Niskayuna parents petition board to change vaccine policy for athletes
Jonathan Hunter February 15, 2022
An update to the vaccination requirement for student athletes in the Niskayuna School District.
For spring sports, students who are not vaccinated against coronavirus will be able to play.
However, unvaccinated students will need to be tested once a week.
Tuesday's school board meeting brought out dozens of parents and students.
They had a petition calling to drop the vaccine mandate.
About 1,300 people signed it.
Some people were thankful about the drop in vaccine requirement.
Some were calling for an end to the mask mandate.
Learn about why, by watching the video of Jonathan Hunter's story - which aired shortly before the meeting. (the video is embedded in the link above)
Interim Superintendent Dr. Juliette Pennyman sent NewsChannel 13 this statement:
"Some close contact and indoor sports can put players, coaches and community members at increased risk for getting and spreading COVID-19. CDC Guidance for COVID-19 prevention in K-12 schools has recommended that close contact sports in areas of high community transmission should be canceled unless all participants are fully vaccinated. Schenectady County is in high transmission. An element of the district's Layered Mitigation Plan to prevent community spread and keep our schools fully open and students learning currently requires students participating in close contact sports like lacrosse to be fully vaccinated. The vast majority of student athletes in close contact sports have now met that requirement. The district is continuously reviewing our mitigation protocols and we will make any necessary adjustments while keeping our schools and community safe and healthy."
From the Petition:
https://www.change.org/p/niskayuna-central-school-district-let-them-play
Genine Gullickson started this petition to Board of Education Niskayuna Central School District:
In late August of 2021, with only a few days before fall sport tryouts, the Board of Education at Niskayuna Central School District made a surprise announcement. They implemented a last minute policy that required the covid vaccination for our student athletes who play high risk sports in order for them to participate in their seasons. Whether you are vaccinated or not, PLEASE read the points below and sign/share this petition to get the requirement overturned. This policy does NOT make sense.
Niskayuna is one of ONLY 5 districts in the entire Capital Region with this requirement.
Niskayuna athletes are allowed to play teams and districts without this requirement, but our own unvaccinated students athletes are discriminated against and have been kicked off their teams.
Niskayuna student athletes can play for club teams with their peers, in and out of district, without this vaccination requirement.
Vaccination status has no bearing on all district students participating in these same high risk sports during PE classes.
Niskayuna students in high risk indoor activities, such as band and chorus, do NOT have this requirement.
The time is NOW to show the Niskayuna Board of Education that we stand together as a community and support these student athletes. Their physical, mental and emotional health are being negatively affected at the hands of those elected to protect them.
LET THEM PLAY!