Department of Labor and Industry,

The Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) appreciates the opportunity to provide our concern regarding the adoption of permanent standards for the prevention of infectious diseases.  VSBA opposes the adoption of permanent standards for the SARS-CoV-2 Virus that causes COVID-19 because they fail to provide flexibility to assess and adapt to research from medical professionals on how the virus spreads in the population. Further, a permanent standard that would extend beyond the expiration of the Governor’s State of Emergency related to COVID-19, is problematic and unnecessary.

Local school boards across the Commonwealth are adopting plans for the reopening of schools based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, the Virginia Department of Health, and the Virginia Department of Education. Each school board is dedicated to protecting the health and safety of their students, faculty, and staff. To guarantee safety, school boards have invested substantial amounts of resources to ensure their facilities and operations meet all requirements to comply with federal and state government guidance for the mitigation of COVID-19.

VSBA urges the Department of Labor and Industry to reject making the emergency standards permanent.