Lloydminster MLA Colleen Young is to meet with the education minister to discuss matters relevant to the innovation fund and the pilot project on class complexity.
“I am having meetings next week with the education minister who is coming here to meet with both the Catholic and the Public School boards to have some further discussion around the special pilot projects as well as the teacher innovation fund.”
In January teachers were invited to apply for the innovation fund with support from their school administration for up to $75,000 to put toward their ideas to support students. The pilot project is in eight urban schools for students with varying needs.
“Not all schools around the province have the same issues with class size and complexity. So, to paint everybody in the same picture under a collective bargaining agreement would probably not be supportive of the places that really need it,” said Young.
With teachers and the Saskatchewan government unable to get a deal done at the table, the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation has once again signalled that job action will resume on Friday, Feb. 16.
The teachers view class size and complexity issues as the conditions under which they work and maintain it directly affects students. The government has stuck to its position that those matters are best dealt with by local school boards.
Young said, “It’s unfortunate that when we get to the bargaining table, that things can’t be hammered out as quickly as we would like.”
Young notes “it’s not the same for every school in every part of the province” and “that’s why the government has put forward some other options.” She is hopeful that the projects put forward will be able to address the classroom sizes and complexity issues going forward.
