CUPE is questioning whether Darlene Rowden can be a political candidate and a school board chair following a letter posted to the Sask. River's School Division website

By Susan McNeil

Sask Rivers letter draws ire of union

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A two-page letter recently posted to the website of the Saskatchewan Rivers School Division is drawing some ire from the union that represents support staff in the division.

Kent Peterson, president of CUPE Saskatchewan, says their members face the same working conditions as teachers do and called many of Darlene Rowden’s statements lies.

“She actually says it’s in the best interests of students to not have language on class size and composition without presenting a shred of evidence about how that could ever be true. Of course, it’s in the best interest of students to have reasonable class sizes and to have the resources and supports that they need to have a good learning environment,” he said.

There are multiple other issues he takes with Rowden’s statement, but Peterson said that is the most glaring mistake.

The first of two pages of this letter has been posted to the Sask. River’s School Division website for several days.

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For a board chair to write a letter with these particular questions is “very problematic”, according to Peterson.

CUPE disputes the claims made by Rowden regarding class size and complexity.

He called the letter a deliberately partisan statement that has a clear motive – Rowden is also the Saskatchewan Party nominee for the riding of Batoche, elected earlier this year in a contested nomination.

READ MORE: Darlene Rowden won the Sask. Party nomination earlier this year.

“It’s pretty clear that she’s either done it herself or been told to put out this partisan nonsense in hopes that it might scare parents about the prospect of having smaller class sizes for their kids. What she’s done here is very irresponsible.”

Class size and composition has been the biggest bargaining point of contention between the Saskatchewan Teacher’s Federation and the province, most recently resulting in STF announcing they would work to rule.

Samantha Becotte, STF president, said talks stalled because the province refused to include one line in the contract promising they would honour commitments to fund class size and complexity.

“We had requested that one line be added to the collective agreement with teachers, and that line was that the parties agree that the multi-year funding agreement and the accountability framework will be followed and honored. That was it. Just do what you say you’re committing to do,” Becotte said last Friday.

In March amidst ongoing discussions, the province and Sask. School Boards Association announced that they had reached a joint agreement to fund class size and complexity together – a deal that the STF said it was surprised by – which then pointed out the deal has a back out clause and they wanted assurances the funding would continue.

That assurance must come in the form of being part of the teacher’s contract with the province, Becotte said.

The provincial bargaining committee on the teacher’s contract has always included members from the Ministry of Education, the SSBA and the STF.

Peterson said that to him and his members, it appears Rowden at least isn’t non-partisan and the letter posted to the Sask. Rivers website shows that.

“She is unable to do that while also being a partisan Sask. Party nominee who is running for Scott Moe’s party in the next provincial election,” he said.

The election is scheduled to happen this coming October and Rowden needs to pick a hat, Peterson stated.

“Does she want to be the board chair of the Sask Rivers Public School Division, or does she want to be a partisan-nominated Sask party candidate for Scott Moe? Because it’s my position and it’s the position of CUPE Saskatchewan that you shouldn’t be both.”

He also called on Rowden to rescind the statement.

PaNOW called both Rowden and the chairperson of the Saskatchewan Schools Boards Association for comment but did not receive a reply from either prior to publication.

The head of the SSBA is Jaime Smith-Winsor, who is a trustee under Rowden’s position as chair of the Sask River’s School Board.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com