Tag Archives: teachers

Sen. Hawkins floor speech

Hawkins asks Inslee to make COVID-19 vaccine available now to all in-person school employees wanting it

Sen. Brad Hawkins, the ranking Republican on the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee, is asking Gov. Jay Inslee to make it possible for all in-person school employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccination now if they want it.

In a letter sent to the governor today, Hawkins wrote:

“I appreciate the step that you took to modify your vaccine plan to allow all school employees regardless of age to gain access in Phase 1B2, however, you significantly slowed down the process to move to that phase. As I have communicated previously, our school employees are on the front lines – many currently providing in-person instruction – and helping our state fulfill its paramount duty regarding education. They deserve to be protected.”

Later in his letter to Inslee, Hawkins wrote:

“In a recent news conference, you compared a 25-year old teacher to an 80-year old Washingtonian. To me, this greatly oversimplifies the policy argument about access to vaccines. You did not mention that under your current plan, for example, a 64-year old teacher is unable to be vaccinated yet a 65-year old retiree who can still self-isolate is eligible. I support prioritizing our older Washingtonians and vulnerable adults, but our school employees (administrators, teachers, and support staff) deserve to be prioritized alongside these older Washingtonians, especially those who are providing direct student support today. Our state will not get back to normal until our schools are successfully functioning.

“Please consider advancing our state to Phase 1B2, allow school employees providing in-person instruction today to be assigned to Phase 1B1, or authorize local health providers to utilize their discretion when administering vaccines. Additionally, please clarify publicly your support for all school employees to gain access to the vaccine – regardless of age – in the same phase per your decision on January 18, as your response at a recent news conference appears to contradict your revised guidance.”

Hawkins, a former member of the Eastmont School Board in East Wenatchee, said Inslee’s current COVID-19 vaccination phases timeline is vague and different from the governor’s original vaccination phases timeline.

Hawkins represents the 12th District, which covers much of North Central Washington.

Hawkins thanks Supt. Reykdal for bringing in expertise and planning ahead for school employee vaccinations

Sen. Brad Hawkins, the ranking Republican on the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee, responded to today’s announcement of the “Get Ready Plan” partnership between the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and Kaiser Permanente.

“I applaud Superintendent Reykdal for working with partners to bring in expertise and plan ahead for school employee vaccinations,” said Hawkins, who serves the 12th District and is a former Eastmont School Board member. “I’m thankful that the governor changed course on January 18th to acknowledge that all school employees, regardless of age, will be eligible to get vaccinated in the next phase. School employees across Washington – our teachers, administrators, and support staff – are helping our state fulfill its paramount duty and deserve to be protected.

“I still believe it is important for Governor Inslee and the Department of Health to allocate the vaccines to regions in proportion to their population and to allow local health providers and health districts to coordinate vaccine distribution.

“To the question about logistics, I believe the partners can get employee lists from their school districts, ask staff to present identification cards, and start getting vaccines administered as soon as they are allowed. School employees are critical workers and deserve to be protected as soon as possible.

“The reality is that our state will not get back to normal until our schools are fully functioning. The best way to make that happen is to get our school employees vaccinated now alongside our older Washingtonians because, unlike some of them, school employees will not be able to self-isolate.”

Hawkins acknowledges the challenge of coordinating vaccinations, but he believes it is often made worse by the state’s “top-down” approach and limiting flexibility at the local level.

“I’m thankful the health-care providers in my region – even prior to the governor’s designation of the Town Toyota Center as a regional distribution site – have been successful at getting vaccinations administered. However, the state should simplify things and provide more local flexibility in decision-making and vaccine distribution,” said Hawkins.

(PHOTO CAPTION: Senator Brad Hawkins of the 12th District is a former school board member and the ranking Republican member on the Senate’s Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee.)