The president of the South East Cornerstone Teachers' Association, Nathan Bromm met with the division's board members during their open business session that had been moved to Oct. 11 to accommodate other schedules this month.
Estevan trustee Janet Foord, who is also president of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) was connected to the meeting through an audio link since she was unable to attend in person.
Bromm said the teachers were happy to have the local contract agreements signed and put into place and noted the negotiation dialogue had been positive even as changes were made to the agreement. It was later pointed out that 94 per cent of the Cornerstone teachers voted for acceptance of the contract that relates to specific local issues in each division, as opposed to such things as province-wide salary negotiations, which he suggested may not go as smoothly.
Bromm said the provincial bargaining process is going on without a lot of it appearing in the media so far, so he hoped that going behind closed doors for a period of time would mean the teachers "will get something to vote on shortly."
The negotiations include a bargaining team from the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation as well as provincial government representatives from the Ministry of Education and SSBA representation.
Bromm said that based on early responses he has received regarding a three-year offer, "I don't think the contract, as is, will go through."
But since neither side has engaged in any negative media campaigns, the bargaining process is still going on in good faith, and while he couldn't speak for other jurisdictions, the feeling he got about local educator responses was that the original offer that came from the Ministry "won't pass."
Early indications in the media that were not verified pointed to a 5.5 per cent salary increase over three years, being the crux of a new contract offer.
Foord, because of her SSBA status, said she would not comment on the subject of the negotiations until they are completed and ratified.
Chairman Harold Laich said he had heard that some teachers were citing an argument that they weren't valued as part of the negotiation process.
"I don't link value of teachers according to their salaries. They can make that argument publicly, but I know I don't see it in that way," Laich said.
"I believe the reference is to seeing the whole package of teaching, the environments, the grievances, classroom conditions," said Bromm.
"I feel the SSBA, STF and the provincial representatives know how important their committee work is, and they can all speak to values," said trustee Audrey Trombley.
The last time teachers, the Education Ministry and SSBA went to the bargaining table, the negotiations led to a short-lived withdrawal of services by the teachers and a series of rallies around the province before a contract agreement was eventually signed.
On other issues of a local division nature, Bromm said the move toward unified direction for schools across the province is greatly appreciated by Cornerstone teachers and all other educators and that they are now discussing how they can get involved in the process.
New teacher orientation sessions went smoothly, the SECTA president said, and a mentorship process is in place to help new teachers get connected to their every day duties in and outside the classrooms.
Bromm also discussed the teacher evaluation committee work that is making professional growth opportunities worthwhile, while improving teaching techniques around the public division.
There was also a strategic planning retreat held in Fort Qu'Appelle this year. The three-day session led to a three-year action plan with member engagement at a high level, he reported. The plan includes increasing member engagement, public advocacy and review.
Bromm and the trustees discussed the implications of the new school calendar and the fact there is no February break due to provincial regulations that prevent school divisions from starting an academic year before Labour Day. The discussions regarding next year's calendar have begun and SECTA and division administration will come up with the best options based on the new regulations.
On disciplinary issues, there were discussions about the pros and cons of introducing a third (non-related) person to a disciplinary tribunal. It was generally agreed that if the process were strengthened, what they had in place would be the preferred move rather than introduce a third party who may not understand all the nuances that go into teaching and the administration of teachers.
