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Exploring a Vaccine Requirement for CSD Students

Shared with the Corvallis School Board during the October 14, 2021 meeting

At the September 23, 2021 school board meeting, Chair Al-Abdrabbuh directed Superintendent Noss to investigate and review requiring COVID-19 vaccination for all medically eligible students in the Corvallis School District. This recommendation was made with the goals of protecting our kids, helping them be able to continue to attend school in person, and reduce the need for unnecessary quarantine. In response, Superintendent Noss worked with staff to:

  • Identify and list COVID-19 concerns leading to this request
  • Work with Benton County Health Department to review and analyze current Corvallis School District COVID-19 vaccination data
  • Identify equity considerations acknowledging the long history of students of color being marginalized
  • Research and draft a Vaccine Requirement Board Report

Based on this review, the key recommendations to the board are as follows:

  1. Direct district staff to conduct community engagement with our equity populations with low vaccination rates.
  2. Work with the Benton County Health Department to engage with communities of color to create greater confidence in the vaccine and increase vaccination rates among our equity populations.
  3. Continue to provide updated data and information on COVID-19 vaccination rates among CSD students to the Board.
  4. Report to the board on planning and actions related to the vaccination rate changes in our communities of color.
    Public Health Panel
  5. The board was joined by a panel of public health experts from the Benton County Health Department and Samaritan Health Services. The panel shared data around COVID-19 case rates in Benton County and COVID-19 vaccination rates among Corvallis School District students. Following the panel presentation, the board members were able to ask the panel questions.

Board Direction to the Superintendent

Following the panel presentation, questions, and public comment, the board directed Superintendent Noss to move forward with the recommendations 1-4 above as presented.