Board Of Education Approves Vaccine Mandate For School Staff

GREENWICH, CT — The Greenwich Board of Education unanimously approved a vaccine mandate for district employees last week after a contentious meeting and public hearing.

The mandate states that staff must get vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing. For those who refuse both of those measures, progressive discipline will be initiated. Employees will not receive pay for every day they don't resolve the issue.

The district will send reminders up to day five, at which point the employee will be considered as "non-compliant" and termination will take effect. Employees can apply for religious or medical exemptions. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Toni Jones said other districts have varying lengths of progressive discipline.

The school district needed to have a policy in place by Sept. 27. Board Vice Chair Kathleen Stowe said the policy was made to be "a little more nimble especially as executive orders keep changing so we can stop revisiting it."

Board member Karen Kowalski was worried that the mandate would lead to a shortage of teachers in the classroom.

"It's not just teachers. It's every employee in the district. So we can have bus driver [issues], we can have custodial issues. RIght now, we're not seeing that based on the level of submissions that have gone into our nurses. We think [participation is] going to be very high," Jones said.

Board member Peter Sherr said that he has not heard any objections from teacher unions.

"I don't worry about our employees because they're represented by very powerful, well-funded national unions with big lobbying organizations. If they're not complaining about it, then I assume that means that all of the rank and file of the unions are OK with this, and their leadership is representing that," Sherr said.

The town's legal department reviewed the policy and gave the green light for the Board to approve it.

Kowalski said the mandate made her uncomfortable, but that she supported it because the district needed to have one in place per state order. Board member Joe Kelly also said he had concerns.

Along with Sherr, Kowalski hoped the Board would revisit the policy if and when the state's executive orders change.

The Board voted on the policy following an hour long public hearing that featured heated comments from members in the community. Board Chair Peter Bernstein had to remind the audience several times not to disrupt or shout.

Mariana Begonja, a Greenwich resident and former school district employee, told the Board the vaccine mandate is "about your politics and not about health and safety."

"You collect state and federal funding on the condition that you make every effort to intimidate us and strip us of our rights and medical freedoms. You're also getting paid to indoctrinate our children," she said.

Begonja cried when talking about the financial burden she believes weekly testing could have on staff.

"The intimidation tactics, the withholding of pay for noncompliance, the weekly testing, even with a medical exemption, that can cost up to $200 per test not covered by insurance and no reimbursements... You're not firing us, you're just not paying us until we comply and you're making sure it hits us hard financially with weekly testing. Proceeding with any aspect of this mandate is unlawful and inhumane," she said.

Before the vote, Jones pointed out that testing would be free for employees at any of the state designated testing sites. Places like Walgreens or CVS might begin to charge week after week, she said, adding that there has been communication with staff about where to go for tests.

Several members from the Greenwich Patriots group, who have protested vaccinations, masking and school curriculum in Greenwich, spoke during the public hearing.

Laura Kostin, a Democratic candidate for the Board of Education, spoke as a parent and individual during the hearing and addressed the Patriots.

"You don't want to wear a mask or take a vaccine, you have that freedom. But we are a nation of laws, even if you don't like them. Rest assured, Patriots, you have been heard. The cold shoulder you've received over and over isn't your imagination. But like a jilted lover that will not take no for an answer, you think that by repeating the same song on a mixtape, that the scene you keep repeating is somehow less creepy," Kostin said.

She applauded the Board for the work they've been doing with regards to COVID-19.

"We want to stay open, we do not want our teachers sick, we do not want our children sick, even if there's just a small chance that they might die. We want competent managers that adhere to best practices for health and safety," Kostin said. "The speakers list here tonight may be dominated by Patriots, but it's a small list, and the rest of our 9,000 students and staff thank you for your efforts."

To view the entire Board of Education meeting, click here. The public hearing begins at the 19 minute mark.