Image Credit: ADOBE STOCK

Staff working for the Kamloops-Thompson school district will be required to declare their vaccine status by early May now that the school board has approved a policy.

The policy is scheduled to be implemented by May 9, but staff will not have to fear punishment for not being vaccinated against COVID-19. Instead, school district staff will have to disclose their status. Those that are not fully vaccinated and those who choose not to say will have to undergo periodic rapid testing for COVID-19.

"There seems to be a broad consensus that this is a moderate but necessary way forward," district trustee John O'Fee explained at the Feb. 7 board meeting.

O'Fee explained the school district consulted with several groups of employee representatives to come up with the policy, which helped determine that the vaccine policy committee did not want to put anyone's employment in jeopardy.

READ MORE: Threats continue after Central Okanagan school board approves vaccine mandate

The Kamloops-Thompson school district now joins the Central Okanagan school district in approving a vaccine policy. Both will expire on June 30, but could be revisited.

There are seven other school districts in B.C. that have approved vaccine mandates for staff and 25 who have voted against it, according to Central Okanagan superintendent Kevin Kaardal.

While unvaccinated staff are not at risk of losing their employment, the policy does include punishment for anyone found to falsify their vaccination records at the Kamloops-Thompson school district.

School district employees could face disciplinary action "up to and including termination" and contractors could be let go from their employment at the district, according to a report on the Feb. 7 board meeting agenda.

"At the end of the day, it was never about forcing people to go into their personal choice about vaccinations. It was about if not vaccination, then rapid testing," board chair Heather Grieve said.

In stark contrast to the Central Okanagan school board decision, last night's District 73 board meeting was not subject to interruptions from the public to discuss the vaccine policy. The Central Okanagan board took calls and correspondence from the public, which included 70 people that spoke against their policy and included threats in their messages.

In a November survey of School District 73's employees regarding a vaccination policy, 60% responded with 84% of those in favour of a proof of vaccination process.

Out of those that responded to the survey, more than 90% were at least partially vaccinated.

READ MORE: COVID hospitalizations remain high in B.C.

The policy will allow for some exemptions, which includes third-party contractors and practicum students working at school district facilities.

It does not include elected trustees on the school board.

Seven of the nine trustees voted in favour of the policy, while Shelley Sim voted against the policy, explaining that she did not believe now is the right time to implement the policy.

Trustee Kathleen Karpuk recused herself from the vote due to a conflict of interest with the B.C. General Employees' Union which was involved in the committee process.

READ MORE: TNRD approves vaccine policy for elected officials

— With files from Rob Munro.

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