please allow us ALL to be vaccinated before returning to work with students in person

[Sherri Bublitz]

Good evening, School Board Members, Dr. Steinhaus, and Ms. Mulholland,

While I have certainly missed seeing my students in person, I have been holding out for a vaccine before being *with* them in person.  I am a cancer survivor - I want to be a Covid survivor.  I believe, like my cancer, my ability to do that effectively relies on my ability to get the medication necessary for me to fight off the disease.  Without a vaccine, I am more vulnerable than most.  My immune system has not fully recovered from chemotherapy, and my oncologist tells me this will be something I will have to deal with for the rest of my life.  I have stayed at home all these months - from March through today - because I am at a higher risk.  My husband is our "hunter-gatherer," and he has been so very careful throughout this time to ensure that he takes all precautions.  His precautions have prevented - so far - our having Covid in our home.  I cannot tell you how truly anxious it makes me to consider having to go back to meeting with students - and from what I understand in listening to Secretary Stewart, that could be up to 300 students at a time at LAMS - when I am not vaccinated.  I will be speaking to my oncologist to see what is feasible in the here and now for me, but she was already telling me that she wanted me to leave the school building at the end of my classes when we go back *with* a vaccine, completing my contract time at home - she is that concerned about my exposure.  

When we thought we were going to start in the hybrid model back in August, staff were told that we would have options if we were either a health risk or felt uncomfortable being in the building with our students.  I know it is still early, but I wonder what options are being considered now.  LAOLA, as far as I know, is full - they don't need more teachers.  However, even if I were to go teach there now, my three electives would suffer - I don't really know who would teach them - or what would happen next year when I return.  I've heard all kinds of things about when "all New Mexicans" will be vaccinated, but the latest they seem to expect that is summer.  So, I say I will return with the idea in mind that, at the very latest, I would have had both of my shots before we return next year.  But what about now?

Do students need to be back in person with teachers? Definitely.  But they need to be back with healthy vaccinated teachers for the long term, not anxiety-ridden unvaccinated ones who might have to leave due to infection at any moment.  I implore you *not* to reopen fully (with 50% of students in the building) until *all* teachers have had both their shots.  I cannot go back into the classroom without endangering my health, and in fact, my life.  I've survived cancer - I want to survive Covid.  Please help me do that.

Sincerely,

Sherri Bublitz, NBCT

Los Alamos Middle School
Drama
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