COVID-19 Vaccines Could Be Required In Decatur City Schools

DECATUR, GA — Getting fully vaccinated against COVID-19 could be required for all eligible City Schools of Decatur staff and students, pending a school board vote next month.

CSD Board of Education members discussed mandating the vaccine at Tuesday's work session, and will vote on the measure at its regular meeting Sept. 14. If approved, CSD would be one of the first school districts in the state to implement such a mandate.

“I think it’s the safest thing to also mandate vaccines to students, for those who are eligible for the vaccines,” CSD Board Member Jana Johnson-Davis said during the work session. “I don’t know why we would treat this any differently than any other vaccine that’s mandated.”

Staff vaccine requirements don't require a school board vote under federal Equal Employment Opportunity laws — as long as the employer (in this case, the district) complies with reasonable accommodation provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other equal employment opportunity considerations.

Superintendent Maggie Fehrman said the district will consult with legal counsel to draft an updated vaccination policy for the upcoming vote, and will also have a process in place for any staff members who don't want to — or cannot — get vaccinated, like being tested on a regular basis for COVID-19.

However, student vaccination mandates that deviate from the Georgia Department of Public Health's required immunizations do require a board vote. You can view the DPH's vaccine requirements, which don't include the COVID-19 vaccine as of publication, here.

The board meets again Sept. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Central Office at Beacon Hill, 125 Electric Avenue in Decatur. To join virtually, visit the Simbli Eboard website here at the date and time of the meeting to see the Zoom meeting link.