NJ Education Report

(This is a press release.)

Senator Kristin Corrado today called on Governor Murphy to end his executive order that requires weekly testing of school employees who have not been vaccinated.

“These tests are no longer necessary,” said Corrado (R-40) in a letter urging the immediate elimination of the policy. “Our society has changed because of COVID. We may have to live with the virus, but we no longer have to fear it.”

Corrado noted while an alarming number of teachers are leaving the profession, school administrators scrambling to fill job vacancies.

“This is one obstacle that can be easily removed,” Corrado said.

“It is time to eliminate the requirements and allow teachers and administrators to concentrate on helping students make up for COVID-related learning losses and helping them settle in with new teachers, new classrooms and classmates, and new academic challenges,” the Senator wrote.

Corrado sponsors legislation (S-2550) that would remove requirement for weekly COVID testing for school district employees who are not vaccinated.

The full text of the letter is below (click here for PDF):

Dear Governor Murphy:

Teachers and students across the state will be returning to classrooms in a month or less. Along with the return to books and homework, September marks a return of confusion and concern for thousands school employees who are not vaccinated and have no idea what to expect regarding weekly COVID testing.

Medical advancements and responsible public behavior have allowed us to get the upper hand on the virus.

It is time to end the heavy-handed weekly testing mandate on not only teachers, but all school personnel.

Legislative offices have been hearing from in-school workers – teachers, paraprofessionals, bus drivers and other staff – who are anxious and frustrated about the lack of information.

Personally, I have spoken with constituents who work in education, and they worry that not only will they be forced to take unnecessary and redundant weekly tests, but that they will also be stuck paying the bills.

These tests are no longer necessary. It is time to eliminate the requirements and allow teachers and administrators to concentrate on helping students make up for COVID-related learning losses and helping them settle in with new teachers, new classrooms and classmates, and new academic challenges.

With an increasing number of teachers walking away from the profession due to pressures both in and out of the classrooms, and school administrators scrambling to fill job vacancies, this is one obstacle that can be easily removed.

I am respectfully requesting that you end the testing requirements for school employees now. The move is well-warranted and long overdue.

Our society has changed because of COVID. We may have to live with the virus, but we no longer have to fear it.

Sincerely,

Senator Kristin M. Corrado