NEW ROCHELLE, NY — An important and essential agreement between The City School District of New Rochelle and the two unions representing CSDNR staff, has been reached to establish a COVID-19 policy for all employees.
All employees must now be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or be subject to weekly tests. The policy is effective at the start of the school year.
The New Rochelle Federation of United School Employees and the Administrative and Supervisory Association, the union representing District administrators, agreed to new COVID-19 testing protocols for district employees who have not submitted written proof of vaccination.
“The safety of our students, faculty, and staff continues to remain our District’s top priority,” said CSDNR Superintendent Jonathan Raymond. “We want to be able to keep our students in school, and this agreement adds an additional layer of safety to the District’s protocols and practices during this unprecedented pandemic. We are fortunate to have two committed partners in FUSE and A&S.”
The initial approach for testing unvaccinated employees will require a self-administered saliva test weekly and submission of the sample to the District. The specific type of test and frequency is subject to change, should the District deem necessary. CSDNR will assume all costs for this COVID-19 testing program. All testing and vaccine records will be kept strictly confidential, as required by law.
As part of this joint agreement, CSDNR, FUSE and A&S agreed that any employee who does not comply with the policy within two days of a date designated by the District will be placed on an unpaid leave of absence until they either submit written proof of being fully vaccinated or comply with the mandatory testing requirement.