Trustees with Prairie South School Division will receive a pay increase of 1.8 per cent this school year, the first time they have received a raise in five years.
During the Sept. 7 board meeting, trustees approved a motion to give $1,349 per month to members, $1,424 per month to the vice-chair and $1,499 per month to the board chair for the 2021-22 school year. These raises, according to division administration, are in line with recent increases in the consumer price index. They were also included as part of the budget discussions for this year.
A board report showed what members, the vice-chair and board chair were paid during the past half-decade:
- Members: $1,325 per month in 2016-17, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and $1,067 per month in 2017-18
- Vice-chair: $1,399 per month in 2016-17, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 and $1,131 per month in 2017-18
- Board chair: $1,472 per month in 2016-17, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 and $1,194 per month in 2017-18
Schedule of meetings
Trustees approved their annual work plan, including committee planning meetings and regular public board meetings. The schedule for public board meetings — held on Tuesdays — is Sept. 7, Oct. 5, Nov. 2, Dec. 7, Jan. 4, Feb. 1, March 1, April 5, May 3 and June 7.
Missed board meetings
Trustees can miss up to one regular board meeting or committee of the whole planning and in-service session yearly without losing any pay. However, they will be deducted $150 for every half-day missed of a board meeting or planning session, except for re-scheduled meetings that the board approves.
Outside functions
During the 2021-22 year, members will be paid $30 per hour to attend out-of-division functions, meetings and other events not related to PSSD. This includes in-person attendance and virtual meetings. This hourly rate will be up to $200 per day for members, $225 per day for the vice-chair and $250 per day for the board chair.
Members will be allowed to submit a minimum charge of one hour for any meeting attended unless another organization — such as their employer — compensates them for attending that function.
Travel time
Trustee remuneration for travel time will be 20 cents per kilometre, while mileage will be 44 cents per kilometre. Trustees and division staff can claim mileage when they use their vehicles during their work responsibilities, a board report said.
In comparison, provincial employees covered by the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees Union (SGEU) can claim mileage rates of 47.36 cents per kilometre when using their cars and 50.29 cents per kilometre when using a truck for hauling.
Meal repayment
Trustees and division staff may claim meal expenses when purchasing is required and not otherwise covered.
For this school year, trustees and staff can claim $10 for breakfast, $15 for lunch and $20 for supper.
In comparison, provincial employees with SGEU can claim in-province meal rates of $10 for breakfast, $18 for lunch and $23 for supper. Out of province, they can claim $13 for breakfast, $20 for lunch and $28 for supper.
Parking
The parking expense rate for trustees and division staff is $5 daily without a receipt, or “actual reasonable costs” with a receipt, according to a board report.
Accommodations
Trustees and division staff can claim accommodation expenses when required and when not otherwise covered. The rate for this year is “actual reasonable costs” supported by receipts, or $35 per night in a private residence outside of the home location.
The next PSSD board meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 5.
