On Friday, March 18, the faculty and staff at University View Academy were informed of a vaccine mandate which will be effective as of April 11.  Teachers who do not have a medical or religious exemption will be placed on unpaid administrative leave. 

The President of the school board, Judge Linda Holliday, has made it clear that anyone who does not follow the mandate will be quickly replaced.  Our teachers are saddened and devastated, as will be our students and families who we have built relationships with this school year.  We, as teachers, have worked countless hours, even at the expense of our own families, to provide an excellent education for our students.  We have strived to represent UVA with the same excellence and pride through the challenges of the pandemic. 

Many teachers will lose their beloved jobs, paychecks that sustain families will be cut off, and students will be left without teachers that they trust - the ones that have believed in them and cheered them on all year long. 

Judge Holliday has initiated this mandate in an effort to protect the medically fragile students in our school.  Without hesitation, we as teachers would agree that we have many students in this position - which is why they are enrolled in our unique school system - a virtual environment.  We come into contact with those students on extremely rare occasions - for field trips and state testing.  In both situations, we have plenty of vaccinated teachers who would be willing and able to oversee those in-person events.

It's been stated by a parent of a UVA student who is in favor of the mandate that there are plenty of other teaching jobs available for unvaccinated teachers to apply for.  Indeed, that may be the case.  But to eliminate teacher jobs right at the end of the school year is hasty, unfair, and negligent.  Needless to say, the notion that we can be easily replaced is disheartening.

All this comes just before state testing begins.  This will be detrimental to the scores on state tests, lower the morale of staff and students alike, and ultimately have a negative impact on the entire school. 

In regards to the timing, teachers first received notice of the mandate on February 22, with reassurance that the complete policy would be released as soon as possible.  Said vaccination policy, along with FAQ's, was emailed at 11:22 am on Friday, 3/18/22 - nearly one month later.  The policy stated that all employees were required to acknowledge receipt of the policy and provide Proof of Vaccination or Exemption Request, by the end of the same day.  

We are asking for the board to reconsider their decision to mandate vaccinations. 

Please sign this petition in defense of UVA teachers who do not choose to be vaccinated.