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Date: 12/15/2021
AMHERST – The Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee voted to approve a vaccine mandate for staff during its Dec. 7 meeting. The plan is to implement the policy, which was agreed upon unanimously, at the beginning of January 2022 as students return from winter break.
This COVID-19 Immunization Policy on behalf of the district is committed to providing a safe environment for all students in staff in all district buildings. According to the mandate, this policy applies to all school personnel and contracted personnel working in Amherst Regional Public School (ARPS) buildings.
“All school personnel and contracted personnel who work in ARPS school buildings must be fully immunized against COVID-19 by Nov. 15, 2021,” the policy states. Fully vaccinated is defined in the mandate as consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) current definition, which is subject to change.
“We listened to the concern and I’ve met with the school committee and we are really adamant those practices need to stay in place for the safety of out staff and our students, some of which cannot get vaccinated for reasons that should stay private,” said school committee member Heather Lord.
According to the mandate, employees who are not fully vaccinated for any reason will be required to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test a minimum of once every week school is in session. The superintendent may waive this requirement, at their discretion, in any week in which there are fewer than three days of school.
Superintendent Michael Morris added that the administration and school committee have an obligation to meet with bargaining institutes to hear their concerns and welcomed any complaints or comments before the committee approved the recommendation of the policy.
Prior to the vote, the policy was subject to impact bargaining, which occurs when there is a change to how a management and union interact, outside the scope of an existing contract. Due to pandemic related policies such as this, the impact bargaining was required to officially implement this recommended policy.