Staff with the Kenora Catholic District School Board are still adjusting to the new school year and COVID-19 protocols, but the overwhelming majority of staff members have been vaccinated against the virus.
The Ministry of Education has required that all school boards implement an Immunization Disclosure Policy as of September 15. Teachers and staff members have been asked to confidentially disclose their vaccination status to their board, who will then report the data to the Ministry of Education.
During a regular board meeting earlier this month, Superintendent of Business Services, Alison Smith, shared the board is reporting that 92 per cent of their about 350 permanent and casual staff are fully vaccinated as of September 21, with an additional seven staff members still needing to report.
“Any staff member that is not fully vaccinated and not meeting the requirements set out by Health Canada is required to conduct rapid testing, and will be provided with home kits to do that testing before they come to the workplace,” explains Smith.
Students and staff have a number of new COVID-19 prevention measures to help ensure as safe a return as possible. These new measures include mask or face coverings for staff and Grade 1 to 12 students inside schools and on school buses, daily screening, additional hand washing stations and much more.
While many have been and are continuing to adjust to the new COVID-19 protocols, some students have still opting to learn online.
In the 2020-2021 school year, there were 89 elementary students enrolled in the St. Isidore Virtual School, and there are still 11 students in the program this year. However, the 50 secondary students from last year have all returned to their classrooms.
Smith adds the board has also seen an increase in enrollment at the majority of their schools, ahead of projections. The largest increase is the addition of 98 secondary students at St. Thomas Aquinas, with 26 new students at the elementary level for TA.
All students and staff members are reminded that you must self-screen using Ontario’s School Screening Tool for COVID-19 symptoms before coming to KPDSB schools or before boarding a school bus each day. Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms or an illness must stay home.