Friday Board Bulletin

Posted Date: 01/07/2022

Board Members:

Happy New Year! I hope this email finds you well and off to a smooth start to the 2022 school year! First off, I want to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules on Tuesday to meet and adopt the policies that were necessary to implement the ETS. The Supreme Court is meeting this afternoon and we hope to have additional guidance before Monday. We have been busily verifying vaccination status and hope to have the vast majority of it taken care of by the close of business today. Based on the latest guidance from the Iowa School Lawyers Association that met yesterday afternoon, we have to carefully scrutinize requests for exemption and should not approach this as an automatic approval. I do believe our employees understand this and for the most part understand the difficulty we are in with the implementation of this standard. No requests have been submitted yet, although I would anticipate a few. As an informational piece, here is the message that I sent out to employees this morning regarding compliance:

Dear Employee,

According to district records, you have not yet completed the  Employee Vaccination Status Form. It is a district expectation this form is completed and on file with the district no later than the start of business on Monday, January 10th. 

It is important to understand that, while this is being enforced by district policy, we are only doing so to be in compliance with a federal order. In the event the Supreme Court grants relief, we are prepared to immediately suspend our policies. Unfortunately, it is unknown as to whether or not the Supreme Court will act prior to Monday.

At the same time, please know the district is not requiring you to become vaccinated. The ETS provides employees with an option: become vaccinated or wear a face covering and submit to weekly testing beginning the week of February 9th. While there may be additional waivers or exemptions available, based on the latest guidance we received yesterday afternoon by key legal scholars in Iowa; automatic approval of exemptions is not only inappropriate, it is not in alignment with requirements of the ETS. It would be a mistake to assume an exemption is available or would be approved in each individual case. If you do believe this applies to you, it is imperative that you set aside time to visit with me prior to making any assumptions.

I understand your reservations and am as uncomfortable as you are that we are in this position. However, be assured that absent a Court order we have no choice but to begin enforcement of the ETS beginning Monday.

Well, I think that is enough for now! Have a great weekend and stay warm! 

Dr. Tony Voss, Superintendent