Supporting Team DPS in Complying with Vaccine Health Order

We have been working hard to map out a plan for how we can create the safest conditions possible across the district and comply with the public health order, which calls for all city employees and employees working in certain designated industries such as schools, child care, hospitals and more to be fully vaccinated by Sept. 30. This requirement applies to all DPS employees, all charter school employees, contractors, and community members who volunteer in schools.

DPS is committed to fully supporting our staff in complying with the order and no employees will be immediately dismissed on Oct. 1 for not complying with the public-health order. However, we will begin corrective action and progressive discipline processes beginning Oct. 4. See a timeline of these next steps for those who aren’t in compliance by Sept. 30:

October 1, 2021

A reminder will be sent to those who did not take action with instructions on how to take a step toward compliance.

• Upon request, DPS is required to share records of full vaccination status for all personnel to the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE).
• All unvaccinated employees must continue to mask at all times and comply with weekly testing. The first test must be submitted on or before Oct. 8. All testing must go through COVIDCheckColorado. Employees who are out of compliance with the vaccine mandate must complete testing on their own time.
• According to the DDPHE, any person or entity who is not fully vaccinated by Sept. 30 or who has failed to ensure compliance with the mandate may be subject to a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation by DDPHE (Sec. 24.5 Administrative Assessment of Civil Penalties).

October 4, 2021

Letters of Reprimand will be issued to all non-compliant employees. This formal action will include instructions for complying with the vaccine mandate.

• The same processes and stipulations listed above, including weekly testing, will apply to those who aren’t in compliance.

November 18, 2021

The district will make a recommendation to dismiss employees who aren’t in compliance, effective Jan. 2, 2022.

• Any employee who is not in compliance, regardless of role or bargaining unit, will be able to work up until Jan. 1 and will be terminated on Jan. 2.
• If an employee becomes compliant between Nov. 18 and Jan. 1, the recommendation for dismissal will be dropped. However, the district will post your position after Nov. 18 on the assumption that the position will need to be filled after Jan. 2. If the position is filled before you get vaccinated, you may not be able to go back to your current position.
• The same processes and stipulations listed above, including weekly testing, will apply to those who aren’t in compliance.