Stamford Public Schools Employees Must Get Vaccine Or Test Weekly

STAMFORD, CT — On Tuesday night, the Stamford Board of Education approved a resolution that requires all Stamford Public Schools employees to get fully vaccinated, effective Aug. 30. Those who do not get vaccinated will undergo weekly COVID-19 testing.

There were two similar resolutions on the agenda. The resolution that ultimately passed with a vote of 4-3 focused on a vaccine mandate with weekly testing for those who opt out. The other resolution, which was eventually withdrawn, focused on testing for all, with fully vaccinated people exempt.

Board member and Secretary Daniel Dauplaise, President Jennienne Burke, Andy George, and Jackie Heftman voted for the vaccine mandate. Nicola Tarzia, Fritz Chery, and Becky Hamman opposed. Board members Jackie Pioli and Michael Altamura didn't attend the meeting.

Stamford Mayor David Martin had suggested a vaccine mandate to the board following his decision to mandate it for all city workers last week. Martin also instituted a mask mandate for indoors, and for gatherings of 100 or more people outdoors.

On Tuesday night, the board debated what type of message they'd send with a vaccine mandate.

"I think if we are watching the news at all, we're learning everyday that more and more children are being affected with the delta variant. The delta variant is a game changer," said Heftman. "As a board of education, we need to be concerned about the safety of our staff and students. It's a very powerful message that we send when we say we are mandating vaccinations, but if you for some reason are medically compromised or you have to apply for an exemption, we'll honor that and you'll have to get tested."

Hamman said she didn't feel comfortable voting for a mandate.

"My recommendation is, unless we are doctors, we can't make a mandate. There are people with vaccines that are spreading the delta variant," she said.

Another board member, Nicola Tarzia, said he feels the community is safer now than it was last year with regards to COVID-19. He said that he hasn't been vaccinated, but has tested monthly for the virus.

"To mandate, I agree it sends a message, but I also agree with the freedom of our rights of not being vaccinated," he said. "Mandating is sending a forceful message."

Heftman reiterated that the board is "not forcing anyone to get vaccinated."

"We're just saying to them, 'This is what will keep you safe. But if you can't do it, we're not going to force you because we just don't do that in the United States of America.' Not sending that message is just the wrong message," she said.

Chery said he has advocated in the community for people to take the shot, but he said that any teacher or employee who wanted the vaccine already received it, and that a mandate would be fruitless.

"If you were going to get it, you would have gotten it already. It's not about forcing. We shouldn't be forcing anyone at any point to take this vaccine," he said.

Ultimately, the resolution for a mandate passed.

Prior to that vote, there was a somewhat contentious discussion as the board voted six in favor, no opposed, with one abstention (Hamman) to add additional language to existing mask policy in the district.

"Under guidance of legal counsel, there has been some additional information that has come out from the state that says we should add some additional language as to who, what type of medical professional, and the type of medical condition that we can consider when approving a mask exemption," said Superintendent of SPS Dr. Tamu Lucero. "We're just cleaning up some language that needed to be cleaned up in our original policy."

Hamman questioned the efficacy of masks in general, saying "the science is not backing up masks."

"If we're doing this in the restaurants and kids don't have to have masks on when they're eating, how about having kids coming in with masks on and taking them off at their individual desk?" she suggested.

Dauplaise criticized Hamman for using her platform as a board member "to spew what is obviously wrong, incorrect, without merit, and completely without facts behind them."

"Reasonable minds can disagree on many, many things. But what she has brought up is not one of those things and for her to say what she just said is completely irresponsible and I hope that every voter in the city of Stamford will remember that next time she's up for election," Dauplaise added.