The effects of Governor Kate Brown’s vaccine mandate will be minimal on Canby’s schools and students — as virtually all of the district’s 600 employees were fully vaccinated or received an approved exception before Monday’s deadline.
“Out of 600 employees, only one was lost directly because of the mandate,” District Communications Director Kristen Wohlers told The Canby Current in an email. “We have not placed any employees on leaves of absence.”
The one employee was not one of the district’s 315 teachers, Wohlers clarified.
About 95% of the district’s staff and 96% of teachers are fully vaccinated, according to the district’s data, with the remainder receiving an approved religious or medical exemption.
The 99.83% compliance rate is similar to what Lake Oswego, West Linn/Wilsonville and other districts are reporting, Wohlers said.
Portland Public Schools reported this week that 96% of its employees have been fully vaccinated, with another 1% in progress.
More than 100 PPS employees received exceptions to the governor’s mandate, and only 37 are facing termination — out of a workforce of nearly 7,500.
In nearby Beaverton School District, nearly 97% of employees are vaccinated, with another 3% applying for a religious exemption and less than 1% requesting a medical exemption.
“We have been working diligently with our staff to make this process as smooth as possible, and we are pleased with the outcome,” said Wohlers.
“Canby School District has an amazing, student-centered staff, so we are thrilled this process went as well as it has.”
A separate mandate covering health care workers, including EMTs, also took effect this week, as well, and the Canby Fire District reported that it will lose zero workers or volunteers related to the new rules.
Chief Jim Davis said 74% of district personnel is fully vaccinated, with the rest receiving approved exemptions.
“Canby Fire does a great job following all OHA and Governors requirements,” Davis said. “Fire and EMS crews use full PPE on all calls, and decontaminate all medical equipment and apparatus after every call.
“Masks are required in all of our facilities, except while eating and sleeping. I attribute our success to the dedication and commitment by all employees to keeping our citizens safe.”
