Teachers Fired For Refusing COVID-19 Vaccine Offered Their Jobs Back In School Settlement

A Rhode Island school district settled on Thursday with three teachers it fired in 2021 for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine, offering them their jobs back as a part of the deal, according to a press release.

The Barrington Public School System has agreed to pay the three teachers it fired more than $33,000, according to a district press release. The teachers sued after being fired in 2021 after the school board did not grant them a religious exemption from its COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

“We’re extremely gratified that they’ve been vindicated in their position,” Gregory Piccirilli, the attorney representing the teachers, told The Boston Globe. “A lot of people were dismissive and skeptical of their claims at the time. They went through a lot of personal trauma dealing with this. Their faith has gotten them through this.”