Surrey, BC’s Largest School District, Will Not Require COVID Vaccinations for Staff | The Canadian News

The Surrey School Board has announced that it will not impose COVID-19 vaccinations for adult staff.

The board announced Tuesday that while it recognizes the importance of vaccinations and encourages everyone to get vaccinated, doing so will not be a condition of employment for any member of the school system staff.

Surrey school district is the largest in BC

“We have an obligation to our community to keep our schools open and to continue to provide a safe learning environment for our students,” said Terry Allen, vice president of the Surrey Board of Education in a statement. Schools are a low-risk environment for transmission and public health experts have assured us that our schools are safe and that we do not need 100 (percent) vaccination rates for safe operation. “

A few weeks ago, the British Columbia government released guidelines for school districts to follow if they are to require the COVID-19 vaccine for staff.

Such a mandate would require that teachers, administrators, cleaning staff, instructional assistants, and other adults in the school system be vaccinated.

The province has refused to provide guidance on whether school districts should vote to impose vaccination mandates, rather than encouraging all staff to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

The BC Federation of Teachers and BC Liberals have expressed concern that allowing districts to decide would create a fragmented approach.

The Surrey School Board said its decision also considered the fact that the Surrey and White Rock areas have high community vaccination rates, with more than 90 percent of those eligible having already received at least one dose and about 87 percent have received two doses.

“Also, we know that transmission within the school is still low,” Allen said.

Surrey Parent Advisory Committee Chair Rina Diaz said she was a bit disappointed to hear the news, but understands the reasons why the decision was made.

“The staffing rate in our schools is quite high, we are almost 90 percent, so the last thing you feel will change your mind in the next few days, and if not, it is not that high a number,” he said.

However, he noted that the school’s air quality and ventilation are still issues, making it a concern as well.

The board said it will continue to support vaccines by hosting clinics and promoting vaccination in school communities.

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