As educators gathered at the Queensbury Convention Centre for their annual convention Monday, it was done under the backdrop of yet another round of contract negotiations. Saskatchewan Teachers Federation (STF) President Samantha Becotte wants to see several key items addressed in a new deal – some of which are identical from their last round of contract talks with the province. A long, arduous process that ultimately led to job action, and eventually arbitration. “Classroom complexity continues to be an issue in our schools. Violence in our schools continues to be an issue. Growing class sizes with diminishing supports,” Becotte noted. Safety in classrooms is another growing concern for teachers across Saskatchewan. Minister of Education Everett Hindley said the government is working towards solutions to ensure a secure environment for staff and students. “That is an issue not just in in Saskatchewan, but in other provinces and territories and across Canada as well,” he said. “There is some work being done as part of the provincial education plan, with respect to addressing some of the issues we’re seeing regarding violence in the classroom and in some of our schools and potentially on buses as well. But there is some work being done towards a developing a violence threat risk assessment.” Recruitment and retention of teachers in the province, namely in larger city centres, has been another years-long point of discussion between the STF and the ministry. “I think particularly in Regina and in Saskatoon, where we’re seeing enrollment pressures due to some excellent economic growth that’s happening in the province; that’s in turn presenting some challenges nonetheless on our education system,” Hindley noted. Becotte told CTV News the focus needs to be on providing educators with the proper supports to keep them in the province. “We’re looking at how can we ensure that teachers are best supported in their classrooms to ensure that they have the resources that they need to be successful in the work that we do, so that not only we can bring them to Saskatchewan, but that they stay in Saskatchewan classrooms.” Hindley said bargaining is currently in the preliminary stage. With the teachers’ bargaining committee and the government bargaining trustee committee engaging in discussions. Talks are expected to continue through the fall.
