Vials of the MMR measles mums and rubella virus vaccine are displayed Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

WHEELING — Most local West Virginia schools — public, private and parochial — aren’t deciding yet whether they will grant religious and philosophical exemptions to existing vaccine requirements for school children.

At the same time, none said they are following Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s executive order to allow the exemptions.

Marshall County Schools Superintendent Shelby Haines indicated her school district will follow the West Virginia Department of Education’s lead on the matter, whatever the agency decides.

“The administration of Marshall County Schools works closely with the WVDE, monitoring the implementation of legislation and executive orders,” she said.

“Additionally, we work hand-in-hand with the Marshall County Health Department. We will follow all policies put in place by the WVDE, while working to keep our students safe and healthy.”

This week, Ohio County Schools announced it would seek legal counsel in efforts to determine its next move regarding exemptions to vaccinations.

Brooke County Schools did not respond to requests for comment.

Among private schools, Jessica Broski-Birch, head of school at Wheeling Country Day School, isn’t yet changing any policy pertaining to requirements for vaccinations.

“As an independent school, we will continue to enforce all vaccination requirements under current West Virginia law,” she said. “We affirm our right to operate in accordance with our mission and values, and maintaining these requirements reflects both our legal and ethical responsibilities.”

Broski-Birch added Wheeling Country Day will abide by state law even though its students come from multiple states.

She is not certain whether the governor’s executive order pertains to private and parochial schools.

“We have sought legal counsel and reached out to state officials,” she said. “While it is still unclear because of the way it has gone about. But oftentimes private schools have more jurisdiction to make decisions on their own.

“Everybody feels a little in limbo waiting to see how the law changes or upholds.”

In a letter released last week, Morrisey said mentioned that government cannot compel private schools to accept exempt students without a statutory change, but urged all childcare centers and private and parochial schools in West Virginia to “honor the religious beliefs of their students and not turn them away because of their strongly held objections to vaccines.”

Jason Zimmerman, headmaster at The Linsly School, noted there are no easy decisions about the issue.

“Linsly is still in the process of reviewing and considering our options as a private school as this is a complicated matter, ” he said.

Tim Bishop, director of marketing and communications at Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston indicated the Diocese would not be affected by the governor’s executive order.

“We will not be changing our requirements,” he said.

Legislation establishing religious or philosophical exemptions to vaccines was not passed during the regular legislative session earlier this year. But Morrisey – just after taking office in January – issued an executive order permitting the exemptions.

Earlier this month, State School Superintendent Michele Blatt sent her own memo to state school superintendents. She told school districts that as no legislation establishing vaccine exemptions was passed, “there is no religious exemption provided for in West Virginia law” and schools should continue to enforce existing vaccination rules.

She pulled the memo later in the day, and issued a second statement promising to work with the governor’s office to find a resolution.

Morrisey in his letter last week noted his executive order “still stands, and I have no intention of rescinding it.”

Then on Wednesday, the West Virginia Board of Education directed State Schools Superintendent Michele Blatt to read a statement that the board “will continue to work with the governor’s legislative liaison to find resolution to this issue.”

They are to consider required vaccine rules for the state when they next meet in June.