Dear Neighbors,
Today, Mayor Bowser announced that DC Public Schools (DCPS) will now require that all teachers, school building staff, childcare facilities, and workers in regular contact with children must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by November 1st. This eliminates the "test-out" option where staff had the option to be tested on a weekly basis in lieu of getting vaccinated. It was also announced that all student athletes aged 12 and older will also be required to be vaccinated by November 1st in order to participate in school-based sports. These are very welcome changes, but today's announcement only partly addressed the many DCPS COVID-19 policy concerns raised by families, school advocates, and members of the Council.
One clear example of an outstanding policy shortcoming is excluding siblings from excused absences/remote learning opportunities when a student tests positive for COVID-19. In this scenario, a sibling within the same household as a child who tests positive is not considered an exposure risk. The protocol of requiring that that exposed student attend school—without so much as a negative test result—defies logic and all that we know about how this virus spreads. We have spent weeks trying to work through these types of problems with DCPS' Central Office, only to have announcements like today's fall short. All students aged 12 and up for whom it is medically safe, not just student athletes, should be vaccinated. Moreover, schools need to be properly supported in order to move lunch and classrooms outside. Students must be adequately distanced. Vaccine clinics should be located at all of our schools where students can be vaccinated. A virtual option must be provided.
Tomorrow at 1:00 pm, the Council is holding a virtual public roundtable to hear from students, parents, and members of our school community on the experience of the first few weeks of in-person learning. The Council is evaluating an emergency legislative response to outstanding DCPS coronavirus protocol and policy concerns. The Committee of the Whole limited the number of witnesses for the roundtable, but please do not hesitate to share your experiences and suggestions by submitting testimony to the committee (here) or by reaching out to my office's Legislative Director. To watch the hearing live, please tune in to Channel 13 or watch online: here.
Regards,
Mary
