“As educators continue waiting to hear when they will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, yesterday we learned that we could be expected to keep working after being exposed to the virus in schools. While we recognize that this change is a recommendation and not a mandate, it instills further fear and frustration during an already stressful time.

For months, educators have said we want to be partners in fighting the spread of COVID, including assisting in vaccination efforts. Decisions like this change in quarantine procedures furthers the practice of government not engaging educators and K – 12 communities who are directly impacted by these decisions.

The state must err on the side of safety. Teachers have families too. We're in a phase with new, more contagious variants of the virus and moving kids and educators closer together is simply careless.”