SOUTHEAST - Several school divisions, including Â鶹ÊÓƵ East Cornerstone Public School Division and the Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School Division, announced Monday their intent to develop and implement a vaccination administrative procedure.
The two southeast school divisions will be asking employees to make a choice: show proof of being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result on a regular basis. In Cornerstone, that will be every seven days.
“We are encouraging all staff and individuals who work with students or in the board facilities to consider a vaccination in order to enhance the safety for all students and employees,” Â鶹ÊÓƵ East Cornerstone Director of Education Lynn Little said.
“It’s a priority in Holy Family RCSSD #140 to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in schools. Holy Family employees continue to have a shared responsibility in this direction. The physical and emotional safety of students and staff is of utmost importance as is ‘maintaining in-school instruction’,” said the statement.
“This direction will add another layer of protection to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Holy Family schools. It also encourages higher COVID-19 vaccination rates among employees especially during a time when most of Holy Family students are not eligible to be vaccinated and the COVID-19 infection rate is on the rise,” said Holy Family’s announcement.
Little also noted that the policy is designed to encourage the highest possible COVID-19 vaccination rates amongst school division employees as part of ongoing efforts to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in Â鶹ÊÓƵ East Cornerstone Public School Division.
Those who are not fully vaccinated or who do not wish to disclose their vaccination status in Cornerstone will be required to regularly produce a negative COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test.
For proof of vaccination, Â鶹ÊÓƵ East Cornerstone Public School Division will recognize the card issued by the Saskatchewan Health Authority at the time of vaccination, a copy of a vaccination record obtained online through MySaskHealthRecord, records entered into the new digital SK Vax Wallet or a letter of verification from a doctor or pharmacist in this province.
Further information regarding the administrative procedure will be released in the coming days by both school divisions.