Teachers and staff vaccinated at Youngstown City Schools
YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown City School District continued coronavirus vaccinations for teachers and staff Thursday evening at East and Chaney High Schools.
About 800 teachers and staff of 1,350 are expected to receive COVID-19 vaccinations by the end of this week, said Kenyetta Burr, supervisor of nursing for Youngstown schools.
Michelle Sebaugh, a second-grade teacher at McGuffey Elementary, said she was nervous about receiving the coronavirus vaccine but figured since other vaccines have worked in the past, this one would too.
When schools were shut down in March, not all students had devices for school, said Denise Dick, director of communications and public relations for Youngstown City Schools. Some teachers did online classes while others had students pick up and drop off packets of work at schools in the district.
Teachers also used the Remind app to communicate with students and parents about assignments. The app is still used for virtual learning today.
Youngstown City Schools provided students with devices and internet access to do virtual learning since the start of the school year in August.
No date has been determined for when Youngstown students will return to in-person lessons. CEO Justin Jennings said that won't happen until it is safe for everyone.
Sebaugh said she thinks students will benefit from being back in school once it's safe again.
"It's good that our CEO is very concerned with our safety first," Sebaugh said.
Cheryl Burney, an assistant teacher for preschool, said teachers have been working harder to keep students engaged with virtual teaching. She said it was hard for students at first, but they have learned to adjust to online school.
Burney said she was relieved to receive the vaccine and hopes this is the first step to going back to school in-person.
Phase 1B of coronavirus vaccinations focuses on Ohioans who are age 65 and older and people with severe congenital, developmental or early-onset medical disorders. The goal is also to vaccinate adults who work in schools, with a goal to have in-person school by March 1.
Dick said although the state guidelines for vaccinations were for grades K-12, the district felt it was important to include preschool teachers and staff.
Burr organized the vaccination clinics at East and Chaney High Schools through QUICKmed YOUcare clinics. Between both locations, about 500 vaccines have been administered.
"It's been running really smoothly," Burr said.
Vaccinations to teachers and staff started on Wednesday and will continue through Friday. About 800 vaccines are expected to be completed by the end of the three days.
The district received about 1,100 doses earlier this week for about 1,350 employees of Youngstown City Schools.
For staff members who missed the sign-ups for the vaccine, more information is expected to be sent out so they can schedule an appointment for next week to receive the vaccine at a YOUcare clinic.
This story was originally published February 5, 2021 at 5:25 AM with the headline "Teachers and staff vaccinated at Youngstown City Schools."