Gilbert Public Schools teachers and parents are speaking out against the school district’s decision to lay off 152 teachers and other employees for the next school year and the way that it was carried out.
Teachers said they were shocked and upset at the sudden announcement they d be out of their jobs for next year. Students said some of their favorite, irreplaceable teachers were being let go.
And district staff members said it’s only necessary because of declining student numbers during the pandemic and budget parameters.
The district’s governing board heard a presentation from staff outlining the reasons and process for layoffs during its Tuesday night meeting. That was followed by comments from teachers and parents upset about the decision.
According to the Arizona School Risk Retention Trust, yes.
âSchool districts may require employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of on-site work, subject to exemptions required by state and/or federal law,â read a legal memo prepared for the nonprofit Trust.Â
The Trust, which provides public school districts and community colleges with property and liability insurance, also advised districts to consult with their own attorneys on legal issues related to any vaccination requirement.
The first batches of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines arrived to Arizona in mid-December for dosing to those 16 and older.Â
Healthcare workers and long-term care facility staff and residents are among the first to receive the vaccine, to be followed by teachers, law enforcement and other critical workers. Other groups of individuals are farther down the line.