Vaccine mandate approved for Central Okanagan school staff

After a debate that lasted over an hour, the Board of Trustees for Central Okanagan Public Schools voted in favour of a vaccine mandate for all staff.

Employees will have to be either fully vaccinated or take a rapid test before heading into the school, after the motion was passed in a 5-2 vote. No date was provided for when the mandate will take effect.

Trustees Lee-Ann Tiede and Amy Geistlinger were the only two who voted against the mandate.

Nearly 1,000 people tuned in to watch the online meeting, and prior to the debate, a question-and-answer period went on for over an hour with 72 people asking questions and giving comments.

The majority of those speaking were strongly opposed to implementing the mandate and said the trustees don’t have a right to be making this kind of medical decision as they aren’t doctors. Concerns were also raised about potential legal ramifications.

Board members pointed out how they were granted legal authority by the province’s top doctor to collect the vaccination status of staff to help guide a decision on a mandate.

The overall collective health of the kids and keeping them in school for both educational and mental health purposes was also cited as why a mandate needed to be debated.

Trustees admitted they never thought they’d be put in a position to decide on a mandate like this but understood the importance of the decision.

Despite the virtual nature of the meeting, there was clear tension among participants.

SD23 Board Chair, Moyra Baxter, said the sheer number of people who took part was unprecedented. She admitted not matter the outcome that night, trustees were going to be vilified from one side or another.

“I realize that this is going to probably mean we are still going to be bombarded with people telling us that we’ve done the wrong thing, but you know, I think it’s the right thing to do,” she said after voting in favour of the mandate.

During a presentation by Superintendent of Schools/CEO, Kevin Kaardal, it was revealed that just over 92 per cent of employees had provided their vaccination status; 89.6 per cent of which are fully vaccinated, well above the provincial average.

School District 23 joins seven other school districts across British Columbia that have voted in favour of a mandate. Twenty-five districts have voted against it.

Talks will now begin between senior administrators, CUPE and the teachers’ union to work out the details about how staff will access rapid tests or when they will have to be vaccinated.

In Letters of Agreement signed between BCPSEA, BCTF, and CUPE regarding proof of vaccination, it said there will be weekly testing for those who are not vaccinated. Employees will also be able to take unpaid leaves for the duration of the agreement, which will end on June 30.

(Story by Jordan Brenda/Kelowna10)