Putnam Officials Seek More Coronavirus Vaccine For Teachers

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — Putnam County officials continue working to get schools open safely for full-time in-classroom teaching and learning.

Putnam County Executive MaryEllen ODell announced Friday that she and Mahopac Superintendent of schools Anthony DiCarlomet with New York State Senator Pete Harckham earlier this week. The purpose of the meeting was to escalate local concerns regarding the ability of schools to safely introduce more students back into classrooms, ODell said.

Odell said she and DiCarlo feel vaccinations for staff are key to reopening schools. They asked Harckham to help them get more vaccine doses for Putnam County specifically for teachers and other school staff.

Putnam Valley Town Supervisor Sam Oliverio, a retired school administrator, applauded their efforts. In the announcement, he said teachers should have been prioritized for vaccination.

"It is shameful that our faculties and school staff have not all had the opportunity to be fully vaccinated to ensure that the in-person model of education can proceed," Oliverio said. "Our children are our greatest resource and treasure. To continue these remote and hybrid educational models, especially for our Middle and High School students, is ludicrous."

The national vaccine rollout prioritized medical workers and nursing home residents first and then essential workers, a category that includes not only teachers but also police, firefighters, college professors, grocery store workers, restaurant employees, restaurant delivery workers, and for-hire vehicle drivers, as well as people age 65 and older. In its first 11 weeks, New York has received almost 4 million doses for the 11 million residents who are eligible in those categories.

In early February, Putnam parents started a pressure campaign with rallies, petitions, letters and appearances at school board meetings calling for schools to return to full-time for in-classroom instruction. They said local school and health officials were far more restrictive than necessary. SEE: Parents Group Calls For Reopening Schools In Putnam County

Putnam officials have responded. SEE: Putnam Coronavirus Update: Odell Demands More Flexibility

"Our districts adhered to the school reopening guidance prior to reopening last fall. As with all other industries, our schools must now be permitted to continue their phased reopening," Odell said. "This pandemic model of in-person learning must evolve. Updated State guidance as well as vaccinating our teachers and other school staff are vital components of that forward movement."

She pointed out that New York State's school guidance documents were last updated in the summer of 2020.

"Presently, we are analyzing the updated guidelines and actively encouraging our teachers and staff to obtain vaccinations," DiCarlo said in the announcement. "The advocacy efforts of both the Senator and County Executive in these areas are invaluable in our success. Additionally, we are surveying our families to ensure that we are aligning our priorities with theirs as we look to welcome back more students as guidance permits."

SEE ALSO:

• Lakeland Sets Date For Return To In-Classroom Instruction
• Politicians Join Parents Demanding Hudson Valley Schools Reopen
• Districts Deliberate As Pressure To Reopen Schools Rises
• Parents Group Calls For Reopening Schools In Putnam County