Editor's note: An earlier version of this article said the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation (STF) also wanted Minister Dustin Duncan to resign. This was inaccurate — the STF has not asked for Duncan' resignation — and has been corrected in the story.
The president of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) says that the issue over whether students should return to school while COVID-19 cases are increasing has been “blown out of proportion.”
Education Minister Dustin Duncan said on Jan. 5 that his ministry had consulted with the SSBA — which represents all 27 school divisions — and found there was no interest to delay the start of school. However, SSBA president Shawn Davidson later said he was not informed that a school delay was on the table.
This apparent contradiction prompted the Opposition Saskatchewan NDP to call for Duncan’s resignation, pointing out that there was no coherent return-to-school plan and a lack of communication with the education sector.
Davidson, a trustee with Prairie South School Division, addressed the issue during the Jan. 11 board of education meeting.
“(Duncan) didn’t actively consult school divisions about the extension of the Christmas break, but that being said, we never actually lobbied for an extension to the Christmas break,” said Davidson. "In fact, most of the divisions stated that they really didn't see a lot of benefit in a couple of extra days tacked onto the Christmas break. So we went back to school as planned ... .
“We didn't really wade into that debate one way or another. So from my perspective, it’s really a nothing story that has been blown out of proportion. Because essentially … it’s really just a lot of semantics and words being thrown around,” he added. “They’re trying to shape their narrative and I don’t think there’s really anything there.”
While Davidson thought this issue was overblown, one issue that he knew was problematic among school divisions was contact tracing. The province is forcing schools to follow up with students and staff who either had COVID-19 or were in contact with people who had it. This was causing additional administrative burdens.
“We’ve been lobbying for some renewed assistance from (the Ministry of) Health to get that work done because that really is health’s work and not education,” he said.
The SSBA will continue to raise awareness around the provincial government’s investment into pandemic funding and how school divisions have now largely spent that funding, Davidson continued. There have been additional costs in this area and school divisions “have been left holding the bag.”
The SSBA president added that absenteeism of staff and students from schools because they supposedly have the virus is also causing challenges for divisions.
The next PSSD board meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 1.
