Prairie South School Division saw a nearly 50-per-cent year-over-year decline in injury claims from employees during the 2022-23 school year, which led to an insurance premium discount of nearly $70,000.
The Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) accepted 10 injury claims from division staff in 2023 versus 18 submissions in 2022, a decrease of 44.5 per cent, the 2022-23 human resources accountability report showed. Meanwhile, WCB accepted 26 claims in 2021 and 17 in 2020.
The claims last year resulted in 257 time-loss days for $106,957 in compensation and medical costs. In comparison, claims in 2022 resulted in 364 time-loss days for $111,742 in compensation and medical WCB costs.
Prairie South paid a base premium last year of $232,019, but the reduction in claims submissions led to a discount of $69,794 for an overall base premium of $162,225.
Amy Johnson, human resources superintendent, said during the Jan. 9 board meeting that the decreased costs and claims were good news and worth celebrating.
Consultations
The division has used BCL Consulting Group Inc. since 2017 to review its WCB claims history for possible savings, the report said. The data showed that the firm saved PSSD $189,567 last year, resulting in a discount of minus 37 cents per $100 in assessable payroll.
Staff composition
Prairie South had 1,284 total employees in 2022-23, equalling 934.15 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, the report showed. Classroom teachers had the highest FTEs at 432.1, followed by other educational staff at 261.66 FTEs and transportation at 117 FTEs.
Demographics
The report contained a chart with the ages of all support staff and teachers. It showed:
- 19 to 29 age category: nearly 30 support staff and nearly 100 teachers
- 30 to 39 category: nearly 90 support staff and roughly 130 teachers
- 40 to 49 category: nearly 90 support staff and over 140 teachers
- 50 to 59 category: over 110 support staff and nearly 140 teachers
- 60 to 69 category: over 40 support staff and nearly 20 teachers
- 70 to 79 category: roughly two support staff
Recruitment and retention
Last year, 17 teachers and nine support staff retired, for a total of 26, while 14 teachers and 18 support staff resigned, for a total of 32. In comparison, 45 staff retired and 34 resigned in 2022.
Training and development
Employees who upgrade their qualifications are eligible to apply for tuition and book reimbursement each year, the report said.
Last year, 44 teachers took 82 courses and were reimbursed $75,680.25. Meanwhile, 31 support staff took 63 courses and were reimbursed $36,144.91.
“This board is really supportive of continuing education, as an organization that educates young people (should be). So that’s great to see the use of that each year,” said Johnson.
Attendance
Data for 2022-23, 2021-22 and 2020-21 showed the average number of days staff were absent due to illness was:
- Teachers with a teacher’s certificate: 23.2 / 22.7 / 18.2
- All classroom teachers: 20 / 19.8 / 15.9
- CUPE staff: 20.5 / 21 / 20.9
- Out of scope: 15.6 / 12.8 / 11.3
- Bus drivers: 12.7 / 12 / 11.1
Meanwhile, total days absent for illness in 2022-23 for each group were, respectively, 3,955.75, 4,300.47, 3,777.97, 527.88 and 493.5.
Labour relations
The division issued verbal warnings to six teachers and four support staff, letters of discipline to three teachers and five support staff, suspensions to three support staff, engaged in workplace investigations of two teachers and two support staff and involuntarily terminated three support staff, the report said.
Meanwhile, the teachers’ union filed zero grievances while CUPE filed two and had both either resolved or withdrawn. Furthermore, the division and CUPE “amicably negotiated” a new contract to 2025 that provides support staff with wage increases of three per cent, 2.5 per cent and 2.5 per cent. Also, non-unionized staff received a wage increase of three per cent.
“(I) just (want) to highlight the really good working relationship that we enjoy with all of our employee groups, but in particular CUPE … ,” said Johnson.
The next PSSD board meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 6.
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