SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — The San Diego Community College District has decided to roll back disciplinary action against employees who violate its COVID-19 vaccine mandate, electing to provide exemptions and accommodations instead of firing employees.
SDCCD made this choice during a Thursday board meeting after a group called ReOpen San Diego rallied against the vaccine mandate at San Diego Miramar College earlier that day.
The district said it will continue to require employees to be vaccinated against coronavirus; however, religious and medical exemptions and accommodations will be honored "where safe and reasonable."
"In light of the improved public health conditions in San Diego County, the district is reevaluating accommodation options for employees who have been subject to disciplinary action," a statement from SDCCD read.
Additionally, SDCCD's statement said it will review possible accommodations for employees who were fired in Jan. 2023 via its appeal process.
"At this time, the Board of Trustees is not considering any employee terminations related to the COVID-19 vaccination requirement," the statement said. "As public health conditions in our region continue to improve, we are excited to see our communities returning to in-person classes and services as we expand access, success, and equity in our wide range of educational programs and support services."
10News reported Thursday that ReOpen San Diego organized its rally after four employees lost their jobs for failing to comply to the vaccine mandate. The group also claimed an additional three dozen staff members could've been terminated for failing to comply with the requirement.
Kirk Webley was one of the employees who lost his job in January. He worked as a counselor in the district for 25 years before he was fired.
"I have an approved religious exemption," said Webley. "The district believed that those who had exemptions and weren't vaccinated placed an undue hardship on the district."
Webley said the district failed to provide enough accommodations.
"We tested weekly, provided results, and that was sufficient," said Webley. "For some reason, that no longer became an option."
The district created its vaccine mandate in 2021, a year before Webley was fired.
The district sent the following statement to 10News before Thursday night's board meeting: "Where reasonable accommodations cannot be made, employees are required to comply with the vaccination requirement to continue their employment with the District. Employees who refuse to comply with the requirement may be subject to discipline, up to and including termination. At this time, four employees have been terminated."
Now that the district is rolling back its harshest penalties, more staff members in Webley's situation will not be forced to find new jobs.
"It is about belief, it is about faith," said Webley. "We have to plant seeds for our future, and that's the same way I have to walk."
