HERRIN (WSIL) -- Herrin High School, like all school districts, is still trying to figure out how to make sure things run smoothly with in person learning and keeping students safe from COVID.
Now, the presents even more hurdles.
By September 5th, all teachers and personnel in schools pre-k through grade 12 will need their first dose of the COVID vaccine.
If not, they will be required to be tested for the virus weekly.
Herrin's Superintendent, Nathaniel Wilson, said the demand for extra help during COVID is already up, and this new mandate will not make things easier.
He also has staff confidentiality concerns.
"Now we are in a position where people who are vaccinated already, we'll have to know that information. We're also gonna have to know who's not vaccinated, and some people aren't wanting to share that. That is private information, and confidential information so now that we're kinda putting people in a position where they're gonna have to reveal that, so that bothers me a little bit for those people," said Wilson.
The is only required for staff, not students in pre-school through grade 12.
Wilson also said this new mandate will put more work on school nurses.
Herrin currently is looking for a part time nurse to help make things easier with the new COVID rules, but whether or not more manpower is going to be needed is still up in the air.
Coronavirus Resources
- Are you fully vaccinated? for guidance from the CDC.
- Â for the latest information from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
- Looking for local information on the COVID-19 vaccine? .
- for News 3 WSIL's latest coronavirus coverage.
