‘Pretty excited’: Teachers and STF still digesting Tuesday’s decision

For the past two years, educators across the province were locked in a contentious battle with government for improved conditions in schools. Already included in negotiations were wage increases, but now the issue of class complexity will be at the table.

BattlefordsNOW reached out to local members but the majority refrained comment. Becotte said it was because members are still unsure what it will look like at a local level.

“There’s still, like I said, some of those operational pieces that we have to work out in terms of what the exact language is going to be and then making sure our members are fully aware of what to expect,” she said.

“All of those pieces are still to come.”

In an emailed response, Education Minister Everett Hindley said he is pleased the decision was largely in line with their offer.

“We are looking forward to getting the agreement ratified and moving forward to working on common goals that create the best possible learning environment for Saskatchewan students such as improving K-3 literacy in Saskatchewan schools,” he said.

According to the release issued yesterday, the Arbitration Board has given 60 days for both the Teachers’ Bargaining Committee and Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee to “agree on collective agreement language for the class complexity provisions.”

If they can’t, however, it will go back the board.

Becotte said while she used to work as a teacher in Lloydminster, all teachers across the province are facing similar challenges.

“We have more students coming into our classrooms and we have increased challenges in terms of the scope of needs that students are coming into school with.”

She said while the need is increasing, there have been fewer supports.

“Having classroom complexity included in the provincial agreement ensures that we start to see some improvement in the level of support that’s provided in our communities.”

Becotte said whether the schools be in the Battlefords, Lloydminster for out in rural communities like Lashburn, Spiritwood or Maidstone, which will see different challenges, but they were hoping to catch some of those differences within the agreement.

“Ultimately, the decision where the arbitrator went is going to provide support for schools in a variety of different ways,” she said referring to more staff.

Although it remains to be seen what the next two months will look like, she and the members remain hopeful.

“We want kids to be successful in their education and whether it’s within your home community or whether it’s across the province, our kids are our future,” she said.

“They’re going to be the future doctors and healthcare professionals, they’re going to be the future teachers or lawyers or law enforcement. We need our kids to have a good education to ensure we’re setting the province up for success.”

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

On BlueSky: juleslovett.bsky.social

by Julia Loivett-Squires

‘Pretty excited’: Teachers and STF still digesting Tuesday’s decision

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