‘Safety is the most important thing’: Local teachers union presidents react to state’s new COVID-19 mandates

Presidents of the local Camas and Washougal teachers union recently weighed in on a new state mandate requiring all K-12 school teachers, staff, coaches, bus drivers and volunteers be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by Oct. 18 or lose their jobs. 

Shelley Houle, president of the Camas Educational Association, a union representing more than 460 educators, school counselors and teacher-librarians in the Camas School District, said she believes about 70 percent of Camas K-12 teachers have already been vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, but is urging the remainder of her union’s members to talk to their medical physician if they have concerns about the vaccine.