The Greater Victoria Teachers’ Association (GVTA) is calling on the school district to implement stricter COVID-19 health and safety measures as cases rise on Vancouver Island.
The GVTA wrote a letter to the district on Friday, outlining its concerns related to current protocols and urges SD61 to “take a lead on safety measures that supplement the provincial documents.”
The teachers’ association specifically is calling for an enhanced mask policy, disinfecting protocols, and the distribution of transparent barriers.
In terms of an enhanced mask policy, the GTVA is asking for the school district to issue a mandate that all staff and students be required to wear non-medical masks when physical distancing is not possible in all places throughout schools, with exemptions for those who are unable to do so.
“The GVTA believes, in light of the new COVID variant on the Island, and the alarming increase in cases province-wide, the employer should take bold action and implement a policy for all students and staff to ensure the safety of its employees and large student body,” reads a statement in the letter.
Regarding disinfecting protocols, the Greater Victoria Teachers’ Association feels its members should not be responsible for disinfecting supplies in the classroom, emphasizing that teachers are responsible for children’s learning and “should not have to spend hours after school on a daily basis disinfecting these materials.”
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The association is urging the district to clarify which support staff is responsible for disinfecting and cleaning and to provide additional custodial personnel if required.
Finally, the GVTA is asking the district to provide transparent barriers for any staff member that can’t maintain physical distancing from others. The teachers’ association is hoping that SD61 will cover the costs of these barriers and not have them be charged to the schools.
“At the start of this school year, the employer made it clear to the union that any requests by GVTA members for transparent barriers would not be unreasonably denied, and that these costs would be charged to the district rather than school budgets,” reads the letter.
“This position changed without notice, and now GVTA members are being forced to decide between putting their own health at risk and have available funds to purchase needed educational supplies.”
After sending the letter on January 15, the hope from the GVTA is that the district will respond and consider implementing these changes immediately.
CHEK has reached out to School District 61 for a comment, but has yet to hear back.
Graham Cox
