[Written by Don Burgess]
Saltus Grammar School will be implementing SafeKey procedures for its staff members and guests.
A spokesperson for the school said a recent exposure that saw two staff members confirmed with Covid-19 and 41 exposed had nothing to do with the decision.
The exposure caused the middle and senior schools to open with remote learning until September 17.
A letter to the Saltus community from the head of school, Deryn Lavell, stated, “I am glad to report that all of the tests have come back negative for our staff who are quarantining. As per protocol, they require further testing and clearance before they are permitted to return to work.”
A spokesperson for Saltus told Bernews, “We needed to put in place a policy that would ensure our students could remain in school. It was a safety precautionary measure to ensure that we didn’t have further disruptions to schooling. We want to make sure students can stay in school, and we’re making sure our staff take the precautionary measures to ensure the environment is safe.”
In the letter, Ms Lavell said, “The Government does not mandate vaccinations for schools. However, we have a high rate of immunization among our staff, and we continue to strongly urge all staff who are able to get vaccinated. The vaccine is our best shield against this virus, and while we cannot mandate it in our school, we are taking stronger precautions to ensure the health and safety of our community.
“To that end, the Board of Trustees and I have met this week and effective immediately, we will be requiring a valid SafeKey for all our employees, vendors, necessary visitors to the school and paraprofessionals who work with our students.”
