The Daily Herald in Everett, Washington posted a story that should be a model for news outlets everywhere. Headlined, “Mandate won’t keep unvaccinated teachers out of classrooms,” it not only provides details of what the state and local vaccine mandates entail, but also gives the vaccination counts of every school district in the area.
While most school employees are complying with the mandate, the Edmonds school district notified parents that 13 teachers, 25 aides, 26 bus drivers and five custodians had still not been vaccinated or granted an exemption. Teachers with exemptions can either teach online or, if they return to the classrrom, must wear a KN95 mask and face shield and get tested once a week.
Vaccination rates, particularly among teachers, are high, but the Herald notes the “robust” number of exemptions granted. One district issued exemptions to 14 percent of its school employees.