REGINA - As Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation announces more job action planned for next week, the province has announced it signed a multi-year funding agreement with the Saskatchewan School Boards Association.
The agreement guarantees a base amount of long-term funding to school divisions, according to the province’s news release. The deal provides a minimum of $356.6 million per year for four years for classroom supports, and increased investment into youth mental health resources, according to the province.
The province states this “signifies a shared commitment to enhancing educational outcomes and providing additional classroom supports across the province.
"This agreement provides a written guarantee, signed by the government, for long-term funding for classroom supports - funding that will address important issues like classroom size and complexity," Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill said in a statement. "Now that our government has made this unprecedented commitment in a signed agreement, it's time for the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation to end their job action and return to the bargaining table, so that students and teachers can return to the classroom."
"This agreement represents the willingness of both the Ministry of Education and school boards to work collaboratively toward solutions with some predictable and sustainable funding to back it up," SSBA President Jaimie Smith-Windsor said in a news release. "These issues are best addressed at the local level, working with teachers, staff, students, parents, and families."
Premier Scott Moe posted this on the X platform Friday:
"Hours ago, Minister of Education Jeremy Cockrill took the unprecedented step and signed a multi-year funding agreement with the Saskatchewan School Boards Association that ensures a minimum of $356.6 million per year for four years for classroom supports.
"Now that our government has made this commitment in writing, it is time for the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation to end their job action and return to the bargaining table, so that students and teachers can return to the classroom."
STF reaction
Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation President Samantha Becotte issued a statement voicing cautious optimism about this latest announcement, but continued to insist the province and SSBA commit to including the funding in the language of a collective agreement.
“We’re encouraged that government appears to be finally listening to teachers, parents, students and the community by taking steps to provide predictable, sustainable funding for public education,” said Becotte. “If government is willing to negotiate on the items addressed within the memorandum of understanding and bring this to back to the table, we believe an agreement can be reached quickly.”
The STF statement adds that they are prepared to return to the table and cease sanctions immediately if government is willing to:
- Provide assurances that boards of education cannot use these new funds for anything other than student supports;
- Tie funding to increases in enrolment and inflation, rather than remaining flat;
- Include a reporting mechanism on the use of these funds within school divisions to ensure transparency;
- Ensure funding is not subject to appropriation so that it cannot be reduced;
- Adjust the term of the MOU to align with the provincial collective agreement.
“We are extremely proud of the 13,500 Saskatchewan teachers, and countless supporters across the country, who have pressured the Government of Saskatchewan to finally acknowledge their responsibility for publicly funded education, but we need assurances, in writing, that this funding will meet the desperate need," Becotte said.
Teachers plan more job action
In the meantime, job sanctions go on. Earlier on Friday, STF announced they were giving notice of of a three-day provincewide withdrawal of extracurricular activities on March 11-13 and a one-day, rotating withdrawal of noon-hour supervision on March 11. Withdrawal of noon-hour supervision will involve teachers in the following local associations:
Creighton Teachers’ Association – All schools in Creighton School Division.
Holy Trinity Teachers’ Association – All schools in Holy Trinity Catholic School Division.
Horizon Teachers’ Association – All schools in Horizon School Division.
Lloydminster Teachers’ Association – All schools in Lloydminster Public and Lloydminster Catholic school divisions.
North West Teachers’ Association – All schools in Northwest School Division.
Prairie South Teachers’ Association – All schools in Prairie South School Division.
Prairie Valley Teachers’ Association – All schools in Prairie Valley School Division.
Prince Albert and Area Teachers’ Association – All schools in Saskatchewan Rivers and Prince Albert Catholic school divisions.
Opposition reacts
Meanwhile, the Sask United Party has issued their own news release which was critical of the ongoing job action by STF.
"The ongoing strikes and job actions by the teachers' federation are causing unacceptable harm to our kids. Extracurricular activities, clubs, and sports are on hold for three more days next week. Moe’s government and the teachers' federation need to take immediate, concrete action to prioritize our children's educational experience. These endless job actions and strike days must end with a deal that benefits students education," said Jon Hromek, Sask United Deputy Leader, in a statement.
As for the opposition New Democrats, they aimed their displeasure at the governing Sask Party, claiming in a party statement that the "fine print of a new side-deal the Sask. Party has pushed through with cash-strapped school boards shows that the government has no commitment to future funding."
“The ball is in Premier Scott Moe's court. If he’s serious about ending this job action, he would bring this deal back to the table and get an agreement in writing,” said Opposition Education Critic Matt Love in a news release. “For the government to stand up today, after years of cutting schoolboard budgets and eroding local decision making and pretend this deal means anything at all is both preposterous and dishonest.”
