State superintendent: Keeping schools open ‘will be a challenge’ without vaccine mandate for staff

State Superintendent Chris Reykdal is asking Gov. Jay Inslee to require all K-12 school employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.

Reykdal emphasized on Friday that his primary goals are twofold: protecting the health and safety of students and school staff, and keeping schools open for full-time in-person learning. Given those goals — as well as the increasing presence of the delta variant — he warned that it could be difficult to keep schools from having to close again this fall without ensuring that staff are vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Both of those core mandates are at risk — delta has changed that,” he said. “Without additional measures, keeping schools open will be a challenge.”

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In practice, the superintendent hopes to enact a policy for schools that’s identical to a recent order from Gov. Inslee for state workers. That would mandate vaccinations for all K-12 school employees, with exemptions for those with medical or religious reasons to not receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

The state is currently working on a process for those who claim religious beliefs prevent them from getting vaccinated. Reykdal believes that same process can apply to educators.

Addressing concerns over the potential for a staff shortage driven by those who refuse to get vaccinated without an exemption, he expressed a need to weigh that against the safety of students and teachers.

“I don’t anticipate it’s a lot, but there is real concern there,” he noted. “But on balance, this request of the governor undoubtedly will save lives and keep our schools open.”

Reykdal is also asking Inslee to withhold state and federal funds from any district that “knowingly and willfully violates the Department of Health’s requirements related to face coverings in K-12 schools.”

“I cannot look the other way for a violation that puts the safety of our schools at risk,” he said Friday. “Local board authority is about educational authority; school board authority does not extend to the life and death choices of a pandemic emergency.”

As for whether Inslee will grant Reykdal’s request, the superintendent said that he hopes to get a response within the next week. A vaccine mandate for students is not currently under consideration.

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Gov. Inslee’s current vaccine order applies to most state workers and workers in private health care, long-term care, and other congregate settings. It does not currently apply to school employees.

An identical mandate was issued by Executive Dow Constantine and Mayor Jenny Durkan to be enacted for King County and Seattle city workers as well.

Vaccinations must be completed by Oct. 18 to allow for the necessary appointments to be scheduled.

Government employees with deeply held religious convictions or certain medical conditions will be allowed to seek accommodation under this new policy. Employees who decline the vaccine without an approved exception will be subject to disciplinary measures, which encompass termination.

Read Reykdal’s full letter to the governor here.

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