OPSB Adopts Vaccination Resolution for Schools & Passes Vaccine Mandate for NOLA-PS Staff

(New Orleans – August 20, 2021) – The Orleans Parish Board (OPSB) on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021 unanimously adopted a resolution aimed at COVID-19 prevention and mitigation strategies for charter schools across NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) and passed a vaccine mandate for all 250 NOLA-PS Central Office staff.

The resolution encourages schools, under its jurisdiction, to adopt comprehensive COVID-19 disease prevention and mitigation strategies which include: (1) requiring vaccinations for all teachers and staff; (2) requiring proof of vaccination or weekly testing for all individuals entering the school building(s); (3) requiring any student participating in after-care or extra-curricular activities to submit to weekly testing or provide proof of vaccination; and (4) implementing weekly screening testing for all grades and at all school sites, using opt-out testing protocols where available.

Many schools across NOLA-PS are already implementing these and other measures and we applaud their partnership.

"The full board would like to thank the schools that have implemented these additional measures to keep students safe and maximize in-person learning," said Board President Ethan Ashley. "The intent of the resolution is to maximize student and educator safety."

The resolution also encourages the Louisiana Department of Health to require COVID-19 immunizations for all students entering schools, once the COVID-19 vaccinations receive full authorization from the Food and Drug Administration.

Per federal, state, and local health experts, vaccinations are the best way to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, and the OPSB is committed to doing its part to ensure the health and safety of employees. To that end, they unanimously adopted a policy to mandate vaccinations for its 250 central office staff.

"NOLA Public Schools is proud to lead by example and we hope the mandate we're adhering to will encourage our community of schools to require their staff to get vaccinated and help keep our school family safe," said Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr. "We know vaccines work and save lives. So, I urge everyone to please get vaccinated."  

### 

About NOLA Public Schools: NOLA Public Schools is the public school district for Orleans Parish. It includes the district's administration and elected school board, known as the Orleans Parish School Board. NOLA Public Schools currently oversees 76 public schools and is led by Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr.

For more information, visit www.nolapublicschools.com. For updates, follow NOLA Public Schools on Facebook @NOLAPublicSchools, Instagram @nolaps and Twitter @NOLAPSchools.