Chinook’s Edge is the latest school division to require all staff, contractors and volunteers to either provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, or commit to regular rapid testing.
The new policy will take effect on Jan. 10.
After considerable deliberation and consultation, the Chinook’s Edge school board supported the administration’s recommendation for a harm reduction procedure to address the requirements which have been outlined by Occupational Health and Safety, as well as Alberta Education, Alberta Health Services and division insurance providers, states a release from the school division.
The new rules will allow rapid testing to determine that someone is virus-free, however, as a sign of “respect for personal choice of staff.”
Detailed information and support to guide staff through the next steps and to ensure ease of compliance will be provided, the release added.
The Chinook’s Edge school board also approved that a letter be sent to the Minister of Justice. The board chair wrote a letter to the Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, Kaycee Madu, requesting that the Government of Alberta provide protection for school boards against being sued in related to COVID -19, and to elicit support from other boards for this purpose.