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INTERVIEW: Some School Bus Drivers Threaten Sit-out Over Vaccine Mandates

NEW HAVEN, CT - January 12, 2021: Busses parked at the First Student bus depot in New Haven. (Ryan Caron King/Connecticut Public)
Ryan Caron King/Connecticut Public
/
Connecticut Public
NEW HAVEN, CT - January 12, 2021: Busses parked at the First Student bus depot in New Haven. (Ryan Caron King/Connecticut Public)

On Monday, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont’s Executive Order 13-D takes effect.

It states that all Connecticut school staff must be vaccinated, subject to disability and/or religious exemptions.

If not vaccinated, such staff must submit to, and provide proof of, weekly COVID-19 testing.

Today, we get word that close to 300 school bus drivers will not be showing up to work Monday if this order is enforced.

Connecticut School Transportation Association spokesperson

John Hipsher joined "All Things Considered" to talk about what accommodations his drivers are looking for from the state.

John Henry Smith is Connecticut Public’s host of All Things Considered, its flagship afternoon news program. He's proud to be a part of the team that won a regional Emmy Award for The Vote: A Connecticut Conversation. In his 21st year as a professional broadcaster, he’s covered both news and sports.

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Now all of that is at risk.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

Connecticut Public’s journalism is made possible, in part by funding from Jeffrey Hoffman and Robert Jaeger.