With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Nearly 2,000 LAUSD Staff Members Got COVID-19 Vaccine Exemptions

The Los Angeles Unified School District, one of the largest employers in the county, issued a vaccine mandate last August, requiring all workers to get vaccinated or face being fired. The move came after Gov. Gavin Newsom mandated vaccines or weekly testing for all staff at California's public schools.
Employees with religious objections or medical conditions preventing them from getting the shot could, the district said, “engage in an interactive process to determine if a reasonable accommodation exists." A public records request filed by LAist has revealed that more than 3,200 staff members made that request.
To date, at least 1,963 LAUSD employees have been exempted, with principals, vice principals, teachers and school police making up about half of that pool. The remaining half is made up of staff.
Back in August, when the delta variant was top of mind, the teachers’ union voted overwhelmingly in favor of the mandate. UTLA President Cecily Myart-Cruz celebrated the decision.
“Because of the protocols that UTLA educators and LAUSD families fought for and won,” she said in a statement, “LA Unified has among the strictest COVID safety protocols in the country.”
The public records request also revealed that 845 teachers have received vaccine exemptions, a figure that represents just over 3% of K-12 educators in the district.
Forty school police officers also applied for exemptions. Twenty of them are now suing the district, alleging they were either wrongfully fired or coerced into taking the vaccine.
The Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit was brought Monday, as the omicron variant rips through the county. The plaintiffs seek compensatory damages, and those who were fired also want to be reinstated to their previous positions.
According to the suit, some plaintiffs remain on medical leave but have been told that they will be terminated if they return unvaccinated.
Jill Replogle contributed to this report.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.

-
Heavy rain from the early-season storm could trigger debris flows. Snow is also possible above 7,000 feet.
-
Jet Propulsion Laboratory leadership announces that 11% of the workforce is being cut.
-
The rock legend joins LAist for a lookback on his career — and the next chapter of his music.
-
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain.
-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember.
-
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care.