MEDIA RELEASE

Glendale Unified School District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Distribution Date:
August 31, 2021

Glendale Unified Requires COVID-19 Vaccinations for all Employees

GLENDALE, CA – The Glendale Unified Board of Education adopted a resolution Tuesday requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by November 1.

“Vaccination is our absolute best defense against COVID-19. Requiring vaccination for all employees is another important step in our journey to ensure all eligible members of our community are vaccinated,” said Glendale Unified Board of Education President Shant Sahakian. “Getting our entire community vaccinated not only protects the health and safety of our community but also maximizes the amount of time students can remain in school and engaged in learning with their teachers.”

“From the moment vaccinations were first available, Glendale Unified has worked diligently with our healthcare partners to provide vaccination opportunities for employees, students, and families,” said Glendale Unified Superintendent Dr. Vivian Ekchian. “I am incredibly proud of our District’s continued commitment and efforts to vaccinate our community, which have resulted in an already high vaccination rate among our employees.”

Glendale Unified COVID-19 Health and Safety Measures

Since March 2020, Glendale Unified has implemented multiple layers of mitigation to protect students and employees while continuing to create a welcoming environment and foster a positive culture of learning for all children. The District has partnered with local healthcare providers to organize 21 vaccination clinics and provide the opportunity for COVID-19 testing every school day at every school site. Glendale Unified has invested millions of dollars in CARES Act funding to ensure school and district facilities are safe for students and employees. Added health and safety measures include upgraded MERV-13 filters in all HVAC systems; HEPA filters in classrooms; touchless thermometers at entrances to all facilities; portable handwashing stations; desk shields and dividers; stockpiles of health and safety equipment and PPE, including touchless thermometers, face masks, face shields, gloves, hand sanitizer, and disinfecting wipes; directional signage in hallways; safety signage to encourage mask wearing, physical distancing, and frequent hand washing; and creation of outdoor learning spaces.

For media inquiries, contact Kristine Nam at knam@gusd.net.

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