BREAKING: Seattle Public Schools cancels class due to lack of staff

In an email to parents the district announced, "Seattle Public Schools will be closed on Friday, November 12. We are aware of an unusually large number of SPS staff taking leave on Friday, and do not believe we have adequate personnel to open schools with the necessary environment for high-quality learning. This is a change from the published schedule, and we recognize the late notice creates challenging circumstances for many families."

According to the email "This learning day will be added to the end of the 21/22 school year to ensure all students have access to the full number of educational hours."

Students had a day off already scheduled for Thursday for Veterans Day.

In a statement to Fox News, the district said that last week more than 600 educators requested a substitute and additional requests came in this week for the day after Veterans Day. The district added that because of current circumstances, they do not have the capacity to "ensure student safety and high-quality learning."

Following Governor Jay Inslee’s vaccine mandates, thousands of employees across the state were fired for non-compliance. According to the Seattle Times, Democrat Governor Jay Inslee fired nearly 1,900 state workers that did not submit vaccination records, a requirement ordered by Inslee that had an October 18 deadline. Those numbers don't include workers that were fired by their local governments which is predicted to be in the thousands.

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan imposed her own mandate on city staff which led to the firings and resignations of first responders. The schools were already short staffed before any of the mandates were imposed.

In August, Inslee announced a vaccine requirement for employees working in K-12, most childcare and early learning, and higher education, as well as an expansion of the statewide mask mandate to all individuals, regardless of vaccination status.

Pushback against Democrat Governor Jay Inslee's mandates continue to grow in Washington. Last month, the Eatonville School Board voted not to terminate employees who would not comply with Inslee's vaccine mandate for all employees, on-site contractors and on-site volunteers in K-12 schools.

The Enumclaw, Wash., City Council voted unanimously on October 25 to pass a resolution declaring that "…citizens and businesses should be treated equally without discrimination, regardless of vaccination status."

Washington state Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal has threatened to withhold funding from the schools and told King 5 that the district has been given a notice and will need to provide proof that they are complying with the mandate within about two weeks. Reykdal added that his office has had to send letters to two other school districts about mandate compliance.

Washington State University's head football coach Nick Rolovich was fired last month after his refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Other teachers and coaches across the state have also been fired.