WSD Unvaccinated staff testing update

To ensure the safety of our school community, WSD staff have an obligation to follow the direction of the Chief Provincial Public Health Officer and the Minister of Education. This direction, which was published in The Public Health Act orders on September 24, 2021 comes into effect on October 18, 2021. 

The direction requires that all staff provide either proof of full vaccination or proof of a negative test, completed within the past 48 hours (tests are done three times a week). Each week, one of the tests must be observed by a neutral third party.

WSD has hired a contract health care service to complete the observed once weekly test. Two locations in the division, Grant Park High School and Tec Voc High School, have been identified for testing clinics for unvaccinated employees to attend during non-working hours. Observed testing clinics will be conducted on Wednesday evenings only at Grant Park High School senior gym. At Tec Voc High School senior gym, testing clinics will be conducted on Monday evenings and Saturdays only.

The senior gymnasium at these locations were selected because employees coming for testing are not required to walk through the school to attend. The testing clinics will be set up and taken down each day for this purpose, followed by full cleaning and fogging. 

Those staff who choose to take weekly testing have the option to provide proof of full vaccination at any time, which would mean they no longer require weekly testing.