by: anna junker
edmonton public schools is requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated against covid-19.
supt. darrel robertson said monday the division is implementing the vaccine mandate in order to provide a safe learning and working environment, especially because children under 12 cannot yet be immunized.
“our custodial staff, maintenance, support, teachers, exempt staff, our volunteers that come into the school, essentially all adults that are coming in school to spend time and work with kids, or around kids, will be captured in this mandatory vaccination regulation,” robertson said.
all employees will have to declare their vaccination status by mid-october. those who are not fully vaccinated and have not received an exemption from the division will be required to provide proof of a negative covid-19 test every 72 hours.
from late october to dec. 17, the division will co-ordinate and pay for testing through a third-party provider. following dec. 17, any employee who remains unvaccinated will have to cover the cost of the test at their own expense.
the mandate will be in place for all 215 schools, along with any other buildings that the division operates.
robertson said staff who refuse to get tested before work may be put on unpaid leave, but the possibility of being fired is also there for breaking an employment regulation and contract.