Media Releases 2005
| Association welcomes government response | November 23, 2005 |
| President re-elected to third term at Convention | November 17, 2005 |
| Students honoured at Convention | November 14, 2005 |
| Melfort-Tiger Lily Board of Education wins Premier's Award | November 14, 2005 |
| Centennial Medals presented to school board members | November 13, 2005 |
| Local Accountability and Partnerships Panel releases report to Government | September 26, 2005 |
| Boards of Education call for provincial support | May 5, 2005 |
| Status quo budget does not recognize education cost increases | March 23, 2005 |
| Panel appointed to look at community engagement in schools | February 14, 2005 |
| New Boards of Education to be elected in June | February 14, 2005 |
Association welcomes government response
The Government of Saskatchewan has released its response to the Local Accountability and Partnerships Panel (LAPP) report.
The response provides a policy framework and directions for the officially named, "School Community Councils". "The majority of the recommendations put forth by the LAPP panel were endorsed by the government," Saskatchewan School Boards Association President Lance Bean said, "with the exception of a couple of modified items."
This is good news for parents, communities and boards of education who are anxious to begin the process of moving forward in developing the new School Community Councils.
The Association is pleased with the government's quick response to the LAPP Panel's Report. It reinforces the belief of the Association that parent and community engagement is vital to the education of our children. "We are looking forward to an early implementation of these recommendations." Bean said.
Bean added, "These councils will be representative of each of their school communities and their decisions will be transparent and founded upon the best interests of the students in their schools."
The LAPP panel was developed as a result of school division restructuring and its task was to recommend a framework for local accountability and community involvement in schools.
The Saskatchewan School Boards Association represents boards of education in Saskatchewan, serving almost 170,000 students, and is the voice of the public in education.
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President re-elected to third term at Convention
November 17, 2005
Lance Bean was re-elected to his third one-year term as the President of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association.
Bean was chosen by delegates on Tuesday, the final day of Convention. He is from Rouleau and is a member of the new Prairie South Board of Education.
Delegates at Convention also determined a new structure for the Executive of the Association. The 28 boards of education that will govern as of January 1, 2006, approved a new nine-person Executive, and then elected people to the positions that had not yet been filled.
The Association's new Executive is:
- President: Lance Bean, Prairie South Board of Education
- Vice-President: Ed Geall, Prairie Valley Board of Education
- Catholic Section: Keith Koberinski, North West Roman Catholic Board of Education
- Conseil Scolaire Fransaskois: Barb Riley
- Urban Public: Cathy Hill, Regina Public Board of Education
- Northern: Frank Durocher, Northern Lights Board of Education
- Central: Andrew Bergen, Prairie Spirit Board of Education
- Southern: Roland Falk, Chinook Board of Education
- Aboriginal: William Caisse, Ile-a-la-Crosse Board of Education.
The Convention also included a presentation by the coalition for increased education funding, which welcomed the Saskatchewan Real Estate Association as its newest member. The coalition also includes the Provincial Association of Resort Communities of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association and the Saskatchewan School Boards Association. The coalition is calling for increased education funding of five per cent in each of 2006, 2007 and 2008, so that the provincial government would be providing 60 per cent of education costs within three years. This would reduce the burden on property taxpayers.
"Our Convention was a celebration of those boards that will no longer exist past 2005," Bean said. "It was also a chance for our new boards and our continuing boards to look to the future opportunities and challenges."
The Saskatchewan School Boards Association represents boards of education in Saskatchewan, serving almost 170,000 students, and is the voice of the public in education.
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Students honoured at Convention
November 14, 2005
Two outstanding graduates of Saskatchewan's kindergarten-to-Grade 12 education system will be recognized Monday as part of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association's annual Convention.
The graduates are winners of the Association's Education Scholarships for the year 2005 and will be highlighted Monday evening during the Association banquet in Saskatoon at the Centennial Auditorium.
Whitney Rutten of Yellow Grass and Keith MacKenzie of Hazenmore are the winners of the Association's Education Scholarships.
Rutten, a graduate of Yellow Grass School in the Sunrise School Division, is the winner of the Technical Institute Scholarship to support her nursing education studies at SIAST.
MacKenzie, a graduate of Kincaid Central School in the Golden Plains School Division, is studying Arts and Science (Toxicology) at the University of Saskatchewan.
The Association has awarded $1,000 to each of these graduates in recognition of their demonstrated good character, community leadership and financial need. Each year, the Association awards two $1,000 scholarships to Saskatchewan students. One is for a student entering university in Saskatchewan and the other is for a student entering an institution of applied science and technology in Saskatchewan.
"It is fitting that as school board members gather in Saskatoon for our 90th annual Convention, we celebrate the successes of our education system," said Lance Bean, President of the Association. "These are two of our many outstanding students. All of our boards of education should be commended for the excellent job done in educating our future citizens."
The Saskatchewan School Boards Association represents boards of education in Saskatchewan, serving almost 170,000 students, and is the voice of the public in education.
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Melfort-Tiger Lily Board of Education wins Premier's Award
November 14, 2005
The Melfort-Tiger Lily Board of Education has won the seventh annual Premier's Board of Education Award for Innovation and Excellence in Education. The award was presented Sunday evening at the 90th annual Saskatchewan School Boards Association Convention, held at the Centennial Auditorium in Saskatoon.
Melfort-Tiger Lily's winning program is called "Bridging the Generations." The program has among its goals to bring together seniors and youth in the classrooms and in seniors' homes to learn, teach and build respectful relationships.
The award is presented by the Saskatchewan School Boards Association in conjunction with the sponsor, The Document Company - Xerox. Xerox has provided a $3,000 prize to the winner to put toward the program.
Melfort-Tiger Lily board chair Lorie Annand received the award on behalf of her board. There were eight applications submitted from boards of education or groups of boards working together on a project. The award was created to recognize and celebrate board of education involvement in the improvement of learning opportunities for students.
The Saskatchewan School Boards Association's 90th annual Convention continues Monday and Tuesday at the Centennial Auditorium in Saskatoon.
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Centennial Medals presented to school board members
November 13, 2005
Fifty-four current or former board of education members were honoured Sunday in Saskatoon with Centennial Medals.
The board members, many of whom are life members of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association or those who served on the provincial Executive, received their medals from Her Honour the Honourable Lynda Haverstock, Lieutenant-Governor of Saskatchewan, just prior to the start of the Association's 90th annual Convention.
The Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan, or Saskatchewan Centennial Medal, was created in May 2003 by the Legislature through amendments to The Provincial Emblems and Honours Act. The legislation establishes the Medal as an official honour of the Crown in right of Saskatchewan, to be presented by the Lieutenant Governor or her designate. It has been granted status in the Canadian Precedence of Orders, Decorations and Medals.
The Medal recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to society and honours their outstanding achievements. Presentation events are being held across Saskatchewan during Centennial Year, 2005.
A list of recipients is attached.
| Ms. Cathy Appelgren | Ms. Connie Bailey | Mr. Lance Bean | Mr. William Caisse | Mr. Roy Challis |
| Mr. Frank Durocher | Ms. Brenda Kondra | Ms. Barb Riley | Mr. Jack Rowswell | Ms. Lois Smandych |
| Ms. Audrey Trombley | Mr. Bill Altman | Ms. Mary Anderson | Dr. George Baxter | Mr. Harold Bean |
| Ms. Rose Richardson | Ms. Carole Chapman | Ms. Sara Comerford | Ms. Muriel Conacher | Mr. Warren Connor |
| Mr. Michael Deren | Ms. Lois Donnelly | Mr. Lindsay Fast | Mr. Bernie Ford | Mr. Bob Foreman |
| Ms. Dorothy Fortier | Mr. Laurent Fournier | Mr. Glen Gantefoer | Mr. Gerry Gaucher | Ms. Mary Hicks |
| Ms. Arlene Heppner | Mr. Alphonse Kirzinger | Mr. Al Klassen | Mr. Herb Linsley | Mr. Rod Luhning |
| Mr. Paul Malone | Mr. Robert Mann | Mr. Don Meier | Mr. Walter Neufeld | Mr. John Nikolejsin |
| Ms. Rose Olson | Mr. Ernie Pappas | Ms. Alice Risling | Mr. Bruce Ruelling | Mr Brian Rusnak |
| Mr. Gary Shaddock | Ms. Marj Skotheim | Ms. Charmaine Styles | Rev. Bob. Thompson | Ms. Margaret Tornquist |
| Ms. Linda Trytten | Mr. Lorne Ulven | Ms. Debbie Ward | Ms. Debra Widdifield |
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Local Accountability and Partnerships Panel releases report to Government
September 26, 2005
The report recommendations of the Local Accountability and Partnerships Panel (LAPP) were formally released to the government today.
The LAPP panel was developed as a result of school division restructuring and it's task was to recommend a framework for local accountability and community involvement in schools.
The report strongly encourages that the engagement of parents and communities in a school be closely integrated into school board governance to ensure effectiveness, transparency and accountability.
The Saskatchewan School Boards Association President Lance Bean stated "We are pleased that this report places a strong focus on the vital importance of student achievement, learning success and the general well-being of Saskatchewan students".
The LAPP panel has set September 2006 as the target date for implementation of these changes.
"If these recommendations are to be fully functional by September 2006 the government needs to act quickly in adopting this report." Bean added, "A lot of work will need to be done by both communities and boards of education to implement these changes."
The Department of Learning has indicated the government will have a response to this report later this fall.
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Boards of Education call for provincial support
May 5, 2005
Saskatchewan boards of education are calling upon the provincial government to fully fund the costs of the provincial teachers' contract, which was accepted this morning by the Executive of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association.
While the majority of boards supported the tentative agreement, boards also call on the government to provide the funding for the cost increases as well as the ongoing costs.
"Boards have told us time and again that their budgets are constrained and these new costs must be covered by the government," said Lance Bean, President of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association. "Boards are feeling cost pressures from others areas, and are expected to pass along the savings of the eight per cent education property tax credit. They cannot go to property taxpayers again to cover the costs of the agreement."
A tentative agreement was reached April 15 between the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation and the government-trustee bargaining committee. Teachers also ratified the contract this week.
Boards of education also continue to express concerns over the method of bargaining, in which boards as the employer are in a minority position on the government-trustee bargaining committee.
"We are the only employer in Saskatchewan that is prevented from negotiating directly with its employees," Bean said. "We would hope that after this round of negotiations - in which we were pushed to the brink of job action that would have affected the education of our students - that the opportunity would arise to discuss better ways of conducting negotiations. We have asked the government to consider that."
The term of the agreement is September 1, 2004 to August 31, 2007.
"We are ready to move forward, sign the agreement and return to business as usual," Bean said. "We are also pleased that we were able to come to agreement without a disruption to our students' education."
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Status quo budget does not recognize education cost increases
March 23, 2005
Today's provincial budget maintained operating spending for Kindergarten to Grade 12 education at the same level as last year, with no recognition for increased operating costs to boards of education.
The government did allocate $54 million to property tax relief in the form of credits on property tax notices. Such credits do not reduce the cost pressures on boards of education, meaning some boards may have to reduce programs, services or staff, or raise property taxes to cover those costs.
The only "new" money for K-12 education in the province's budget is a one-time grant of $4.5 million allocated to the costs of amalgamating boards this year. Other money was reallocated to areas such as SchoolPLUS, career development, learning assessments and additional amalgamation costs.
"Boards of education will once again face tremendous pressure as they complete their budgets, and the government has provided little support to them," said Lance Bean, President of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association.
Examples of such pressures include:
- Significant SaskPower increases;
- Increased cost of transportation such as fuel for buses;
- Salary increases for teacher and support staff;
- Reassessment of property in 2005.
"Resources for amalgamation, and a commitment to career education are important investments," Bean said. "The $2 million to SchoolPLUS is also a valuable investment, but once again we see no investment from other Departments - such as Health or Justice - to support those services in schools. Boards want to provide those programs, but funds come from education dollars to support services that should be covered by other Departments."
Bean added that boards continue to be frustrated by the lack of commitment to reducing the burden on property taxes.
"Forced amalgamation of school divisions is seen as the solution, but without a sustainable plan for property tax reduction, amalgamation will do little to reduce that burden," Bean stated "This budget once again offered no long-term solution for education."
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Panel appointed to look at community engagement in schools
February 14, 2005
Minister of Learning Andrew Thomson announced Monday that he has appointed a three-person panel to prepare a policy paper on local engagement in schools.
Craig Melvin, a former Executive Director of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association, will chair the panel. Former Association President Gary Shaddock, a current member of the Shaunavon Board of Education, and former Director of Education Shirley Gange will also sit on the panel.
The Saskatchewan School Boards Association will encourage the panel to consider the ideas and input of boards of education, which already have varied successful frameworks in place to engage their communities.
In fact, at the annual Convention of the Association in November, the following resolution passed with 98 per cent support:
BE IT RESOLVED that the Association pursue through the Restructuring Process a local school engagement model that:
- Would ensure that parents and community members are engaged to advise boards of education;
- Would ensure maximum flexibility for boards to create models appropriate to the community's and the school's needs;
- Would provide a Schoolplus focus on school improvement, student achievement and promoting school-community level partnerships; and
- Would continue to be facilitated by the school principal.
"The Association and its members look forward to providing input to the panel as it develops its report for the Minister," Association President Lance Bean said. "This is an important part of the work of boards of education, and we want to ensure a successful and positive framework for working with our communities."
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New Boards of Education to be elected in June
February 14, 2005
The Saskatchewan School Boards Association is encouraging community leaders to step forward and run for elections for boards of education in June.
Minister of Learning Andrew Thomson announced Monday that elections for restructured boards of education will be held on June 15. A government-appointed Task Force created a new map of school divisions and those boards will be elected in June for a four-year term. There are also several Roman Catholic Separate divisions that are voluntarily amalgamating and will have an election or by-elections.
Boards of education for those school divisions that are not restructuring will hold elections in October of 2006 as part of the regular municipal election cycle.
"Boards of education are a key part of Saskatchewan's education system," said Lance Bean, President of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association. "Communities provide input into their schools through their locally elected board. In this time of significant change, we need leaders to make it successful. We also need voters to be aware and to cast their ballots in June."
Board members that serve on existing boards that are amalgamating will continue to serve through to the end of this year. The new boards will have responsibilities during the six months of transition, establishing the new school divisions that will take effect on January 1st.
"We anticipate that existing board members may want to be involved in creating successful change," Bean said. "But we encourage all community members who are interested in making a difference to consider running for boards. Considerable commitment is needed, but we know that Saskatchewan people are willing to put forward that commitment."
Interested candidates and voters can find more information on the new school divisions and subdivisions on the Association's website (www.saskschoolboards.ca) by visiting the "Amalgamation Resources" section for information and links. Information on new school division and subdivision boundaries will be distributed by the government to communities in the coming months. Voters are encouraged to determine their new subdivision and mark their calendars to vote on June 15.
As well, information on running for election or about being a board of education member will soon be available on the Saskatchewan School Boards Association website at www.saskschoolboards.ca.
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