On March 2, 2022, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul officially lifted the mask mandate for public schools due to the low COVID positivity rate. In addition, on March 10, 2022, the West Islip Board of Education announced that parents visiting schools in our district would no longer need to show proof of vaccination or be subject to testing. At this time, most of us have gone back to a normal school routine, but some of our colleagues remain unvaccinated and are still subject to weekly COVID testing. We maintain that individuals should have the right to choose whether or not the vaccine is appropriate for them. We understand New York State implemented these tests for safety reasons, and it is clear these tests are unnecessary at this time.
NYSUT President Andy Pallotta has been talking with our governor about eliminating this mandate, and the WITA Executive Board, along with many other local bargaining units, has written a letter informing the governor that these tests are unwarranted and perhaps punitive. At this point, the mandate remains in effect.
We are asking you to reach out to Governor Kathy Hochul and ask that she lift the mandate for COVID testing of unvaccinated teachers and staff. Please stand with your union brothers and sisters and go to https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form and let the governor know that she must lift the testing mandate. Thank you.
