Gov. Mike DeWine鈥檚 plan to vaccinate teachers in order to get students back in classrooms is getting mixed reviews across the state. For some districts, the March 1 deadline to start in person learning seems impossible, with vaccines not being made available to all by February 1 as promised. will receive vaccines next week, but it鈥檚 not the amount they hoped to get.
Akron Public Schools will receive 780 vaccine doses next week, but Superintendent David James says that鈥檚 a fraction of the almost 3,000 doses the district needs to vaccinate all their staff.
鈥淲e鈥檙e glad that we鈥檙e starting the process of getting the vaccine, but there鈥檚 still no certainty that we鈥檒l get the same amount or more the following week.鈥�
James was hoping they would get all the vaccine doses they needed at once.
鈥淵ou know in my advocacy it would be better if I had all the vaccines and get everyone 鈥� we were ready to do this mad rush and get everyone vaccinated.鈥�
Now, the district is tasked with the increasingly complex decision of who gets the vaccine first, which will impact its plan to start an in person learning option. President N.J. Akbar says putting students in classrooms cannot be taken lightly.
鈥淭his is unlike any other decision that a school board has to make. This has a direct link to life or death.鈥�
With the time it takes for staff to get the second dose, James says in person learning can鈥檛 start until at least the second week of March. He expects the state to be flexible with the March 1 deadline for reopening schools.
The district has put out a for parents to complete, indicating their choice for in person or remote learning for the remainder of the school year. In the meantime, they鈥檙e preparing space in the administration building where will start administering shots next week.
