Overwhelmed by the demand for shots from the pool of more than 30,000 residents, the county Public Health Department instituted a waiting list people could access on line. In Henderson County and statewide, the supply of vaccines has allowed providers to inoculate a small fraction of the total number of eligible seniors. Gov. Roy Cooper announced yesterday (Feb. 10) that he would open Group 3 starting with teachers and childcare workers on Feb. 24 and expand to others in Group 3 on March 10, the health department said. In the press conference, it was implied that school staff/childcare workers would be vaccinated starting on Feb. 24 (rather than waitlisted). It is unclear at this point whether or not there will be a separate allocation (of doses) to accomplish this. Henderson County Department of Public Health and key partners are working to understand what the impacts may be to current vaccine operations.
Gov. Roy Cooper’s call for more money for schools while also indicating he would veto a bill that could send students back to school has many in the state scratching their heads.
Last week, Cooper held a news conference in which he called for boosted spending on educators for the rest of the fiscal year that ends in June. But he has also expressed disdain for Senate Bill 37, “In-Person Learning Choice for Families,” which would require districts to offer some form of in-person learning for all students in the state.
The Senate passed the bill, 29-15, Tuesday, with primarily Republican support. The bill was amended in the House Rules committee to include a provision for “reasonable accommodations,” including a remote work option. The House is expected to vote on the bill Thursday, Feb. 11.
The Senate has tentatively voted to reopen schools, despite pushback from Democrats to block full in-person learning for older students.
Republicans passed Senate Bill 37 on its second reading, 29-16, to give K-12 students the option to return to the classroom at least part-time. Students with special needs could choose full-time in-person learning. The Senate next meets Monday, Feb. 8.
Democratic lawmakers voted against giving older students the chance to return to full in-person instruction, repeating that they supported “safe” reopening under public health guidance.
School reopening has dominated this legislative session. Hundreds of frustrated parents protested in front of the governor’s mansion Monday. Gov. Roy Cooper announced his support for reopening a day later, urging schools to reopen but refusing to mandate reopening with an executive order or legislation.