BOSTON –Representative Steven Ultrino (D – Malden) and thirty-four of his colleagues in the legislature are calling upon the Baker administration to prioritize low-income schools for vaccines and pool testing in order to ensure the quickest return to in-person learning in communities that need it most. 

While remote learning has changed life for every student and family, it is evident that the consequences and negative effects are disproportionately felt in low-income districts. 

Led by Representative Andy X. Vargas (D-Haverhill) and Senator Adam Gomez (D-Springfield), the 35 legislators signed a letter to Governor Baker, Secretary Sudders, and Secretary Peyser, asking for “a deliberate prioritization in the application and marketing of both pool testing and vaccine deployment” in low-income school districts. 

“With vaccines for all K-12 staff on the horizon and the recent announcement of pool testing resources available, we hope the administration can prioritize low-income school districts first. Several studies and evidence from our constituents have shown how challenging remote learning has been for low-income schools and families,” said Representative Vargas. 

“There is no question that lower income communities have been hit the hardest since the pandemic began,” said Senator Gomez.  “This letter makes clear, through the support of my colleagues, that the Administration should prioritize the needs of low-income school districts for vaccines and pool testing, particularly in communities where COVID-19 cases are at their highest.”

“Communities like Malden have suffered more than most during the ongoing pandemic, that’s as true for our students as it is for the broader community” said Representative Ultrino. “It simply makes sense to prioritize vaccines and pool testing in school districts like ours where online learning has been difficult due to systemic barriers between students and reliable technology and internet connections. I hope that Governor Baker will honor his commitment to put the communities hurting the most at the front of the line for this vaccine by ensuring that low-income school districts are appropriately prioritized.”

The Baker administration has placed K-12 workers in Phase 2 of the vaccine deployment plan, but it has not specified which K-12 schools would come first. Additionally, the administration announced pool testing resources last week and funding available on a first come first serve basis. Legislators would like to see both offered and deployed in low-income districts first.