Robbinsdale Schools to Require COVID-19 Vaccines or Weekly Tests for Staff

The Robbinsdale School Board passed a resolution earlier this month that will require all staff to either be vaccinated or submit to regular testing for COVID-19.

Staff will have to provide proof of vaccination or weekly updates on testing. Any staff member who doesn’t comply will be subject to disciplinary action, which will fall back to the staff member’s collective bargaining unit.

“Every bargaining group has a slightly different pathway. It usually starts with a low-level conversation and ramps up when there’s not a response to the discipline being implemented,” said Peter Eckhoff, president of the Robbinsdale Federation of Teachers, in the Oct. 18 school board meeting.    “Progressive discipline is laid out in each of our bargaining units.”

Collective bargaining units and staff made up a task force, which brought this recommendation forward.

“I know the conversation we had, it was unanimous support of all of our bargaining units for doing this mandate. I think it needs to be said at this table that it was our task force that brought these recommendations to our board,” said Robbinsdale School Board member John Vento. “I think the board is enthusiastic about moving forward, but it was in collaboration.”

Board Chair David Boone said this was “a cooperative effort.”

When the board voted 6-0 in favor of the resolution at its Nov. 1 meeting, there was no discussion. Robbinsdale School Board member Helen Bassett was absent, but clerk Michael Herring did say there was also an absentee vote in addition to the six votes taken at the meeting.

The rule goes into effect no later than Jan. 1.

To read the full resolution, click here.

You can watch the discussion of the meetings here.

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