ST. PAUL - Last week, St. Paul Education Superintendent Glen Brodziak offered an update on a hazard assessment that is being done, along with all the pieces that go along with making an informed recommendation on mandatory vaccines for division staff.
A recommendation regarding mandatory COVID-19 vaccines for staff was not put forward, but is expected to be delivered at the school board's next regular meeting in December.
While the division had previously not wanted to ask staff about their vaccination status, in order to properly determine the risk level, a voluntary and anonymous one-question survey was put out to school staff. About 400 responses were collected. The division employs about 620 staff across the region.
Offering a variety of information to the board of trustees on Nov. 10, a quick overview of the survey was relayed. Of the almost 400 respondents, about 84.4 per cent said they were vaccinated. The survey also allowed for staff to provide an opinion on the matter, and about 200 respondents took advantage of the opportunity.
From those who did provide an opinion, 139 appeared to be in favour of a vaccination mandate.
While gathering information, Brodziak said he's consulted legal counsel, and accessed various documents and statements by organizations such as the Alberta Teachers' Association.
Speaking about occupational health and safety legislation, he noted that the division is mandated to protect employees against hazards and school divisions have been instructed to treat COVID-19 as a hazard. If a hazard cannot be eliminated, it must be controlled, heard the board.
Brodziak said he continues to work to determine if safeguards in place are enough, or if a vaccine mandate is needed.
Speaking about substitute teacher and staff costs, the division has experienced a 33 per cent increase in costs associated with substitutes. Ultimately, schools can't operate without staff members in attendance, said Brodziak.
Since contact tracing has resumed this fall, there have been 49 positive cases in St. Paul Education schools, and of those cases, 25 were staff members, said Brodziak.
Speaking about insurance costs, school divisions have noted possible increases if a vaccine mandate isn't put in place. There is still very limited information available on the topic, but some divisions in the province are estimating nearly half a million dollar increases in premiums, which in the end, is taxpayer money, said Brodziak.
Secretary-Treasurer Jean Champagne also noted that insurance costs are an evolving area, but existing coverage will not cover COVID damages.
One positive from the current school year is that school sports have been able to take place. About half a dozen letters have been received by the division from parents asking about attendance at school sports, specifically if parents are fully vaccinated and masked.
Brodziak described the letters are being kind, and said he felt mandatory staff vaccinations could actually help bring parents back into schools.
A mandate would help control overall COVID rates and reduce the overall risks. With masking, cleaning protocols and other controls in place, along with mandatory vaccines for staff, "I believe mom and dad could come in," said Brodziak, adding, "I see this as an opportunity to get our parents back in school."
Brodziak also spoke about how he had recently been asked what his personal opinion on vaccine mandates was, to which he stated he has a moral obligation to students and staff, and the information he gathers on the topic is based on facts.
During discussions, board chair Heather Starosielski brought up a letter that had been sent to the board of trustees, signed by about 100 individuals. A motion to accept the letter into public record was carried.
The letter, overall, spoke against public health mandates in place due to the pandemic, and against mandatory vaccines.
Brodziak said there were many aspects of the letter he agreed with, such as the serious impacts the pandemic has had on youth. But when it came to topics such as field trips, those are things that fall outside the curriculum, and rules are not set by the school division.
Following discussions, the board agreed to proceed with attending a legal session on the topic of mandatory vaccines.
"This is difficult," said Starosielski, adding she still felt strongly that vaccine mandates should be a provincial decision.
Trustee Darcy Younghans thanked administration for considering every aspect of the issue. The board agreed to give administration more time to come forward with a recommendation.
Aspen View moves forward on vaccine status protocol
A special meeting was held on Nov. 8, where Aspen View Public Schools board of trustees directed administration to develop and implement a COVID-19 vaccination status Administrative Procedure (AP).
The procedure will require "all Aspen View employees, volunteers, onsite contractors, partners and tenants to: provide proof of full immunization against COVID-19 OR participate in regular testing to verify that they are COVID-19 negative," according to information from the school division, which oversees schools in the Vilna and Smoky Lake areas.
The AP is now being drafted, and is anticipated to be done by the end of November.
"The AP is intended to be a temporary measure that may be amended or rescinded as circumstances change. This AP will not apply to students or to parents/ guardians and caregivers who are picking up or dropping their children off at Aspen View buildings," according to the school division.
Students attending Aspen View schools are not required to be fully vaccinated to attend classes.
During the special meeting, Superintendent Neil O’Shea said the AP does not mandate that staff be vaccinated but instead provides options of proof of vaccination or regular testing.
Trustees of Aspen View have also expressed disappointment that the decision regarding vaccines has been downloaded to school boards. It has been reported that as of early November, close to half of Alberta’s 61 school jurisdictions have implemented similar measures.
