The Delta School board has much to consider when it comes to the sensitive issue of implementing a vaccine requirement for employees.
That’s according to the board of education following the provincial government last week announcing that guidelines have been developed to support boards and independent school authorities in their decisions on implementing vaccine requirements for their employees.
“Currently, the Delta Board of Education is reviewing the Ministry of Education’s K-12 Sector Guidelines for Vaccination Policies, which were released on Friday. This is a complex and sensitive issue, and we are continuing to consider the best course of action for our school community,” a statement from the Delta Board of Education notes.
At a recent in-camera meeting, Delta trustees directed school district staff to begin work immediately on a safety policy and/or procedure, to provide, amongst other safety measures, the viability of mandatory vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2, for all staff.
The Ministry of Education this month convened an advisory committee comprised of ministry and education sector representatives to come up with a coordinated approach for boards that choose to implement vaccination policies.
Principles, roles and guidelines were developed to support boards as they consider options, but the ministry is also making it clear the guidelines are for employees only, which should be interpreted broadly to include any employee of a board or authority, including contracted employees, regardless of classification or location.
The guidelines provide a roadmap to enable school boards to make an informed decision on a mandatory vaccination policy, according to the ministry.
“Boards and authorities have the ability as employers to set terms and conditions of employment and to create policies and procedures on a range of measures related to employee and workplace well-being and health and safety. Within the current COVID-19 context, some boards and authorities may be contemplating implementing a vaccine policy as part of their overall health and safety strategy. Education partners have agreed that there is value in having a coordinated approach to implementing such policies so as to avoid highly variable health and safety standards in schools and other K-12 workplace settings,” the guidelines document states.
The document notes boards and authorities that decide to implement a vaccine policy as a workplace health and safety measure should allow time for consultation with local partners, should be transparent in their communications with staff and provide sufficient time to allow currently unvaccinated staff to become vaccinated.
The guidelines include boards ensuring any vaccine policy is informed by legal advice, including assessing implications of Charter rights, human rights and existing employment and labour case law, including liability and indemnification.
If boards choose not to follow the steps as outlined in the guidelines, they should be aware there may be legal or financial, the document warns.
BCTF President Teri Mooring this month issued a notice to all union members that the federation would officially support provincial mandatory vaccines in the K–12 system for school staff and volunteers.
