While the state’s two largest school districts consider COVID-19 vaccine requirements for teachers, Gov. Tony Evers has expressed support for mandatory teacher vaccinations, according to an article in the Wisconsin State Journal.
Both Milwaukee Public Schools and the Madison Metropolitan School District are pondering a vaccine requirement, but neither has formally instituted one as the 2021-22 school year approaches.
Evers, responding to a question during a press conference at Gurn-Z Meadow dairy farm outside of Columbus, noted that the ability to be mask-free is dependent on getting a COVID vaccine. When Evers was asked whether schools should require teachers to be vaccinated, he replied, “Yeah, I think so. I’ve seen teacher unions and boards in New York City, in L.A., in Chicago, in Broward County, Florida, come together and say our staff need to be vaccinated. I hope those conversations happen locally too.”
Mike Jones, president of Madison Teachers Inc., says most Madison teachers recently surveyed are in favor of a COVID vaccine mandate, while smaller percentages either want more information about the vaccines or are not in favor of a mandate.
