With further job action off the table while mediation is underway between the province and the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation, the province's school divisions are now focused on catching up in the classroom.
Three instructional days were lost to teacher strikes in May and June. To compensate, both the Good Spirit School Division and the Christ the Teacher School Division have cancelled an early dismissal scheduled for tomorrow, June 9. Thursday will now be a full day of classes around the region.
"That was about the only day that we had some flexibility," says GSSD Director of Education Dwayne Reeve. No spare hours could be found to make up for the remaining two-and-a-half missing days.
"It's obviously not going to be the equivalent. There will obviously have to be some adjustments at the school level, especially for classes involving final exams for Grade 12 students."
Students may be put under extra pressure as teachers pick up their instructional pace during the few remaining weeks of school.
"We're still confident that our teachers will make sure the students are well-prepared," says Reeve.
Extracurricular events were also cancelled due to job action. The director says he believes that "almost all" of these can be rescheduled.
An exception is provincial track & field, which was cancelled for the year by that event's governing body.
The STF has agreed to take no more job action during this school year.
