Lawrence BOE Urge State To Prioritize Teachers For COVID Vaccine

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — The Lawrence Township Public Schools Board of Education recently passed a resolution urging Gov. Phil Murphy to prioritize public school staff for the COVID-19 vaccine.

The resolution was adopted at Jan. 28 BoE meeting.

On Feb. 1 the Mercer County Association of School Administrators sent a letter to Murphy urging him to place educators in the "highest priority" to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Read More Here: Mercer Superintendents Urge Murphy To Vaccinate Teachers Quickly

The Lawrence BOE said that public schools have a profound impact students, families and staff and that the district has responded to the challenges of the pandemic, by providing resources necessary to ensure delivery of instruction, virtually and in-person.

However, to keep the students and teachers in the in-person learning track safe, it was imperative to vaccinate the staff.

They requested Murphy to categorize public school staff as “essential workers.”

“School district staff at all levels are essential to the day-to-day operations of this district, responsible for the thorough and efficient education of all students and their social and emotional wellbeing, are critical for virtual and in-class instruction and are “essential workers,” reads the resolution.

The board members said they found “substantial public purpose exists” to request Murphy give priority to all public school district personnel.

Apart from Murphy, a copy of the resolution was forwarded to Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin, Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney and to the New Jersey School Boards Association.