TDSB extending COVID-19 vaccine policy deadline for some workers by three weeks
The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) says it will extend its Nov. 2 for COVID-19 vaccination deadline by nearly three weeks for some workers, as it grapples with employees who won’t respond to its queries and a high number of claims for medical exemptions.
In a newsletter distributed by Trustee Shelley Laskin, the TDSB says it won’t place all unvaccinated employees on home assignment without pay on Nov. 2 as it promised.
Instead, only employees who have not completed a vaccine attestation form or any bi-weekly rapid antigen tests since early September will be put on unpaid leave on that date.
“While staff who have not submitted their attestation or rapid antigen testing results will be put on home assignment without pay as of November 2nd, the full implementation will take place over the following three weeks,” the newsletter said. “This decision was based on feedback from system leaders, a longer than anticipated time required to review a significant number of requests for exemptions, and in order to ensure continuity in students’ learning and care and important business processes.”
Spokesperson Ryan Bird told CP24 that staff who have told the board they are not vaccinated will now have until Nov. 19 to get their first dose, and until Dec. 19 to receive their second.
Staff who still have not received any dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Nov. 21 will be placed on unpaid leave.
Anyone who applies for a medical exemption and is denied will have 45 days from when they were denied to get a vaccine dose, and will have to submit to rapid antigen testing bi-weekly during that time.
Yesterday, Education Minister Stephen Lecce said that across the Ontario education sector, there could be as many as 50,000 workers in all capacities who are either unvaccinated or have not disclosed their vaccination status.
The Ministry of Education told CTV News Toronto it estimates there are at least 46,000 education workers who are not fully vaccinated.
In the TDSB, staff says that as of Oct. 22, 85 per cent of the employees for which its vaccine mandate will apply have attested that they are fully vaccinated.
Another 1,705 people, or four per cent of the workforce have not yet filled out a vaccine attestation form, leaving 4,188, or 11 per cent of its employees who are unvaccinated and told the TDSB so in an attestation.
The TDSB says it will continue to contact employees who have not yet filled out an attestation directly.
“It is thought that many of those who have not yet completed the form are casual employees who may not have worked for the school board yet this school year,” staff wrote in a report circulated to trustees.
The TDSB’s vaccine mandate applies to all teachers, trustees, managerial staff, bus drivers, interns and co-op students placed at the board, and all other individuals who provide services to children at schools, volunteers or otherwise.
It originally decreed that everyone have two shots of an approved COVID-19 vaccine by Nov. 1.
While the TDSB did not disclose how many of its staff have sought medical or other exemptions from vaccination, it said it approved five exemptions so far.
The ratio of 12.5 approved exemptions per 100,000 approved at the TDSB is higher than the 1-5 in 100,000 ratio public health officialssuggest should be seen in the general population.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'
$3.8M home in B.C.'s Okanagan has steel shell for extra wildfire protection
A home in B.C.'s Okanagan that features a weathering steel shell designed to provide some protection against wildfires has been listed for sale at $3.8 million.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
Celebrity designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags
A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities from Britney Spears to the cast of the 'Sex and the City' TV series was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in Miami federal court on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags from her native Colombia.
Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.