Archives for November 2016

REGINA – Community voice and locally elected boards of education contribute to a more democratic and transparent education system, according to the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA).

School boards are very concerned about the effects of the changes the Government of Saskatchewan is considering in education, including further forced amalgamations of school divisions and the elimination of democratically and locally elected school boards.

“In education, decisions are best made at the grassroots level and school boards provide a connection and accountability with the community,” said Dr. Shawn Davidson, president of the SSBA. “Loss of local voice through the reduction of locally elected boards of education will not be good for students, communities or the education system. Communities and school boards that already have experienced forced amalgamations in our province know that it is very disruptive for schools and students. Huge changes like that take significant time and resources and they don’t save money.”

Saskatchewan boards of education strongly believe that the focus should be on continuing the progress being realized with the Education Sector Strategic Plan and ensuring all children in Saskatchewan – regardless of where they live or their personal circumstances – have the resources and supports they need to achieve and succeed.

The 28 locally elected school boards have a vital role in serving Saskatchewan’s education system. For more than 100 years, the longest lasting and most fundamental responsibility of schools boards has been to bring the voice of the public to publicly funded education. Boards of education provide families, communities and students a crucial connection to democratic decision-making in their school systems.

“Education belongs to community – the SSBA represents 28 unique and diverse boards of education in our province and we need local people to join us in letting the government know that Saskatchewan school boards matter,” Davidson said. “Just like locally elected representation is important for maintaining local infrastructure, so are locally elected school boards important to local communities and providing education to our students.”

The SSBA is encouraging communities to add their voices to this discussion; details are available at: https://saskschoolboards.ca/education-belongs-to-community/.

REGINA – The 28 member boards of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) have chosen a new Provincial Executive to lead the organization.

The new Executive was selected during the SSBA’s Annual General Meeting this week and its members are as follows:

• Dr. Shawn Davidson, Prairie South Board of Education
  -President
• Aleana Young, Regina Public Board of Education
  -Vice-President
• Duane Favel, Ile a la Crosse Board of Education
  -Aboriginal Constituency
• Jerome Niezgoda, Christ the Teacher Catholic Board of Education
  -Catholic Constituency
• Jaimie Smith-Windsor, Saskatchewan Rivers Board of Education
  -Central Constituency
• Martin Prince, Conseil scolaire fransaskois
  -CSF Constituency
• Joe Daigneault, Northern Lights Board of Education
  -Northern Constituency
• Janet Kotylak, Prairie Valley Board of Education
  -Southern Constituency
• Donna Banks, Saskatoon Public Board of Education
  -Urban Public Constituency

The SSBA Provincial Executive members are all school board trustees. Representatives for the SSBA’s seven constituencies are chosen by the constituency members. All 28 school boards in the province are eligible to vote for the SSBA President and Vice-President.

The Executive advocates with a unified, province-wide voice on matters identified as important by the membership; promotes the important work of boards of education in improving outcomes for all students; and, builds relationships with key education sector partners and other stakeholders to ensure views of boards are represented in all considerations.

SASKATOON – Regina Catholic Schools has received the 2016 Premier’s Board of Education Award for its Innovation & Empowerment: Continuous Action Planning Outcomes for First Nations, Inuit and Métis (FNIM) Education.

The Saskatchewan School Boards Association coordinates the Premier’s Award each year. The award was presented on behalf of Premier Brad Wall during the SSBA Annual General Assembly on Monday night.

“Regina Catholic Schools has been working more than a decade to achieve this within their division and has seen significant success improving their First Nations, Métis and Inuit students’ reading levels, enrolment retention, credit attainment and on-time graduation rates,” Deputy Premier and Minister of Education Don Morgan said. “The Education Sector Strategic Plan has prioritized the need to reduce the disparity in graduation rates between Indigenous students and their non-Indigenous peers, and I thank Regina Catholic Schools for their leadership in this area and the great work they do every day.”

In its application for the award, Regina Catholic Schools described establishing a standard where innovation, empowerment and action have become the operating norms for addressing approaches to FNIM educational needs over the past 15 years.

Success for FNIM students is not the result of a single program or initiative; it is the outcome of ongoing planning efforts and sustained practices driven by targeted allocation of resources, professional expertise and well-forged partnerships, according to the division.

“To see the shared dedication from many stakeholders who together want to see success for our First Nations and Métis students is the reward,” said Donna Ziegler, chair of the Regina Catholic Schools board of education.

Ziegler said that improved board policies, utilizing best practices, hearing from First Nations and Métis community leaders, engaging parents, working with the Office of the Treaty Commissioner and empowering the division’s Circle of Voices Committee has provided a successful pathway for staff and students.

“It’s an integrated approach that shows our commitment as a board, empowers staff to lead and supports students to be successful,” she continued. “At least two-thirds of staff have received Treaty Rights training and we have treaty catalyst teachers in every school. Listening, actualizing and empowering has allowed our staff to be supportive and our students to flourish.”

The $3,000 award is sponsored by Xerox Canada. The award recipient is recommended by a panel that includes representation from the Faculty of Education at the University of Regina, the College of Education at the University of Saskatchewan, the Ministry of Education, the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation and the League of Educational Administrators, Directors and Superintendents of Saskatchewan.

“Xerox Canada commends the Regina Catholic School Division for their continuous innovation, empowerment and excellence in elevating the learning environment for First Nations, Inuit and Métis students,” said Mario Poirier, Vice-President, Xerox Canada. “You are joining a well-respected list of past winners and are part of Saskatchewan’s inspired educators who are helping students reach their full potential.”

Developed in 1999, the Premier’s Award recognizes educational innovations and improvements focused on student achievement that have been advanced or directed by boards of education. The prize is to be used to support or extend the innovation or project.

“The Premier’s Award shines a spotlight on great work being done by boards of education throughout Saskatchewan to support student achievement,” said SSBA President Connie Bailey. “Although there is only one recipient of the award, each submission is worthy of recognition for advancing the goal we all work to achieve – improved outcomes for students in Saskatchewan.”