As part of the Marion School District's plan to safely reopen for the 2021-22 school year, the Marion School Board agreed last week to provide a one-time stipend of $200 to all Marion School District employees who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
The $200 payment, which will be subject to all applicable deductions, will be available to both full-time and part-time employees who provide proof of vaccination by September 7, 2021. Stipends will be available to all vaccinated staff, including those who were vaccinated earlier in the year. To be eligible for this compensation, employees must have both vaccine shots (if required) and must submit both a copy of their vaccination card and a signed verification form. A Google form will be sent out next week for staff to use to submit their documentation.
All information obtained as part of this process will be used only for purposes of verifying eligibility and additional compensation processing and are not subject to release for any other purpose. Documentation will be accepted until the close of business on September 7, 2021. Payments will be processed and provided to eligible staff by September 30, 2021.
During the 2020-21 school year, 349 staff members, for an approximate total of 4,513 days, were absent from on-site work due to the need to quarantine or isolate due to Covid-19. Vaccination remains the leading public health prevention strategy to end the Covid-19 pandemic.
For the 2021-22 school year, staff members who are fully vaccinated will not be required to quarantine, should they be exposed to the Covid-19 virus. Employees who have NOT been vaccinated will be required to use their own leave time (sick, personal, free, or vacation days) if they are ordered to quarantine or isolate because of testing positive for Covid-19 or being a close contact with someone who tests positive. Any employee who has exhausted all of their leave time will be required to take leave without pay.
The Marion School District will hold a vaccine clinic for staff from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Thursday, August 12 at Patriot Arena. (Second doses will be available from 12-3 p.m. on Thursday, September 2.) Staff are also welcome to participate in our community vaccine clinic on Wednesday, August 4, from 1-6 p.m., also at the arena. Additionally, vaccines are available locally at several sites, including the Marion Family Pharmacy, Walmart, Kroger, Walgreens, East Arkansas Family Health Canter, and the Arkansas Department of Health.
For additional information about the safety and efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccines, click here.