The Superintendent of the Kamloops-Thompson School District says there is no decision yet on whether they will mandate that teachers be vaccinated against COVID-19.

However, Rhonda Nixon tells NL News SD73 “would have been more comfortable” if the province had made a decision one way or another instead of leaving it to school districts.

“Educators are not health experts. I’m certainly not and the board is not but I would concur with you that is it more comfortable for us to take the lead from health experts? It is, and we always have,” she said. “It is not that I think we wish to be told what to do but rather that there’s a very strong coordinated clear direction provided.”

Nixon says Boards of Education were told last week by the Ministries of Education and Health that a provincial committee would be struck to give them a template and operational guidelines should they wish to go forward with a vaccine mandate.

“I think it is necessary to have a coordinated effort,” Nixon added. “We would hope that all school jurisdictions would receive the same information at the same time and then be able to make an informed decision.”

Those guidelines were eventually released Friday afternoon. In a statement, the province said it builds on the existing K-12 health and safety measures including daily health checks, hand washing, staying home when sick, masks for all students and staff, as well as improved ventilation systems.

“From the beginning of the pandemic we have worked together – to keep students safely learning in-class, to encourage all eligible British Columbians to get vaccinated and to make sure school safety plans are robust and supported,” Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside said, in a statement, noting her ministry will continue working with school boards to ensure they have the tools, resources and information they need to support this process.

“With guidelines now available, trustees can make decisions around vaccination policies that work best for their communities as we work together to continue to support a culture of vaccination in our schools.”

The guidelines were created by the Ministry of Education in partnership with the BC School Trustees Association, the BC Teachers’ Federation, CUPE, the First Nations Education Steering Committee, the Federation of Independent Schools Association, and school district leadership associations, in consultation with the Office of the Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry.

Work was also supported by the BC Public School Employers Association, the province said.

“If boards and authorities choose not to follow the steps in this document, they should be aware there may be legal or financial implications,” the nine-page document read.

Nixon says SD73 is committed to doing its research, noting they even reached out to Interior Health’s Dr. Carol Fenton for information on how they should proceed.

As for when Kamloops-area teachers can expect a decision on whether they will have to be vaccinated?

“I can tell you that there is no news on that front and it would be when the board is able to contemplate all the information that it has asked for,” she added. “That would be when further notice would be given to the public.”

“I sure hope and look forward to the provincial committee’s update so that we can gain that clarity.”