Salem Schools To Hold Student Coronavirus Vaccination Clinic

SALEM, MA — Salem Public Public schools is making a push to get as many students as possible vaccinated against the coronavirus with a May 15 vaccination clinic at the Saltonstall School geared toward students and their families.

Superintendent of Schools Stephen Zrike said the Pfizer vaccine clinic will be open to students 16 years old or older at this point but will be expanded to those 12 to 15 years old if the Pfizer vaccine receives emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration in the next two weeks.

Students under age 18 must have a parent with them to sign a consent form for the vaccine and family members who have not already done so are welcomed to get the vaccine with their children.

"We are trying to make this as easy as possible for you to go and get the vaccine," Salem Public Schools Chief of Opportunity and Resource Chelsea Banks said. "This is public health. It is about trying to get as many vaccines into our community as we can. So it is open to the public. We are certainly advertising to and targeting our Salem Public Schools population. But it will be an open site."

Zrike made the announcement during his weekly Facebook Live session with the school community in which he also said a new Salem High principal will likely be announced on Friday.

"Thank you for your input, and your patience and perspective," Zrike said of the search. "I have appreciated the engagement of so many even though COVID has prevented a lot of what we normally would do for a search."

The three finalists were at the school for interviews and a virtual public forum last week with public input on the hiring sought through Sunday.

The new principal will replace Samantha Meier, who announced in early March she was leaving the post at the end of the academic year for family reasons.

Zrike also noted National Teacher Appreciation Week and Witchcraft Heights teacher Marta Garcia, who this week was announced as a semifinalist for the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Teacher of the Year Award.

"It's a very big deal she was recognized," Zrike said. "She's been an amazing educator for more than 20 years in Salem.

"I'm really glad she's gotten her due. I know she feels like she represents many of her colleagues (in being honored)."

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)

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