News

As you read this, the Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan is being headed up by longtime educator and public figure Murray Wall as the new Executive Secretary.

Perhaps not so strange on the surface, but consider the fact that at the end of June Fred Herron stepped aside from the position having held the office for two decades. In fact, until his retirement, Herron was the only Executive Secretary in the STS’s history.

Normally, the Saskatchewan Principals’ Short Course conference is a hub of activity with a wide array of educators milling around at the University of Saskatchewan.

However, the most recent version was akin to many other scheduled events, in that it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. That meant it was Plan B, and while still maintaining the usual myriad of sessions, now it was done remotely.

Acknowledging the sense of widespread anxiety among members of the public and the province’s teachers, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe announced on August 17 that the province will allocate $40 million from its $200 million COVID-19 contingency fund to ensure the safety of students and staff.

He also confirmed that the start of the new school year will be pushed back to September 8 in order to provide additional time for teachers and staff to receive training on the new protocols. That might include reconfiguring classrooms if class size is an issue at some of those schools with higher enrolment numbers.

The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation remains concerned about the inconsistency between school re-opening plans and the guidelines provided in other sectors. The guidelines that have been suggested to school divisions today are only effective if applied consistently.

The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation is encouraged the Ministry of Education is considering masks in schools as a contingency plan; however, a number of questions and concerns remain.

“We all want to return to the classroom, but it must be done safely,” said Patrick Maze, President, Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation. “Considering masks is a step in the right direction. Teachers and parents are questioning whether this is enough and why there are inconsistencies between the broader public health measures and what is required in schools.”