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Seattle superintendent: ‘I’m pretty confident we’re going to do what the governor says’

SEATTLE — On Monday, Seattle schoolteachers and staff lined up outside the Seattle Indian Health Board to get vaccinated.

The health board got 150 extra doses and worked directly with Seattle Schools Superintendent Denise Juneau, who is of Native American descent.

“Obviously, we’re trying to get our kids back to school for those who want to do that. We needed to protect our educator,” said Esther Lucero, president of the Seattle Indian Health Board.

“It’s reaching out, trying to get as many people vaccinated as possible so we can get back in-person,” said Juneau.

On Friday, Gov. Jay Inslee announced an emergency proclamation that will order students back in the classroom. He said their mental health is suffering the most.

On April 5, all kindergarten through sixth grade students must be given an opportunity for hybrid instruction.

Then April 19, it extends through 12th graders.

Seattle Public Schools is still in negotiations with the teachers union.

“Now with the governor’s directive to get back to in-school by April 5 and April 19, we’ll be moving a lot quicker. We’re close. We’re close on our bargain. And once we have that bargain in place, we’ll be able to move a lot quicker,” said Juneau.

At this point, the district and teachers agreed to bring back special education students and preschoolers on March 29. There’s a lot of work to be done to accomplish the April 5 return for elementary students.

Juneau thinks it can be done. “I’m pretty confident we’re going to do what the governor says,” said Juneau.

Last week, the teachers and district walked through 42 schools looking at safety improvements and didn’t find any major issues.

Vaccinations add another level of protection.

“Becoming vaccinated for our educators is such a confidence booster,” said Juneau. Hundreds of teachers were vaccinated over the weekend with the help of other community partners.

“This is what happens when you have Indigenous leadership come together to really model what it looks like to take care of community,” said Lucero.