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Inbox: Ohio Governor Mike DeWine will give an update today at 6:10 p.m. on the vaccination of school personnel. *Delays Friday night trip to Chipotle*
DeWine sounds like he's about to push hard on school districts... like Akron... that aren't slated to open right on March 1. Watch here: http://ohiochannel.org/live/governor-mike-dewine
"We were very careful and very specific and very plain" about the March 1 deadline, he says. Showing the document that district leaders, including David James, signed.
DeWine says schools "by and large" are keeping this promise. In dec, 45% of schools were fully remote, now it's less than 15%.
"We have learned there are a handful of schools that have indicated that they will break that promise, that they will break that commitment."... "This is simply not acceptable. And this is about the kids."
DeWine calling out Akron: Anyone who wanted the vaccination got it...
"And yet now we hear they're not going to go back, we're told until March 15. That's not acceptable either."
"And yet now we hear they're not going to go back, we're told until March 15. That's not acceptable either."
"Schools have done this," he says of operating in covid times.
"These schools are in fact safe inside that classroom. Parents have a right to make a decision whether to send their children back to school."
Unclear yet if DeWine plans to add some teeth to this, or if he's just going to leave it as a public reprimand.
"You made a commitment to your kids," he says.
"We'll just have to cut off vaccinations," DeWine says, if districts aren't going to reopen on time. But he's not saying he WILL do that. "This was a major decision to pull these vaccines out" to give to teachers, but worth it if they can go back to school.
Akron has already given the first dose to 2/3 of the staff that wanted it, roughly. Last first doses are being given in a clinic tomorrow.
"I'm not trying to be punitive," DeWine says. Says he knows Akron already got theirs, but Cleveland has not.
"If you're not going to go back... need to put them to a group that's more vulnerable."
"If you're not going to go back... need to put them to a group that's more vulnerable."
In the case of Akron, he says, they've already been vaccinated, so "we have to see what else we could do." Also says purpose is "not to threaten or punish anyone."
"That's not acceptable" DeWine says of places saying they won't make an effort to open by March 1.
"CDC says it's safe," DeWine says. New guidance came out today along these lines too.
I'm just thanking my lucky stars I finished my two stories I already wrote today by 5:45.
"If you look at Akron for example, the second dose comes from almost half the teachers in the last week in February, and then the rest of them in the first week in March. ...we know that there's significant immunity granted by the first vaccine."
"We would have no choice to redirect them" DeWine says of vaccines that would be going to teachers who aren't going back into the classroom.
DeWine is saying this all just came to a head today as he learned of districts' plans not to reopen. David James has been saying for weeks that he was eyeing mid-late March. He said it was his understanding from the gov's office that that deadline was flexible.
I also asked literally yesterday, despite DeWine saying a lot in press conferences about it, has Akron actually heard anything directly from the gov's office that they are pushing Akron to open by March 1? I was told no, there's been no direct conversation in weeks.
"Nobody compelled schools to do this. They had a choice," DeWine says. But, a chance at the vaccine was a pretty big carrot.
