Fayette County schools to pay $500 to vaccinated staff

Citing concerns about keeping schools open amid COVID-19 illnesses and critical staff shortages, the Fayette County Board of Education voted 4-1 on Aug. 23 to give each vaccinated employee a one-time payment of $500. Federal relief funds will be used to underwrite the cost. Superintendent Jonathan Patterson said, “Our families deserve peace that we will remain open and services will not be impacted,” especially amid high resignations of bus drivers, janitors and food service workers. The supplement will be paid to any school employee who is already fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or will be by Dec. 1.

Randy Hough voted against the measure, citing concerns about the cost and possible “untoward results” of treating vaccinated and unvaccinated staff differently. Brian Anderson defended the decision, saying, “We have a grave issue and it’s not going to fix itself. We need to do every little thing we can to try to address it.”