North Cook News

Glenview School District 34 reversed its decision to require staff members to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine to keep their jobs after employees concerned about the mandate contacted Liberty Counsel.

In March, the Glenview School District 34 administration sent employees a letter that stated that “the district is requiring all staff to have begun the COVID vaccination process no later than April 30, 2021, as a condition of continued employment.”

The Florida-based law firm sent a demand letter on April 7, commanding that the school district drop the vaccine mandate on behalf of half a dozen employees.

“The COVID-19 pandemic does not justify violations of fundamental individual, economic and religious liberties," the Liberty Counsel letter stated. "These include the rights of personal autonomy and bodily integrity and the right to accept or reject the various COVID vaccines based on religious beliefs."

The demand letter also notes that “district employees and students are protected against mandated COVID vaccines under 21 U.S.C. 360bbb-3, which provides that Emergency Use Authorization products (like all of the COVID vaccines) require (as a condition of emergency approval) that people have 'the option to accept or refuse administration of the product.'”

Illinois has not issued or authorized a COVID mandate. However, like Texas and Florida, other states have forbidden taking action related to employment or access to public facilities based on someone not having a COVID-19 vaccine. 

Liberty Counsel requested written assurance from the district that the vaccine mandate is withdrawn and it will not take retaliatory action against employees who choose not to have the COVID-19 vaccination.

The school district said that employees have been granted exemptions based on their religious beliefs or health exemptions, even before Liberty Counsel sent their demand letter, according to an April 20 article in the Chicago Tribune.

“We want to clarify that it was always District 34′s intent and practice to allow religious and health exemptions for the COVID-19 vaccine requirement. ... Many district staff had been granted exemptions before the Liberty Counsel had contacted us,” District 34 spokeswoman Cathy Kedjidjian said, The Chicago Tribune reported.