Educators share mixed feelings about California’s vaccine mandate

Teachers across Imperial Valley talk to News 11's Wiley Jawhary about the state's new shot requirement

IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - The latest mandate in California requires all teachers and school staff to show proof of full vaccination status. This has teachers across the Imperial Valley at odds.

The alternative is getting tested every single week. Teachers we spoke with say they want to place the safety of their students first, but some of the teachers we spoke to say it's a fine line.

“I’m hesitant on this mandate because I am a big believer of freedom and individual rights," Daniel Nunez, a high school teacher in the Imperial Valley said.

Nunez says his peers are mixed about the vaccine mandate, however he also says that getting tested weekly is a fair alternative.

Central Union High School teacher Art Rubio says he supports the vaccine but says forcing it on people could be a problem.

Meanwhile the Brawley Elementary School District is already planning for methods of verification. Superintendint Richard Rundhaug says they plan to rely on technology.

“We will probably use some kind of electronic check process at least that is what we are looking at right now,” he said.

The Imperial County Public Health Department also chimed in on the new mandate in their latest advisory health department. They also reported 31 new cases of COVID.

“The public health department does not enforce anything, it is up to the school… I can tell you we have had dialogue with teachers leading up to this point,” they said.