COVID-19 vaccine approval too little, too late for Alberta teachers, support staff
'How do you have gratitude, and say thank you for this when it comes so late? It's hard to be optimistic at this point'
Author of the article: Eva Ferguson
Publishing date: May 04, 2021 •
Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) president Jason Schilling PHOTO BY SHAUGHN BUTTS / POSTMEDIA
With less than two months remaining in a stressful, disruptive school year, front-line school staff say this week’s approval to book their vaccinations has arrived too little, too late.
Vaccine bookings became open to teachers on the same day Premier Jason Kenney announced K-12 students will all move to online learning on Friday.
“I know this is a real disruption for both kids and parents,” Kenney said in a 6 p.m. address Tuesday, where he did not take questions from reporters.
“But with the current level of community spread, we have about 80,000 students and staff in isolation, and we’ll soon reach a point where many schools won’t be able to operate.”
Younger students will join older grade 7 to 12 students who have been learning online in Calgary since mid-April, a two-week break that turned into four when local school districts asked for an extension.
All students are expected to go back to class by May 26, after the long weekend.
“This has come way too late,” said Troy Killam, president for the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 40, representing caretakers.
“We’ve had members that have already contracted COVID, or they are living with fear of spreading it to family members, many living in multi-generational households.
“It’s been an incredibly stressful year, our staff are working overtime, long days, and they’re exhausted, being in such close contact with kids for so long. It’s been really hard on their health, but also their mental wellness.”
Alberta has spiralled into a concerning third wave of COVID variant spread in recent weeks, averaging more than 2,000 cases on most days. The province tops the country for cases per capita.
Additional restrictions announced Tuesday included reduced capacity in retail and restaurants, as well as funerals and places of worship.
Education Minister Adriana LaGrange will join Kenney on Wednesday morning for a news conference to answer concerns about the closure of schools on Friday.
The province’s vaccine rollout is now offering immunization appointments to more than 52,000 teachers, 29,000 support staff and 24,000 child-care workers. Bookings are open through Alberta Health Services’ online booking tool, 811 and at participating pharmacies.
Teachers, substitute teachers and administrators at public, separate, francophone, charter, private/independent/ECS operators and First Nations schools are eligible, as well as bus drivers, education assistants, custodians and others who support schools.
Staff working in licensed child-care programs such as daycares, out-of-school care, preschool programs and family day homes are also eligible.
Still, staff are feeling disillusioned and exhausted, said Rae-Ann Royal, chair of the Calgary Board of Education Staff Association.
“How do you have gratitude and say thank you for this when it comes so late? It’s hard to be optimistic at this point.”
Royal said many of the 5,000 members, including educational assistants, librarians, lunchroom supervisors and office receptionists, say students have become increasingly less compliant as the school year goes on, creating more stress for front-line staff.
“I worry every day about the staff, when we know things are becoming more and more lax, with kids running around not wearing masks.
“We have seen so many staff having to isolate at least four or five times this year already.”
Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, said the union has been advocating for months for teachers to be prioritized for vaccines.
“I really wish staff had been prioritized much earlier, with large class sizes it is very difficult to socially distance.”
Schilling added that since Bill 71, the Employment Standards Amendment Act, was passed in the legislature April 21, teachers and support staff will be provided up to three hours with pay for vaccine appointments.
Killam added caretakers will also be paid for any time needed to get vaccinated.
With less than two months remaining in a stressful, disruptive school year, front-line school staff say this week’s approval to book their vaccinations has arrived too little, too late.
Vaccine bookings became open to teachers on the same day Premier Jason Kenney announced K-12 students will all move to online learning on Friday.
“I know this is a real disruption for both kids and parents,” Kenney said in a 6 p.m. address Tuesday, where he did not take questions from reporters.
“But with the current level of community spread, we have about 80,000 students and staff in isolation, and we’ll soon reach a point where many schools won’t be able to operate.”
Younger students will join older grade 7 to 12 students who have been learning online in Calgary since mid-April, a two-week break that turned into four when local school districts asked for an extension.
All students are expected to go back to class by May 26, after the long weekend.
“This has come way too late,” said Troy Killam, president for the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 40, representing caretakers.
“We’ve had members that have already contracted COVID, or they are living with fear of spreading it to family members, many living in multi-generational households.
“It’s been an incredibly stressful year, our staff are working overtime, long days, and they’re exhausted, being in such close contact with kids for so long. It’s been really hard on their health, but also their mental wellness.”
Alberta has spiralled into a concerning third wave of COVID variant spread in recent weeks, averaging more than 2,000 cases on most days. The province tops the country for cases per capita.
Additional restrictions announced Tuesday included reduced capacity in retail and restaurants, as well as funerals and places of worship.
Education Minister Adriana LaGrange will join Kenney on Wednesday morning for a news conference to answer concerns about the closure of schools on Friday.
The province’s vaccine rollout is now offering immunization appointments to more than 52,000 teachers, 29,000 support staff and 24,000 child-care workers. Bookings are open through Alberta Health Services’ online booking tool, 811 and at participating pharmacies.
Teachers, substitute teachers and administrators at public, separate, francophone, charter, private/independent/ECS operators and First Nations schools are eligible, as well as bus drivers, education assistants, custodians and others who support schools.
Staff working in licensed child-care programs such as daycares, out-of-school care, preschool programs and family day homes are also eligible.
Still, staff are feeling disillusioned and exhausted, said Rae-Ann Royal, chair of the Calgary Board of Education Staff Association.
“How do you have gratitude and say thank you for this when it comes so late? It’s hard to be optimistic at this point.”
Royal said many of the 5,000 members, including educational assistants, librarians, lunchroom supervisors and office receptionists, say students have become increasingly less compliant as the school year goes on, creating more stress for front-line staff.
“I worry every day about the staff, when we know things are becoming more and more lax, with kids running around not wearing masks.
“We have seen so many staff having to isolate at least four or five times this year already.”
Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, said the union has been advocating for months for teachers to be prioritized for vaccines.
“I really wish staff had been prioritized much earlier, with large class sizes it is very difficult to socially distance.”
Schilling added that since Bill 71, the Employment Standards Amendment Act, was passed in the legislature April 21, teachers and support staff will be provided up to three hours with pay for vaccine appointments.
Killam added caretakers will also be paid for any time needed to get vaccinated.
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