Orleans Parish School Board removing COVID mandate for employees

(The Center Square) – Orleans Parish School Board is moving to strike the COVID-19 vaccine mandate from school policies now that the Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 has expired.

The original policy stated, "Failure to comply with the provisions of this policy shall be grounds for disciplinary action including but not limited to written reprimands, changes in job assignments, suspensions from work and termination."

The federal government's COVID-19 public health emergency expired on May 11, 2023. The school district cited the end of the state of emergency as a reason to end its mandate.

"The OPSB adopted this vaccination policy due to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in conjunction with returning staff to work," the July 2024 school board document states. "Given that the Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 has expired, the recommendation is to delete the policy."

The NOLA Public Schools is the public school district for Orleans Parish. The school board, known as the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB), enacted the mandate on October 1, 2021, due to the COVID-19 virus and the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) determination that COVID-19 vaccines are generally safe and effective.

“To comply with this requirement, by no later than September 30, 2021, School Board employees shall present proof of being 'fully vaccinated,' as defined by the CDC, in order to continue working," the policy stated.

Employees could request an exemption form after the district verified the employee’s entitlement to the exemption claim.

The district did not reply to an email seeking comment.

The school district has also mandated that all students age 5 years and up must have the COVID-19 vaccine as of Feb. 1, 2022. The district did not respond to an email asking if the student vaccine was still mandated.