Thread by @shelleylaskin

This afternoon @tdsb Planning & Priorities Committee begins at 4:30 Agenda - Staff Report on Indigenous Land-Based Learning, Staff Report on Implementation of a Mandatory Vaccination Procedure & Staff Update on Return to School - Watch here tdsb.on.ca/stream/boardme… Will live tweet

The "Implementation of a Mandatory Vaccine Procedure" is now posted with the agenda for today's @tdsb P & P - look forward to the staff presentation tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boa…

Meeting begins with @OPSBA Director's Report - highlights Vaccination advocacy, #AboveandBeyond social media campaign aboveandbeyondontario.ca; Transitioning from COVID Experience and student survey opsba.org/wp-content/upl… and more...

First staff report is on "Indigenous Land Based Learning" - Reopening the Boyne as in Indigenous Land-Based Learning site in the TDSB supports the #TRC Calls to Action 62 & 63 tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boa…

To support the expansion of Land-Based Learning through Indigenous ways of knowing and being, staff will be creating resources to support all curriculum areas based on Indigenous Pedagogies @UIEC_Tdsb

Next up staff presentation on Mandatory Vaccination Procedure - again you can find it here - tdsb.on.ca//Leadership//B… After this @TOPublicHealth will join us on the last item of the agenda - Reopening Schools

Speaking to complexity of the procedures @TDSBDirector - intersection of professional interests and communal health - this item is now tabled as we were having technical issues

Moving on to 6.3 - School Reopening Update - beginning with staff update and then @TOPublicHealth - @TDSBDirector begins with gratitude to all staff to ensure we were ready for students

@AndrewGold_tdsb speaks to enrolment in the elementary panel - next week we’ll get the first report - begins reminding us of regulations

Preliminary data being presented

Preliminary data

Responding to large class sizes

Happy to have @TOPublicHealth here to present and have the ability to ask question

Presenting on @TOPublicHealth metrics - 153 average cases/day - R is exactly 1.0 - every case will lead to one additional case - steady state over the past many weeks - less than one would indicate a deceleration of cases - 3.3% positivity - steady increase over the summer

@TOPublicHealth Modeling of case counts - and modeling on hospitalizations

@TOPublicHealth Data as of this morning - no outbreaks yet! Definition of "outbreak" presented

Updated @TOPublicHealth guidance

The delay in extracurricular waits for stability and after reorganization - gradual introduction is important - committed to working with @TDSBDirector to update when possible

Updated guidance on dismissing cohorts

Number of documents on website

Updated vaccination numbers

Questions now for @TOPublicHealth - follow-up on extra-curricular - timeline for reintroduction in secondary school - @TOPublicHealth goal is to ensure in-person learning - agrees with importance of EC - gradually will be reintroduced - as soon as later this week - depends on #s

Q - what are the next steps for 12-17 vaccination rates? Thoughts on adding to the schedule? @TOPublicHealth has a mobile vaccination strategy working with the schools - and supports vaccine policies in schools but TPH cannot add vaccines as it is provincial - they support

Q re testing - recommended provincially - locally we don't make specific recommendations - take home test kits - PCR tests - best testing for detecting and diagnosing COVID and the only test that should be used for those with symptoms - Rapid antigen tests are screening only

Context re masking - guidance from @TOPublicHealth and Ministry of Labour - N95/K95 masks fitted specifically - and provided training - right now @TOPublicHealth keeping with surgical masks as per workplaces and hospitals - they are not currently recommended

Q re cohorting at lunch - @TOPublicHealth provided guidance to make lunch as safe as possible - another reason for gradual restart of other activities to see how the first few weeks go with respect to case counts

Q re vaccine for children under 12 - @TOPublicHealth gearing up for the rollout - plan is being developed and will be multi-faceted

Q re smaller class sizes - @TOPublicHealth still recommends 2m distance and if not, masking - advice has not changed - layers of public health protection

Q Student Trustees speak to frustration with extra-curricular - appreciate @TOPublicHealth will update advice - will @TDSBDirector implement right away? Staff will communicate information directly to schools as quickly as possible - these rely on the goodwill of staff

Q follow-up re asymptomatic testing - @TOPublicHealth follows updated advice and Ministry has not put students on the list eligible for routine daily PCR testing and rapid antigen tests only to workplaces

Returning now to staff presenting on Mandatory Vaccination Procedure

Executive Officer and Senior Counsel Pon begins with the overall objective of the @tdsb motion and thanks all who contributed to this under very tight timelines

Key Dates - @tdsb developed within 3 weeks with support of stakeholders

@audley_salmon speaks to staff reporting

Clarifies who the procedure applies to - deadline of November 1... for full compliance

Precedent setting - consultation extensive

New directive from #EDU - regarding testing being followed and awaiting information on education program

Late breaking news! Ministry has just released Education Session information and links! As we approach November 1 it is our expectation that all @tdsb staff comply - after November 1st taking different actions

Q asked re disclosure and numbers - @TDSBDirector committed to schedule of regular reporting out to the board re numbers; this will require additional staff to ensure fairness, equity while complying to Board direction & maintain healthy relationships - report will come ASAP

Q re support of union partners - @audley_salmon speaks to advice and cooperation of partners - disciplinary action will be case by case basis - up to and including termination or at home without pay - focussing now on compliance and opportunities for staff to comply

Emphasizing effecting implementation will have staff understand each individual case and respond accordingly @TDSBDirector committed to working fair and reasonably with each employee while fully committed to board resolution - focus on compliance

Staff has responded that approximately 82% @tdsb staff (% includes those who haven't worked yet) have complied with disclosure; 94% double-vaxxed - staff are now making calls and expect number to rise - those who have not disclosed doing testing twice-weekly - Monday and Thursday

All staff are included - but if they have not worked yet included in % so expect the number of staff currently working in schools higher - procedure here tdsb.on.ca//Leadership//B…

Our @tdsb IT staff are doing the technical work now to connect with our health screening app - and where employees are not vaccinated can enter their test results - remember all this is new and we are moving quickly to implement & get compliance for all staff

Again - @TDSBDirector reiterating just receiving direction on this and staff are working to ensure implementation - will provide a flow chart - commitment made to update trustees with regular reports

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