Crescent Heights High School is one of 16 schools in Medicine Hat's Public School Division to enact a COVID-19 vaccination and testing policy for all staff.--NEWS PHOTO KENDALL KING
kking@medicinehatnews.com
Medicine Hat’s two school divisions are reporting high numbers of staff compliance with COVID-19 vaccination and testing policies.
The deadline for staff at Medicine Hat Public School Division to either provide proof of full vaccination, or agree to weekly testing, passed Nov. 30 with 99.6% in compliance.
Division superintendent Mark Davidson told the News there are fewer than five staff members who have not yet acted on the policy.
“It’s a handful of folks,” he said. “Each person’s case is different so human resources is working with them to determine a way forward.
“Of all the staff who are compliant to date, 94% are vaccinated and 6% have chosen to – either because of personal choice or because of a temporary medical need – do the rapid testing alternative.”
Medicine Hat’s Catholic Board of Education gave staff until Dec. 13 to either provide proof of vaccination or agree to rapid-testing.
“We’ve asked all of our staff to indicate whether or not they’re in compliance,” superintendent Dr. Dwayne Zarichny, told the News. “All of our staff have responded, and overall we have a small number of staff are choosing to provide us with the results of the COVID test twice a week.”
Overall, the MHCBE reports 97% of its staff are fully vaccinated.
“We want to do the very best that we can to keep everybody safe,” said Zarichny. “That then allows our staff to focus in on what’s important and that’s teaching the students that they serve.”
Davidson agrees.
“The board has long felt that they had a responsibility to do all they could to protect staff, students and community from COVID-19,” Davidson said. “Following, the advice of the Minister of Health, Minister of Education, the Premier and Alberta Health Services, they decided that this policy was a prudent way to support that end.”
