Update on COVID-19 Harm Reduction Administrative Procedure

December 9, 2021

St. Paul Education is responsible for and committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace and learning environment for our students and staff.

On October 5, 2021, a letter from the Minister’s of Education and Health was received strongly encouraging all school divisions in the province to implement a proof of vaccination or negative test result procedure for adults working in school buildings.

COVID-19 has been identified as a workplace hazard, and can have a detrimental effect on health and safety, division operations, student learning, employee productivity, division costs, and employee morale. As part of an Occupational Health and Safety Hazard Assessment, the Division initiated an extensive review process of the following information:

• Occupational Health and Safety considerations

• Legal considerations

• Insurance implications

• Employee and public input

• Operational risks

• Local context

• Practical implementation considerations

• Decisions of other school divisions

It has been determined that in order to support safe and healthy working environments in our schools and offices, St. Paul Education will be developing an Administrative Procedure that will be requiring proof of vaccination or a regular 72 hour negative COVID-19 Rapid Antigen test result from Division staff. Anyone entering our buildings and in regular contact with students or other staff for a period of 15 minutes or more will also be subject to this AP.

Please note that this new procedure does not apply to students.

This AP would come into full effect on March 1, 2022. Due to the evolving and dynamic nature of this public health matter, and ongoing direction, recommendations and advice from public health officials and Alberta Education, this new AP will be considered temporary. As a result, it will be periodically reviewed, updated, amended or rescinded as deemed necessary.

We expect to have more detailed information and an Administrative Procedure in the coming days. The Division is in the process of exploring a third party provider to securely manage rapid tests and data at a reduced cost to the employee through a cost sharing model.

We understand that these are challenging times and we are grateful to our families and staff for their continued patience and understanding.