By Steven Allen Adams, The Parkersburg News and Sentinel
CHARLESTON — In-person and virtual public charter schools will continue to follow West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s executive order allowing for religious exemptions to required school-age immunizations until the matter is settled.
During its regular virtual meeting Thursday morning, the Professional Charter School Board heard from its own legal counsel and the governor’s regarding whether to follow state Board of Education guidance requiring public school systems to follow existing state code that mandates immunizations for students entering public and private schools except in cases of a medical exemption, or to follow Morrisey’s January executive order allowing religious exemptions.
Board Director Adam Paul said until the state’s courts weigh in, he will continue to provide guidance to public charter schools to exempt any student from the required immunizations if their parents submit a letter from the state Department of Health approving an exemption.
