An Oregon school district has unanimously voted to fire three unvaccinated teachers, despite an ongoing shortage of educators in the state.
Bend-La Pine School District has drawn backlash from parents after voting 6-0 to fire Ensworth Elementary School teacher Kelly Lundy, La Pine Middle School teacher Zachary Webb, and Mountain View High teacher Mark Schulz.
All of the teachers refused to get vaccinated and refused to fill out religious exemption forms, violating Oregon's vaccine mandate.
On August 19, 2021, Governor Kate Brown signed a mandate requiring all health care workers and all teachers, educators, support staff, and volunteers in K-12 schools be fully vaccinated.
Fox News reports that over 40 parents held signs supporting the teachers outside the board meeting when they were terminated.
The three teachers appeared on "Fox & Friends First" to discuss their terminations.
"I didn't want to get the vaccine because of the safety and efficacy … And so now what that is and what the school district is a secular institution … to request me for a statement of my faith – I wasn't going to use my faith at a convenience to keep a job," Lundy told the network.
The teachers have been on unpaid leave for over a year.
Lundy added, "It's been over a year now since we've actually been put on unpaid leave and now they decide, hey, you know what, let's go ahead and fire you guys. So I have the same question."
Schultz claimed that they were told a religious exemption would be provided if they complied and filled out the required forms.
"All along we've been wanting support from our district, from our administrators, and we've gotten absolutely none. In fact, we feel we're coerced into the position that we're in right now. We were told, hey, just sign the form. It'll get approved," Schultz said.
"It's the lowest bar that you can need to keep your job. And we weren't willing to do that," Schultz continued. "We didn't want to give up our constitutional rights and were more willing to allow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to get rubber-stamped along with everyone else's exceptions. And so, no, we didn't get the support, and it doesn't make any sense."
Oregon Moms Union told the network that "this rule is exacerbating public education staffing shortages by banning qualified teachers, staff, and volunteer parents from classrooms for not being vaccinated."
