School District 43 clerical staff, custodians and education assistants should take steps now if they are worried their health would be compromised with school re-opening in September during the COVID-19 pandemic.
CUPE BC is warning its members with compromised immune systems to begin their back-to-school regime by contacting their physicians if they have health conditions that could make them at risk if they contract COVID-19.
They will need a doctor’s note if they need special accommodations to return to school, the union states in an online FAQ.
Currently, some School District 43 staff are in contact with Human Resources officials and working out a plan for their return, according to board chair Kerri Palmer Isaak, however, she didn’t specify how many people would be needing special accommodations.
“They have a relationship with HR. They will be working together to problem-solve,” Palmer Isaak told the Tri-City News.
The information comes as teachers and support workers wait for more information on back-to-school plans, expected to be made public Aug. 26 while the BC Teachers Federation has been calling for more consultation on cohorts and other initiatives.
And ensuring that educators are properly accommodated is a key consideration for Coquitlam Teachers Association president who spoke to the Tri-City News recently.
But the issue is also top of mind for support workers.
According to CUPE, which posted a back to school FAQ on its website, special accommodations may be necessary to enable education assistants and other support workers to do their job safely when schools re-open in September.
In many cases education assistants work closely with students, often attending to their health needs in addition to providing other supports.
According to the union, alternative arrangements will be tailored to the individual circumstances, and might include modified work schedules, changes to the working environment, the provision of additional PPE, or working from home arrangements.
In some cases, workers will be moving from school to school and student to student, outside of the cohorts of 60 elementary school staff and students and 120 at the secondary level, mandated by the provincial health officer.
With many of these workers, it will be important to employ physical distancing, the union notes.
“We understand that staff who transition between learning groups or work with students from different learning groups will not be included as part of any single learning group. This means that they will take appropriate precautions, including physical distancing and appropriate PPE, when working,” the union notes.
The FAQ also addresses concerns of workers in the event a positive case of COVID-19 is detected in a school population. It notes that the provincial health office will be responsible for contact tracing or coordinating a response.
“This could range from isolation to quarantine depending on the situation. If the rate of community infection rises, the PHO will revise recommendations as needed,” the union notes.
It recommends union members bring up issues with the health and safety committee.
CUPE Branch 561 represents approximately 1,200 support workers in SD43.
