The division didn't need to move any schools to remote learning following the winter break, but were closed to it. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

omicron variant

NLSD policy results in 93 per cent of staff fully vaccinated for COVID

Jan 20, 2022 | 5:03 PM

A vaccine mandate for Northern Lights School Division (NLSD) employees announced in October 2021 has resulted in 93 per cent of all staff becoming fully vaccinated.

That’s according to Director of Education Jason Young, who explained that is good number and he appreciates everyone’s effort to comply with the policy. The mandate required all staff members to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 or provide regular negative test results.

“I didn’t see any major hiccups with it, so I’m glad the rollout has been relatively smooth,” he said.

The NLSD is a major employer in northern Saskatchewan with its latest annual report showing 669 full time staff. That includes 280 teachers, 265 other educational staff, and 78 in plant operations and maintenance.

Young mentioned the school division is currently working to manage a fifth wave of COVID-19, noting administration is seeing more cases in some schools compared to others. He said the trend is likely to continue for some time, but administration is yet to move a school to online learning since the December break.

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“We came close, but fortunately we were able to weather that storm at the time,” Young said. “I think we tried to navigate our way through each one of these situations as they happen and consider all the contextual pieces and consultation with public health before we make a final decision.”

Young also stated there has been fewer students attending school in-person since the December break. He said there is anxiety among parents and students, adding the school division is sensitive to those decisions and respect what people need to do to protect their health.

In 2020, the NLSD board decided to extend the December break two weeks into January with an expectation for a rise in positive cases. Young said the board discussed making a similar move for the 2021 break, but decided against it due to the availability of vaccines, rapid antigen tests and other reasons.

“I think in consultation with public health and the Ministry of Education, we felt we could resume school the way we did previously,” he said.

The division is prepared for a rise in cases and will respond by moving classes to remote learning temporarily or cancelling extracurricular activities if needed. If a teacher becomes sick, a sub or educational assistance will take over the class, or there will be an internal shuffle where another staff member provides that support.

“There’s variety of options we have available to manage that situation and, whenever we hit a stumbling block where we have exhausted all avenues, we try to be creative with solutions,” Young said. “We’ve almost gotten to that point, but fortunately never to the point where we have completely exhausted all avenues but came close.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno