Time is working out for some 1,300 metropolis Division of Schooling workers on unpaid depart for a 12 months for the reason that metropolis’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Beneath an settlement they signed a 12 months in the past, the staffers should present proof of at the least one jab by Sept. 5, earlier than the brand new faculty 12 months begins.
In the event that they accomplish that, “they may return to their authentic faculty,” officers mentioned.
If not, they are going to be “deemed to have voluntarily resigned.”
“I’m very burdened. I’m praying to the final minute that one thing will change,” mentioned an unvaccinated instructor who labored greater than 20 years at a Queens elementary faculty.
She took the unpaid depart after her attraction for a non secular exemption was denied, however nonetheless acquired metropolis medical health insurance that lined therapies for a son and daughter with particular wants.
To make ends meet, she took out a mortgage on her pension financial savings.
“I’m nonetheless on the fence,” she mentioned of the choice to vaccinate. “I actually don’t wish to do it, but when I’ve to do it for my children, I must.”
The unpaid workers — together with tons of of lecturers — have been getting well being protection since skipping the town’s deadline to get vaccinated final Oct. 4.
One other roughly 1,100 unvaccinated DOE workers who rejected the unpaid-leave deal have already been fired, the DOE mentioned.
But when these staffers “present proof of full vaccination, they are going to be eligible for rehiring,” with no assure of the identical place.
One other 82 lecturers accused of submitting faux vaccination playing cards have been taken off the town payroll on April 25 after they have been caught up on a Suffolk County felony investigation, however shall be put again on the payroll on Sept. 6 pending the probe.
