OHIO — Employees of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District will be required to take weekly COVID-19 tests if they are not vaccinated, district officials announced.
What You Need To Know
- The Cleveland Metropolitan School District will require testing for unvaccinated staff
- The policy is similar to protocols that Cincinnati schools recently implemented
- In Columbus, the teacher's union asked this week for a vaccine or testing policy
The policy takes effect this month, and the district’s unvaccinated employees are being surveyed to see if they are willing to get a first-dose by Oct. 15, according to a letter from CEO Eric Gordon.
"While there are beginning to be signs of hope regarding possible treatments for those who get COVID, prevention continues to be the best tool available to us. Therefore, beginning this month, CMSD will be implementing mandatory weekly COVID testing for any employee who does not provide proof of vaccination," Gordon wrote.
The requirement is similar to a vaccine or weekly testing policy implemented by Cincinnati Public Schools. On Tuesday, the Columbus Education Association called on Columbus City Schools to require vaccination or biweekly tests for staff.
Free testing will be made available to staff of Cleveland schools at their worksite, according to the announcement. Gordon said about 3,000 employees have not provided proof of vaccination.
The district’s announcement comes after the Biden administration asked states in Spetember to implement vaccine or testing policies.
So far this school year, the district has recorded 708 COVID-19 cases, with 552 cases among the district’s approximately 39,000 students and 156 cases among staff.
"As much as I know we would like to, we can’t simply avoid COVID-19. Instead, together, we must continue to take every possible measure to keep safe and healthy until this pandemic finally ends," Gordon said.
Last week, Gordon announced that the district’s mask requirement remains in effect at least through the month of October.
President of the Cleveland Teachers Union Shari Obrenski responded to the announcement of the new policy, stating that the union will keep working with district on COVID-19 safety protocols.
"The primary focus of the Cleveland Teachers Union as we continue to navigate through the pandemic is to ensure the health and safety of our members and our students. We will continue to work with the district to achieve that focus," she said.