
WHEREAS, our District has responded to the challenges brought about by the COVID- 19 pandemic while conducting the day-to-day operations of our schools and ensuring the efficient delivery of instruction, virtually and in-person;
WHEREAS, the Board has a substantial public interest in protecting the health and safety of its students, staff, and community to ensure that the District is fully prepared to most effectively face the challenges resulting from the COVID-19 health emergency;
WHEREAS, the State of Texas convened a group of external and internal subject-matter experts as the Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel (EVAP) to develop vaccine allocation recommendations to the Texas Commissioner of Health prioritizing the availability of vaccines to “frontline workers” and vulnerable populations;
WHEREAS, district staff at all levels are essential to the day-to-day operations of this district and critical for virtual and in-class instruction; and
WHEREAS, the Board requests that Governor Abbott and those appointed to the Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel include School District employees as “frontline workers” for purposes of vaccine allocation.
IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT the Hays CISD Board of Trustees finds a substantial public purpose exists to request that the Governor and the Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel designate all Public School District personnel as “frontline workers”, and FURTHER, as essential “frontline workers”, they be given appropriate priority in the statewide administration of the COVID-19 vaccine as it becomes available.
Adopted on this the 14th day of December, 2020, by the Hays Consolidated ISD Board of Trustees.