WOOLWICH TWP. – In light of Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive order requiring all members of a school’s faculty and staff to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18, as of Aug. 22, according to Dr. James J. Lavender, Superintendent of Schools of the Kingsway Regional School District, 74 percent of the faculty and staff there are fully vaccinated.
Those not fully vaccinated by the October date must take at least once weekly COVID tests. Those requiring vaccination are all individuals employed by a preschool to Grade 12 school including full and part-time administrators, teachers, educational support professionals, individuals providing food, custodial, and administrative support services, substitute teachers, contractors, providers, and any other individuals performing work school settings, including volunteers.
Individuals who visit the school only to provide one-time or limited-duration repairs, services, or construction are not included in the vaccination order.
He stated that approximately 50 percent of the students in grades 7 through 12 are fully vaccinated. This information sharing on vaccination status with students, he said, is optional so this percentage is an estimation.
By Karen E. Viereck, Editor/Publisher
