ZIP Advertisement 'They are heroes': Upstate district writes letter to gov., calling for teachers to receive 'priority access' vaccine Letter penned Jan. 29 urges governor to take action quickly Share Updated: 6:48 PM EST Feb 3, 2021 Letter penned Jan. 29 urges governor to take action quickly Share Updated: 6:48 PM EST Feb 3, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript NOW. MICHAEL: SOME LEADERS IN SPARTANBURG COUNTY ARE CALLING ON THE GOVERNOR TO MOVE TEACHERS TO THE TOP OF THE PRIORITY LIST. OUR TAGGART HOUCK JOINS US LIVE IN THE COUNTY TONIGHT. THE DISTRICT IS CLAIMING THEY HELD UP THEIR END OF THE BARGAIN? REPORTER: GOOD EVENING. YES, BY THAT THEY MEAN FACE-TO-FACE RETURN. THIS IS SOMETHING GOVERNOR MCMASTER HAS BEEN ENCOURAGING DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE TO DO. LEADERS HERE ESSENTIALLY SAY WE HAVE DONE THAT, WHAT ABOUT THE VACCINE? THE LETTER WAS CRAFTED JANUARY 29 AND SENT BY THESE DISTRICT THREE OFFICIALS IN SPARTANBURG. IT CALLS ON HIM TO GIVE PRIORITY ACCESS TO TEACHERS AND STAFF, CALLING THEM HEROES, AND ASKS FOR EDUCATORS AND STAFF TO HAVE PRIORITY ACCESS TO A VACCINE. WE WERE AT COWPENS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TODAY, WHERE STUDENTS ARE BACK IN THE CLASSROOM, SOME TEACHERS ARE CONCERNED, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO CHILDREN WHO COULD BE ASYMPTOMATIC AND CARRYING THE VIRUS. WE SPOKE WITH MARLENE JACOBS AND SHE IS HOPING THAT LETTER GAINS TRACTION. >> GETTING THIS VACCINE FOR OUR TEACHERS AND GETTING IT SOONER PUTS US ONE STEP CLOSER TO BEING BACK TO NORMAL. I THINK BEING IN A NORMAL CLASSROOM SETTING IS WHAT IS BEST FOR THESE CHILDREN. >> WE ARE HUGE ADVOCATES FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BUT ALSO FOR THE TEACHERS. THEY ARE HEROES. REPORTER: TEACHERS RIGHT NOW ARE IN PHASE ONE B. MCMASTER ANNOUNCED HE IS DOING WHAT HE CAN TO EXPEDITE ACCESS TO TEACHERS AND OTHERS IN THAT PHASE. WE ARE TOLD ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR’S PUBLIC SCHEDULE, HE WILL MEET WITH THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION TOMORROW MORNING AND THE TOPICS THEY ARE SAID TO DISCUSS INVOLVED VACCINE DISTRIBUTION PLANS FOR