Carlton Comprehensive High School. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Vaccination list

“Get my fellow teachers vaccinated, before this happens to anyone else”: P.A. high school support worker diagnosed with COVID

Apr 6, 2021 | 4:30 PM

A Prince Albert high school support worker is sounding the alarm and claiming the Saskatchewan Government has dropped the ball by not including teachers in the vaccination priority list.

Victor Thunderchild works at Carlton Comprehensive and is currently recovering from COVID-19. While receiving treatment Monday at Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert, Thunderchild posted a statement on his Twitter account.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Thunderchild’s statement was retweeted over 150 times and received over 500 likes. He declined paNOW’s request for an interview, instead forwarding any questions to the Sask. Rivers School Division director of education, Robert Bratvold.

Murder mystery

St. Mary drama club unravels world's ultimate whodunit

3h ago

BDO Debt Solutions

Deck the Halls Without Breaking the Bank: Tips for a Budget-Friendly Holiday

Nov 18, 2024

RPCN Artist

'Felt like a movie': Chris Chipak making waves in the art world

Nov 18, 2024

The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) has been vocal for months with respect to the need to get teachers vaccinated. In January, president Patrick Maze explained one of the keys of keeping the economy running is to ensure the safety of teachers and school staff.

“Social distancing is difficult in schools, and we haven’t been following the same guidelines as the rest of the public. It would make sense to try to get teachers and school staff vaccinated as soon as possible,” he said.

Cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in schools throughout the province with many students and teachers being forced to shift to remote learning.

“The province is doing its best with the knowledge that they have. At the same point, of course, we want to make sure that we’re not forgotten and that teachers are recognized as a frontline priority group that is facing unusual circumstances,” Maze said.

In a statement from the STF on March 31, they were calling on the provincial government to move all schools to Level 4 (online) learning for a two-week period following the Easter break week. This would have meant all schools transitioning to online, mandatory learning from Monday, April 12 through Friday, April 23.

“There is a steady increase of COVID-19 cases in schools across the province,” Maze said. “This two-week period will serve as a buffer to help protect students, teachers and ultimately our communities in the event people travel or gather over the break.”

Maze also explained recent concerns around variants are not isolated to the Regina and Moose Jaw areas.

“Communities across Saskatchewan are interconnected. We have an opportunity to act before more communities experience what Regina and Moose Jaw are dealing with,” he said.

–

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell