St. Francis School. (File Photo/paNOW Staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Funding Needed

P.A. teachers’ association joining calls for more provincial funding

Sep 23, 2022 | 3:30 PM

The Prince Albert & Area Teachers’ Association (PAATA) is joining the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) in calling for more funding from the provincial government.

The STF has created a new commercial campaign that highlights the resources needed to properly educate their students.

“We’re only a few weeks in and already my fellow teachers are worried about how they’re going to meet their student’s needs in the classroom,” said Ted Zurakowski, president of the PAATA.

He explained he’s heard about several issues impacting P.A. teachers. This includes class sizes being too big as many include at least 30 students, a lack of teachers, and a lack of educational assistants.

Zurakowski added the lack of funding is even affecting students outside of the classroom.

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“I was talking to a parent the other day and they were trying to get their son on a list to be assessed, and they were shocked that instead of taking a week or two, hopefully, it’s going to happen this year.”

In a statement sent to CKOM News, the Ministry of Education said significant funding has already been given to school divisions for the upcoming school year.

They highlighted $20 million given to aid school divisions with rising inflation costs, nearly $2 billion going towards school operating funding, $6 million for classroom supports, and $7 million designated for school divisions to hire up to 200 new educational assistants for the 2022-23 school year.

Zurakowski noted he doesn’t want to talk about the amount of funding coming from the province, only adding that more is needed.

“The school boards can only do so much with the resources they have.”

He is also calling on P.A. families to help them and the STF advocate for more funding.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow