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
Live updates: What star witness in Trump hush money case has said on the stand so far
The star prosecution witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial took the stand Monday with testimony that could help shape the outcome of the first criminal case against an American president.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
Wildfire smoke drifts across Canada, over parts of U.S., prompting air quality advisories
Air quality advisories are in effect across Western Canada as smoky conditions plague some areas, according to the latest forecasts. Here's where.
When you have a moment's notice to evacuate, what do you take?
Knowing what to have at home, or take with you for an evacuation, can be useful and even life-saving.
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.’s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease’s progression.
'Judge Judy' Sheindlin sues for defamation over National Enquirer, InTouch Weekly stories
'Judge Judy' Sheindlin sued the parent company of the National Enquirer and InTouch Weekly on Monday for a story that she said falsely claimed that she was trying to help the Menendez brothers get a retrial after they were convicted of murdering their parents.
'A great victory for the industry': Taxi drivers celebrate ruling that found City of Ottawa negligent in allowing Uber to operate
An Ontario Superior Court judge has ruled that the City of Ottawa was negligent in its enforcement of the city's taxi bylaw when it allowed Uber to begin operating in 2014, harming the city's established taxi industry.
Steve Buscemi punched in the face while walking in N.Y.C.
Hollywood actor Steve Buscemi has been treated for injuries after being punched in the face while walking in New York City.