FILE: GAMFD
MANDATORY COVID-19 VACCINATION
The Orleans Parish School Board is committed to protecting the health and well-being of the students, employees and community we serve. As the New Orleans community works toward the safe continuation of work and other activities, we embrace a comprehensive strategy designed to reduce the likelihood of transmission of the COVID-19 virus. This approach contributes to the overarching goal of achieving population-level immunity throughout the community. The School Board believes COVID-19 vaccination is an essential component of the school district’s comprehensive strategy.
In light of the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) determination that COVID-19 vaccines are generally safe and effective, commencing October 1, 2021, the School Board shall require all persons employed by the School Board to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with a vaccine approved by or authorized for emergency use by the U. S. Food & Drug Administration, unless the employee is exempted as set forth below. To comply with this requirement, by no later than September 30, 2021, School Board employees shall present proof of being “fully vaccinated”, as defined by the CDC, in order to continue working.
EXEMPTIONS
Employees may request religious, medical, or disability-based exemptions utilizing a form to be developed by the Department of Human Resources. Upon a request for an exemption from this policy the Department of Human Resources will engage in an interactive process to verify the employee’s entitlement to an exemption and to identify possible accommodations in accordance with state, federal, and tribal law, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Any employee who is denied a request for accommodation may grieve such determination as provided in policy GAE, Complaints and Grievances. During the pendency of the employee’s grievance process and once an employee’s exempt status is approved, the school district shall provide the employee with reasonable accommodations, unless it would pose a direct threat to the employee or others or result in an undue hardship for the school district under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and/or the Americans with Disabilities Act.
ENFORCEMENT
The Superintendent and/or his/her designee shall be responsible for developing and maintaining pertinent administrative regulations and procedures for implementing this policy. Failure to comply with the provisions of this policy shall be grounds for disciplinary action including but not limited to written reprimands, changes in job assignments, suspensions from work and termination.
Adopted: August, 19, 2021
Revised: January 20, 2022
Revised: November 17, 2022
Ref: 42 USC 2000e et seq. (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964)
42 USC 12101 et seq. (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990)
Vaccines for COVID-19, U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Board minutes, 8-19-21, 1-20-22, 11-17-22
Orleans Parish School Board