EMSB generally pleased with the decision to vaccinate staff in pilot project; another school closed due to the variant
The English Montreal School Board welcomes the news that staff in close contact with students at schools in the West End will be vaccinated as part of a pilot project by Santé Publique Montréal.
On Wednesday the EMSB learned that parents at four schools would be vaccinated: Coronation Elementary School and Project Mile End Alternative High School in Côte des Neiges, John Grant High School in Côte Saint-Luc and Sir Mortimer B. Davis (Social Affairs School), based at the Jewish General Hospital. The EMSB had written to Santé Publique Director Dr. Mylène Drouin asking for staff to be included.
EMSB Chair Joe Ortona expressed his concern that not all school staff will be included in this campaign. "In-school administrators, custodial staff and volunteers who are in the building regularly should be on the list as well," he said. "Based on the documentation we received earlier today, that is not the case."
Mr. Ortona reiterated the EMSB's call to have staff at all schools and centres recognized as frontline workers and be vaccinated as soon as possible.
Santé Publique has already ordered the closure of four EMSB schools due to COVID-19 cases from the new variant. Today, John F. Kennedy High School in St. Michel was added to a list, which already includes Michelangelo International Elementary School in RDP, Lester B. Pearson High School in Montreal North and MIND High School in the Plateau.
About the English Montreal School Board
With a youth and adult sector population of more than 37,000 students, the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) is the largest English public school board in Quebec. Established on July 1, 1998, when the province created new boards along linguistic lines. Our network consists of 77 schools and centres. For more details, visit the EMSB website at www.emsb.qc.ca.
