Sask. Teachers’ Federation warns of more education cuts

The organization representing Saskatchewan teachers says the province’s education sector will likely face another tough budget in 2018-19.

In a release, the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) indicated Tuesday it has learned school divisions “are being called on by the government to prepare for another round of cuts in the upcoming provincial budget.” Provincial funding was reduced by 6.7 per cent for the current year.

The release said some divisions are already in the process of looking for cost reductions, as the STF received a memo sent to staff at Chinook School Division asking teachers, administrators and others to participate in meetings to “look at programming differently with fewer available resources.”

STF president Patrick Maze said the organization is calling on parents to “demand accountability” from the government and school boards.

He said more cuts will hurt classrooms further, potentially resulting in larger class sizes and fewer student supports.

“We look at education as an investment into our future, and government seems to look at it as an expense line in their budget,” Maze said. The Chinook memo also indicated the division is employing about 55 teachers more than it’s funded for. While Supports for Learning funding offsets the gap by about 15 full-time employees, more than 40 full-time teachers are still “deployed beyond” the division’s funding recognition.

In response to a request for an interview with Education Minister Bronwyn Eyre, the ministry provided a prepared statement. “First of all, the government has not directed school divisions to prepare for another round of cuts,” it said. “In fact, the Premier, myself and Cabinet are very aware of the significant pressures facing classrooms and have been actively considering options for addressing this, not only in next year’s budget, but also in the current year’s budget.” Eyre’s statement said Saskatchewan Party leadership candidates have “addressed education funding as a concern and a priority in next year’s budget.”

Kyle McIntyre, Chinook’s acting director of education, said the division’s provincial funding was cut by about $9.9 million during the 2017-18 budget. He said while the division reduced the deficit by $6.5 million last year, keeping cuts out of the classroom, it’s now consulting with front line staff on how to address the remaining $3.5 million shortfall over two years.