On September 16, 2022 Gilroy Unified School District placed a teacher with over 35 years experience on administrative leave after she did not receive a Covid-19 vaccine.  Middle school teacher, Monica Pirozzoli was denied a religious exemption by Paul Winslow, director of HR and Superintendent Flores (without personally speaking to the employee) after her medical exemption expired. Her administrative leave placement comes ONE day before the CDPH and Santa Clara County public health vaccine order for education staff ends. 

On September 16, 2022 neighboring school district, Morgan Hill Unified updated their policy to no longer require Covid-19 vaccines for staff and volunteers. Furthermore, Gilroy Unified has a teacher and staff shortage and cannot afford to wrongfully terminate teachers, let alone ones with many years of knowledge and experience. 

We ask Gilroy Unified to immediately update their policies to align with the state and county Covid-19 policies and no longer require Covid-19 vaccines for staff and volunteers. We ask they immediately cease proceeding with the termination process for middle school teacher Monica Pirozzoli, in light of the new vaccine policy put out by the CDPH and  Santa Clara county public health.

The families and staff of Gilroy Unified deserve a district that makes the educational needs of the children their priority. We deserve a district that makes decisions based on current policies, data and not their emotions. Please do NOT allow Gilroy Unified to terminate Monica Pirozzoli! 

Thank you!