TDSB did not anticipate that there would be negative effects from enforcing this mandatory vaccination policy

BY PAUL JUNOR

The Toronto District School Board was one of the first school boards to mandate that its staff be totally vaccinated in a vote by its trustee in August 2021. It has made it clear that it expects its employees to comply with these mandatory vaccination requirements. They sent a letter to its unvaccinated employees regarding its “COVID-19 Vaccination Procedure for Staff, Trustees and other Individuals (PR734),” which states that it “Required all TDSB employees to submit an attestation regarding vaccination status along with proof of vaccination (if applicable), to report and report rapid antigen testing results if not fully vaccinated, and to complete the full course of vaccination by November 1^st, 2021.”

The TDSB did not receive satisfactory responses and extended the deadline until November 21^st, 2021. The letter notes that for those employees who requested an accommodation on the basis of religion/creed and or/medical if it is declined, they “Will be expected to comply with the TDSB’s procedure to be fully vaccinated within forty-five days of notification. Non-compliance with the procedure will affect your ability to work at the TDSB.”

On November 4^th, 2021, the TDSB released data which shows 100 permanent staff including: thirteen elementary and three high school teachers as well as 693 occasional/casual elementary teachers had not released their vaccination status. Consequently, they were placed on “Non-disciplinary administrative leave of absence without pay,” as of 5:00 p.m. November 4^th, 2021.

The TDSB provided further information in an email to parents on Monday, November 22^nd, 2021. It revealed that 380 staff members have been placed on administrative leave without pay. The TDSB notes that there are repercussions in order to enforce this vaccination policy. It notes,

“As we implement this procedure, it is important that there is minimal impact on students’ learning, well-being and safety. As part of this plan, we are relying on occasional casual staff to fill in for these staff members, but like other school boards we are seeing lower levels of occasional casual staff taking available jobs. In addition, we know that the absence of some staff would have a serious impact on the ability of schools to maintain the safety of students.”

It is unfortunate that the TDSB did not anticipate that there would be negative effects from enforcing this mandatory vaccination policy. It did not reveal details about the nature and effects of staff shortage on academic programs, instruction and maintenance of learning continuity. The email states that out of 41,600 TDSB staff members, approximately 0.7% had not been vaccinated which translated to about 620 employees. About 290 of them are considered essential and have been granted temporary exemptions until they can “Adequately fill these positions on a case-by-case basis.”

These employees include “School-based staff such as special needs assistants, designated early childhood educators and lunchroom supervisors who supervise students. It includes those with additional needs and/or provide safety or health-related safety.”

There are many unanswered questions about the TDSB’s implementation of the Ministry of Education requirements in light of the fact that no other boards in the GTA have mandated that all staff members be fully vaccinated.