VIDEO: Vaccine mandate for teachers is on the way...maybe

Are teachers likely going to have to show proof of vaccine to get to work?

Probably.

Will it happen right away?

Probably not.

School Districts in BC, including the Central Okanagan School District have asked the province to set policy on whether school staff should have to show proof of vaccination, but that doesn't seem to be happening.

Instead, the group that supports and represents school boards in BC is coming up with some guidelines for districts that choose to implement such a mandate.

One thing school districts would like to know is how their staff, teachers in particular, might react if proof of vaccination becomes mandatory.

But it turns out, even the Central Okanagan Teachers' Association is unsure.

"The range is all over the place," said Susan Bauhart, COTA president. "I don't know how many on each end, but I've heard both sides from our members."

Bauhart said her association with therefore not advocate for proof of vaccine for teachers and other staff, but it won't oppose it either.

"We would support a vaccine mandate," she said. "But we really believe it should be a provincial call, not the patchwork 60 different school districts making the decision."

Still, the teachers association has an interest in making sure that whatever comes down, that it's fair for all of its members.

"We would insist or request that it be a fair process," explained Bauhart, "that privacy be maintained, that there are accommodations made for legitimate reasons. Those kinds of things need to be identified before they can make the call."

If and when such a mandate is brought in, the teachers association will likely end up with the job of defending the rights of teachers who are unable or unwilling to co-operate.

"Our job is to represent our members and on this one it's hard. I won't lie, because there are different views so I'm trying to maintain an up-the-middle approach."

The chairperson of the Central Okanagan School District has just returned from two days of meetings on the topic.

Moyra Baxter had hoped to return with a set of guidelines in hand for her own board to consider, but the BC Public School Employers Association is still working on it.