Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
DAVENPORT—Students returning to school this fall will not be mandated by the state to be vaccinated against COVID-19, the State Board of Health voted Wednesday, April 13.
Superintendent Jim Kowalkowski informed Davenport School District families in a letter Wednesday afternoon.
“This means this fall, immunization requirements for our students will remain unchanged,” Kowalkowski wrote.
A state mandate for K-12 school workers, including all teachers and staff, remains in place. Staff are still required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they’ve received a medical or religious exemption.
“SBOH overwhelmingly supports the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine and notes that vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and those around you, especially against severe illness,” the letter states.
Kowalkowski said the district expects other current health and safety guidelines, including encouraging mask-wearing, regular cleaning and some physical distancing, will remain in place next year.
Schools had mask mandates in place for the last two school years until March 12, when the mandate ended statewide in all places except hospitals, public transit and other select sectors.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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