He worked there for 30 years - then chose unpaid leave over the jab
A veteran chemistry teacher's three-decade career with a California school district ended over a needle he would not take.
The state's Court of Appeal on October 7, 2026 affirmed summary judgment for Burbank Unified School District, ruling that indefinite unpaid leave was a lawful religious accommodation under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).
The teacher had taught high school chemistry for the district since 1992. In September 2021, the Board of Education approved Resolution 7, requiring all staff to be vaccinated or obtain an exemption. Unvaccinated employees were barred from campus after October 25, 2021.
He sought a religious exemption. The district granted it - along with roughly 100 others. But granting the exemption did not mean campus access.
The district assessed every exempted employee's role. Five workers in isolated office jobs got alternatives: twice-weekly testing, masks, plastic barriers, six-foot distancing. For anyone with regular student contact, the only option was unpaid leave.
The district told him it was "unable to identify a reasonable accommodation, other than unpaid leave, that would not pose an undue burden on the District."
He pushed back. He proposed PCR testing. He appealed to the superintendent. He filed a formal complaint alleging religious discrimination. Each avenue closed.
His paid leave ran out by March 2022. He faced $951.34 a month in health insurance...
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