BCPS Teachers Must Get COVID-19 Vaccine Or Get Tested Regularly

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Teachers in Baltimore County Public Schools will be required to get at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to authorities.

Those who have not been vaccinated or who opt out of sharing vaccination records with the school system must complete weekly COVID-19 testing.

"We are creating this requirement to protect the health, safety, and well-being of our students and staff during this continuing pandemic," Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Darryl L. Williams said in a statement.

The Aug. 17 decision to require vaccination or testing was announced a week after the school system reported it would require masks in school buildings and on buses.

"The move is aligned with our commitment to provide in-person instruction throughout the 2021-2022 school year," Williams said. "Vaccination remains the most effective means of preventing COVID-19 transmission. I encourage everyone eligible to get vaccinated.”

Each teacher must get at least one shot in the series of COVID-19 vaccines or get tested, officials said Tuesday.

In March the school system began offering vaccinations to teachers at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, which ran through the spring. Baltimore County Public Schools has also hosted clinics at schools.

Officials say the school system will employ these strategies for the 2021-2022 school year as well:

• Maintaining physical distance when possible
• Encouraging people to stay home when sick and get COVID-19 testing if needed
• Ventilating buildings to maximize outdoor air intake and filtration
• Hand-washing and "respiratory etiquette
• Testing to identify cases, clusters and outbreaks
• Using contact tracing for all student and staff cases
• Enforcing quarantine and isolation protocols to limit spread of the virus
• Cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces daily

A letter from the Office of Health Services will provide more information to employees, officials said.

See Also: Masks Required In Baltimore County Public Schools

Multiple organizations, including the Teachers Association of Baltimore County (TABCO), issued statements of support backing the school system's decision.

Here is feedback from various organizations associated with BCPS:

TABCO: “TABCO’s position continues to be a safe reopening based on the science. We support a vaccine mandate, and we can’t wait to see our students in our classrooms.” — TABCO President Cindy Sexton

Baltimore County Public Schools Organization of Professional Employees (BCPSOPE): “Our collective stance is that we feel vaccinations provide a safe and healthy work environment. Mandatory vaccinations would help our staff stay healthy so we can succeed in our business of educating children." — Nick Argyros of BCPSOPE

Education Support Professionals of Baltimore County (ESPBC): "For the past 18 months, ESPBC has based its recommendations and positions on the science and advice of the experts. It is believed that the best way to minimize the spread of COVID-19 is through vaccinations, testing, and masking. This three-pronged approach will allow staff to safely and effectively do their jobs of supporting the students, staff and the community of Baltimore County Public Schools.” — ESPBC President Jeannette Young

“AFSCME members have been on the front line since day one,” said Bryan Epps, president of AFSCME Local 434. “We are in support of mandating the vaccine and/or the weekly testing. We believe and support following the CDC recommendations and guidance and hope it will curtail the spread of the COVID-19 virus.”

Council of Administrative and Supervisory Employees (CASE): “The Council of Administrative and Supervisory Employees (CASE) supports mandatory vaccinations for staff and weekly testing for staff who are unable to vaccinate. Data confirms that the vaccine is safe and effective and is an important mitigation strategy that will ensure schools will remain open." — CASE Executive Director William Burke

Related: 1K Baltimore County Teachers Get Johnson & Johnson Vaccine