Thanks to softened contractual language about vaccine mandates among school district employees, Duval County Public Schools teachers and other staff members will finally receive emergency COVID-19 leave time and vaccine bonuses.
The news follows a special board meeting that took place Tuesday morning, where school board members discussed modified memorandum of understanding language for its unionized staff and faculty members including educators, maintenance team workers, school police officers and more.
The language agreed upon — which passed unanimously — includes emergency paid COVID-19 leave for all full-time employees: up to 24 hours for workers who are unable to work because of contracting COVID-19 and 40 hours for vaccinated employees who catch the coronavirus or those who have a religious or medical exemption. All employees will also receive up to 32 hours of COVID-19 testing leave regardless of their vaccination status. The new hours are retroactive from the start of the school year this summer.
Read the rest of the story at WJCT News partner The Florida Times-Union.