Stanislaus school chief takes stand against COVID vaccine mandate for students, staff
Scott Kuykendall, superintendent of schools in Stanislaus County, said Tuesday he will petition the state asking that COVID-19 vaccinations be a recommendation but not required for students and staff in schools.
Kuykendall went on record in early October in saying the state should “pump the brakes” on a COVID vaccine mandate for California schoolchildren, which will take effect the school term after full FDA approval of COVID vaccine for school-age children.
Kuykendall, an elected official, drafted a resolution for Tuesday’s board meeting noting that Gov. Gavin Newsom will hold school staff to the same vaccine standards as students. The Stanislaus Board of Education did not vote on the resolution, which was identified as the superintendent’s agenda item.
The county superintendent read the resolution and made other comments after parents filling the board chambers in Modesto spoke against school vaccine mandates, which are designed to protect children and adults in classrooms against COVID-19 disease.
They applauded when Kuykendall said he disagreed with the state vaccine mandates for schools.
Kuykendall referred to staffing concerns as unvaccinated teachers are given a choice of getting vaccinated or losing their jobs, unless they can get a medical or personal exemption. He said about 44 percent of SCOE employees are not vaccinated against COVID-19.
SCOE and other school districts “already struggle to find qualified employees ... and the COVID-19 vaccine requirement is likely to create more vacancies,” his resolution says.
Kuykendall added that unions representing SCOE employees are not advocating for the vaccine mandates.
He stressed that SCOE public schools returned to in-person education in October 2020 and operated safely before vaccines were available and the mandates were issued. In addition to its education services for local school districts, SCOE operates Valley College High School, a charter technical school and occupational schools, its website says.
Kuykendall’s resolution also referred to those parents who doubt the safety and effectiveness of the coronavirus vaccines.
“The Stanislaus County Office of Education parents, as well as district parents within Stanislaus County, have expressed concern regarding the lack of research on long-term impacts of the COVID-19 vaccine on children,” the resolution states.
The superintendent is asking the state Legislature to uphold the right of informed consent before proceeding with a medical procedure for young people. The state should recommend, but not require, the COVID vaccine for students and staff in kindergarten to 12th grade schools, he said.
While large school districts in the Southern California and the Bay Area have established their own COVID vaccine requirements, some school superintendents, typically in more rural areas, are also expressing fears about enrollment decline and a worsening shortage of staff.
Will share opinion with state health department
Kuykendall plans to share his opinion in California Department of Public Health sessions that will gather input before adding the COVID vaccine to the group of vaccinations required for school attendance, such as the shots for measles, mumps and rubella.
After listening to comments from the audience, Board member Chichi Nnodim-Jack said that COVID-19 is a serious disease. She told of people she knew whose lives were impacted or lost to the illness.
At Tuesday’s board meeting, parents speaking to the board warned about an exodus from public schools if the vaccine for school kids becomes a requirement. Newsom has said the mandate will apply to public and private elementary schools and high schools.
Some warned that board members will be replaced at election time if they support the school mandates.
Richard Johnson said that educators should be asking why the “medical empire” has not created a cure for COVID-19 “instead of a shot that is risky.”
One mother who spoke said she supported the vaccination mandate for schoolchildren.
This story was originally published November 9, 2021 at 2:39 PM.
