Contra Costa School Board Association calls on county to prioritize teachers for vaccines

School board members from school districts in Contra Costa County are calling on county officials to ensure teachers and other education workers have “priority access” to Covid-19 vaccines.

The Contra Costa County School Board Association — which represents all 18 public school districts in the county — sent a letter to the county board of supervisors as well as the county department of health services Monday. It urged them to ensure educators have priority in getting vaccines and to provide clear and consistent communications about how education and childcare workers are to receive their vaccines.

Contra Costa County School Board Association president Cherise Khaund, who is also board president of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, said they sent the letter after hearing talks at the state level of re-configuring the current vaccine distribution plan. That plan calls for teachers to make appointments to get Covid vaccines later this month.

“Prioritizing education workers for vaccination distribution will greatly help school districts to finalize [their] return to school plans,” Khaund said in the letter. “This also ensures the health and safety of teachers and staff who have been coming to work throughout the pandemic, or those who have taken leaves of absence to care for themselves or family members.”

Teachers at West Contra Costa Unified — in the Richmond area — have expressed concern over returning to campuses without being vaccinated. District officials said it did not apply for the Governor’s reopening incentive program, the deadline for which was Monday.