Representatives from the Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division are set to meet with provincial counterparts this week. (File Photo/paNOW Staff)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

money for education

Public school division hoping for more provincial dollars

Feb 4, 2020 | 6:13 PM

The Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division is expecting the coming provincial budget to be a better one for education compared to last year with a provincial election on the horizon.

“We’re anticipating a better budget … so what we’re looking at is if we’re going to advocate for additional funds where would that money be spent by the school board,” chair Barry Hollick told paNOW.

He said since the province reduced funding for schools three years ago Sask. Rivers was forced to reduce staff.

“We weren’t cutting classroom teachers, but we were cutting other personal,” he said.

Hollick explained the positions lost during this time ranged from support staff, like educational assistants and library workers to professionals such as psychologists.

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Hollick is set to travel to Regina this week where he will be meeting with counterparts from around Saskatchewan. They will get the results of a province wide survey which was filled out by every board. The information from that will be used to determine what the top priorities are for schools.

Hollick explained for his division bringing back positions they were forced to eliminate is a top agenda item. The board would also like to see increased funds to hire educational associates to act as student mentors.

Another initiative he wants to see funded is all day Kindergarten. Currently the provincial government provides funding for half-day. Hollick said P.A. and the surrounding area have a large number of vulnerable young kids who would benefit from going to school all day.

“There are needs that could be met if we had full day kindergarten, as opposed to the half day. We could do more things for those kids to get them ready, so that they succeed,” he said.

The survey results will not be the only issue on the agenda when Hollick meets with counterparts. The province’s school boards will also be meeting to discuss the current unrest between teachers and the provincial government. If teachers did vote to enact work to rule, they would not supervise extra-curricular activities or provide services like lunch time supervision.

“We’ll be looking at various scenarios,” said Hollick.

MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn