REGINA – After winning the Mosaic Extreme School Makeover Challenge for 2017, 10 Saskatchewan schools are each receiving $10,000 to support student nutrition.

“At Mosaic, we partner with organizations, like the Saskatchewan School Boards Association, who are making a difference for families and children in our province,” said Sarah Fedorchuk, Senior Director of Public Affairs for The Mosaic Company. “Food security is at the core of Mosaic’s mission. We recognize how improved nutrition can have a positive effect on a child’s ability to learn and we are excited to empower these Challenge winners with the funds they need to support their kids.”

The grants will support winning projects that have goals including developing or expanding school and community gardens; improving education for students and communities about nutrition, cooking, agriculture, food safety and First Nations learnings; purchasing kitchen equipment; and, developing or furthering breakfast and snack programs.

Many schools from across the province submitted their projects to compete for a total of $100,000 in prizes, provided by Mosaic. Schools receiving grants this year are part of the Good Spirit, Greater Saskatoon Catholic, Northwest, Prairie South, Saskatchewan Rivers, Saskatoon Public and Horizon school divisions; the Conseil des écoles fransaskoises; and, Key First Nation and Muskowekwan First Nation.

With Mosaic and the SSBA as partners, the Extreme School Makeover Challenge began in 2006, to encourage grassroots initiatives to improve student nutrition.

“We are proud of our ongoing partnership with The Mosaic Company in support of the Extreme School Makeover Challenge,” said Dr. Shawn Davidson, SSBA President. “We are very grateful for Mosaic’s continued generosity in funding this effort and promoting improved nutrition environments for students across Saskatchewan.”

Backgrounder: Mosaic Extreme School Makeover Challenge 2017 Winners

REGINA – Some of the concerns school boards in Saskatchewan brought forward about a bill to change legislation governing education have been addressed in amendments made at the committee stage.

In particular, Bill 63, The Education Amendment Act, 2017, no longer repeals sections about board rights and responsibilities from legislation into regulations. The revised bill also clarifies language about the local election of trustees. Those had been among concerns identified by school boards.

“We appreciate that the government listened to boards and the public and has now made some amendments to Bill 63,” said Dr. Shawn Davidson, president of the SSBA. “Trustees are elected to be the voice of public education and we think it is vital those roles and responsibilities are preserved in law.”

While those issues have been addressed with the new changes, there remains concern for boards about Bill 63 and the implications of some of its other clauses. Much work is ahead as boards seek to collaborate with the government about the future of the province’s education system.

“The SSBA is calling for a full review of The Education Act, 1995, with the goal of having an updated piece of legislation that truly reflects the needs of the province going forward,” Davidson said. “We would like to see an entirely new act, developed based on collaboration, introduced next year.”

Meanwhile, dealing with significant funding shortfalls continues to be the focus for boards throughout the province as they look toward the upcoming school year. Boards believe all children should have the resources they need to succeed, regardless of where they live or their personal circumstances.

“We are pleased that Bill 63 did not go ahead as originally proposed and we thank the public for adding their voice on that important topic,” said Davidson. “We need communities to continue to stand up for investment in our education system and its importance to the future of our province.”