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Shaker Heights school district now requiring COVID-19 vaccine for all staff members

Educators and staff members within the district will have until Nov. 1 to receive both doses of an FDA approved COVID-19 vaccine.

SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio — On Tuesday evening, board members with Shaker Heights Schools voted unanimously to require the COVID-19 vaccine for teachers and staff members within the school district. 

The new mandate requires staff to submit vaccination status once the policy goes into effect in early November, "unless a religious or disability/medical exemption is claimed and approved by the District. An employee’s claim for a religious exemption must stem from a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observation," says a press release from the school district. 

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A representative for Shaker Heights Schools said in March that around 80 to 85 percent of staff members had received a COVID-19 vaccine.  

"In accordance with the District’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards, we are adopting this policy to safeguard the health of our employees, our students, their families, and the community at large from COVID-19, which may be reduced by vaccinations. This policy will comply with all applicable laws and is based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health authorities, as applicable. The Board reserves the right to modify this policy at any time at its sole discretion," a press release from the district said last week. 

The policy isn't the first in Ohio, however. 

Teachers and staff members within Cincinnati Public Schools also must submit vaccination status or take weekly COVID-19 tests.

This is a developing story. Check back with 3News for updates. 

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Editor's note: The video in the player above is from a previously published, unrelated story. 

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