Letter to Gov. Reynolds, etc. re Prioritizing Vaccines for School Employees
Download a copy of the letter
February 3, 2021
The Honorable Kim Reynolds, Governor, State of Iowa
Lt. Governor Adam Gregg, State of Iowa
Director Kim Garcia, Iowa Department of Public Health
Director Ann Lebo, Director, Iowa Department of Education
Dear Governor Reynolds, Director Garcia and Director Lebo:
A statement on the Iowa Department of Public Health Website, Jan. 29, stated:
“IDPH also learned this week that approximately 64,000 doses of vaccine, originally allocated to the Long-Term Care Pharmacy Partnership Program, can be redistributed to the state’s priority populations. These doses will be sent directly to a limited number of stores to vaccinate individuals 65 years and older. We will provide additional information soon.”
Governor and Directors, you have made it clear that there is no bigger priority in our state than returning students to fully in-person instruction.
On behalf of the thousands of employees in the Urban Education Network and all Iowa school districts, we urge you to place full priority on protecting our preK-12 school students, their families and our staff who will make returning to school possible by reallocating these additional doses to immediately vaccinate school staff across the state.
Doing so with this quantity of vaccines will allow for every interested school staff member in the state to receive their first vaccination dose before the required Feb. 15 fully in-person compliance deadline.
Since last March, school staff have been at the cornerstone of Iowa communities and our response to this global pandemic. All school staff members deserve the ability to be vaccinated before being required by law to return to circumstances in which CDC-recommended social distancing cannot possibly be implemented. The hearts and minds of our staff have fully served students in selfless ways over the past year – and they will continue to as we transition to fully in-person learning. In addition to our hearts and minds, our arms are ready, too.
You have placed great priority on opening schools safely. Now is your chance to support these words with actions.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Urban Education Network Member School Districts:
Ames – Ankeny – Cedar Falls - Cedar Rapids - College Community - Council Bluffs - Davenport
Des Moines - Dubuque - Ft. Dodge - Iowa City - Linn-Mar - Mason City - Marshalltown
Muscatine - Ottumwa – Sioux City - Southeast Polk - Waterloo
UEN Contacts:
UEN Chair, Vickie Murillo, Council Bluffs, vmurillo@cbcsd.org (712) 328-6446
UEN Chair-Elect, Noreen Bush, Cedar Rapids, nbush@crschools.us 319-558-2216
UEN Executive Director, Margaret Buckton, margaret@iowaschoolfinance.com (515) 201-3755
