Catholic Division seeking technology assets for new education world

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Catholic Division seeking technology assets for new education world

With the look of the 2020-21 school year up in the air, the Prince Albert Catholic School Division is looking to invest in technology. The division has put out a request for pricing on laptops or notebooks and tablets in order to be prepared for whatever may come in the next school year.

According to director of education Lorel Trumier, the division is investigating the pricing to prepare for whatever may come in the future.

“We, as teachers, want to be in the classroom with our students. We think that is the best way to teach and learn. We do know that we were forced into a remote learning procedure because of COVID-19 and so what we are looking for is everything in between,”

She explained that the division is being proactive and is also working with digital learning expert Dr. Alec Couros from the University of Regina about what is involved with best practices in remote teaching and learning. She explained that teachers had to learn very quickly and have been working hard to understand how to do remote learning in the best way.

“We are also working proactively at perhaps a blended learning approach for the fall so that when we are in school we will be there to help our students with the teacher in front of them and when we are not we still have a means to support our students via remote learning video or remote learning lectures, notes and activities that our students can engage in,” she said.
The division suspects next year’s school year could involve many modes of teaching and learning.

The division is seeking pricing on a purchase of up to an estimated 900 tablets. They reserve the right to determine the quantity of tablets provided by the vendor. The purchase is contingent on pricing and availability but they are prepared to begin the purchase once the supplier is selected.

The division in pricing up to 2,200 notebooks or laptops which have a minimum Windows 10 Pro operating system, 11 inch screen, 64 gigabyte hard drive and four gigabyte memory among other features. The number is also an estimate and the division also reserves the right to determine quantity. The PACSD qualifies for Microsoft’s Shaping the Future Program and this is part of the consideration to the vendor. The closing date for both requests is Friday, June 5.

The catholic division is seeing families begin to register online for the next school year.

“We just posted that online registration process and our families are currently registering as we speak,” Trumier said.

“There is a chance to ask families that are thinking about working with our school division. That puts us in a better position to plan for our students.”

Two additional COVID-19 related deaths reported Wednesday

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Two additional COVID-19 related deaths reported Wednesday

Two more Saskatchewan residents have died after contracting COVID-19.

“Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the people who have passed away as well as others who have been faced with COVID impacting their lives and these obviously continue to be difficult times for those who are impacted in such a way,” Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said in a press conference on Wednesday.

Both of the reported deaths occurred in the far north with one individual in their 80s and the other individual in their 60s.

This new total includes a death that was initially reported yesterday. The total number of deaths in Saskatchewan attributed to COVID-19 is now 10.

In addition to the reported deaths, there are three new cases in the province bringing the total to 637 overall cases. Two of the new cases are in Regina and one new case is in the far north.

“This is a reminder that as we engage safely in the reopening of Saskatchewan COVID is still around throughout Saskatchewan and we need to keep taking all of the precautions we have to prevent any further transmissions as our economy reopen,” he said.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority also declared a community outbreak in Saskatoon on Wednesday.

Dr. Johnmark Opondo, Medical Health Officer, officially declared the outbreak on May 27 in a release by the SHA.

“All the information I have at this moment is the family went outdoors, likely involving a barbecue,” Shahab said.

The outbreak is the result of one confirmed positive case and one presumptive positive case between May 21 and 26. These cases are linked to two large family gatherings in early May that exceeded public health order of ten people. It is being declared an outbreak as it involves multiple different households with transmission linked to a large gathering.

The contract tracing investigation is underway and involves a total of over 60 individuals but is contained.

All the close contacts are isolating at home and there is no further risk to the public. The outbreak is not linked to transmission at a health care facility and has not resulted in any hospitalizations to date.

“And again these two events, the fact that there is two cases in Regina and now an outbreak in Saskatoon again is a reminder that even as we engage in the reopening of Saskatchewan, even as we look forward on June 8 onward our indoor gathering size increasing to 15 and our outdoor gathering size going up to 30 we still need to consider very carefully who we are inviting,” Shahab said.

We should find a way to connect virtually or by other means, Shahab said, and we should ask ourselves about these gatherings.

“What can we do to minimize the risk of transmission if, for example, someone was asymptomatic and attended and of course anyone who has any symptoms should attend any such events even if it is in the prescribed limit, which currently is 10 and would go up to 15 for indoor gatherings on June 8 and 30 for outdoor gatherings,” Shahab said.

With cases of people being denied medical services in the south Shahab did not have information but said anyone should be able to receive care.

“Any Saskatchewan resident, or anyone in Saskatchewan should be able to seek any medical care. If someone is symptomatic they should be able to of course call ahead if they have COVID-19 symptoms and care providers should have all of the proper PPE to provide care in a safe manner and as required. Many private care providers who now are opening their practices do a risk assessment and screening before an appointment is made and on the day of the appointment as well to insure that the risk of transmission within the practice setting to either from patient to provider or provider to patient or other people in the waiting room is minimized. While I will inquire further I will also ask Dr. Susan Shaw if she has any further information on this,” he said.

According to Chief Medical Officer Dr. Susan Shaw she was not aware of any similar cases happening in services provided by the SHA.

“I have heard just through the media of reports of people who have had challenges accessing other aspects of medical care within the community. I agree that the risk assessment at the point of arranging that appointment or right before the appointment that taking all of the best practices and precautions to insure safety is the underlying principle and you should be able to access services regardless of location also if you are asymptomatic and the symptoms are managed. Absolutely an emergency or an urgent care situation than we wouldn’t want any barriers to exist for anybody,” Shaw said.

As the next phase of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan approaches Shahab warned everyone to remain cautious.

“We all need to understand that nothing is risk free,” he said.

“I think that what this underscores is we cannot go back to business as usual, even though in some respects, even though we see more traffic, even though we see more vehicles on the roads, even though we see more people outside in the greenspaces,” Shahab added.

There are currently 559 recoveries and 68 cases are considered active.

Ten more recoveries have been reported.

There are four people in hospital with illnesses related to COVID-19. One is receiving inpatient care in the Saskatoon and three people remain in Saskatoon in intensive care. The province is emphasizing that these areas are where the patient is hospitalized, not the regions where they live. Active cases are included in the number for their region of residence.

There are currently 50 cases who are health care workers; however, the source of the infections is not related to their work environments in all instances, 253 of the cases are from the far north, 167 are from the Saskatoon area, 111 are from the north, 78 are from the Regina area, 16 are from the south and 12 are from the central region.

Of the 590 cases in the province: 141 cases are related to travel, 363 are community contacts, which includes mass gatherings, 77 have no known exposures and 56 are under investigation by local public health.

The age breakdown shows 93 cases involve people 19 years of age and under, 227 cases are in the 20-39 age range, 195 are in the 40-59 age range, 104 are in the 60-79 age range and 18 are in the 80-plus range.

The gender breakdown shows 51 per cent of the cases being females and 49 per cent being males.

As of May 27, 45,118 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the province.

St. Catherine School daycare project moving closer to completion

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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St. Catherine School daycare project moving closer to completion

Another new daycare option is nearing completion in Prince Albert. The St. Catherine School Daycare Project is almost ready to open according to an update received by the Prince Albert Catholic School Division at their regular meeting on Monday, May 25.

There are still some elements to complete, in the project but the board was asked for feedback.

“It is coming almost to fruition that we will be able to have that daycare operating,” director of education Lorel Trumier said.

Executive Director of Children’s Choice Daycare Gail Szautner has requested that the division move possession to the cooperative. This will allow the licensing process to move forward. The division is in the process of signing an agreement with Children’s Choice Daycare.

Some small parts need to be completed according to Trumier. These included an HVAC heating element, which is having the installation delaying, fencing around the children’s play area and a mixing valve for cold and hot water.

“There is a few pieces left but it has reached substantial completion now what happens is the Children’s Choice Daycare executive director Gail Szautner is going to get the licensing applications to be complete or submitted for the final stages,” Trumier said.

She explained that the process is so near completion that it could be ready before school in September, which Trumier noted was an important element for people gradually returning to work.

“So at this point it will be in the hands of the executive director once the licensing procedures are completed,” she said.

The entire project is looking great as it nears completion, Trumier said.

“The facility is beautiful, I am actually jealous because it is just lots of beautiful light and windows and a bright open space for the children to be in and we are very pleased that we can strike this partnership because it really will support the families in that community and school as well.”

The Prince Albert Grand Council has also reached out to the division to join their Community Cares Kitchen Food on the Move project which is already under way in some Saskatchewan Rivers School Division schools.

“We are just working with the Prince Albert Grand Council to work on supporting students who require food. They have secured some funding there to help with some lunch opportunities for our students who require that

Trumier explained that the talks are still in early stages and they have some locations in mind.

“We will be looking at three sites in particular to host that come and grab a lunch to go with a sandwich and a fruit and a juice box in it so at least those families have something,” Trumier said.

“We are very pleased that PAGC has approached (us) for a partnership like this and we can give some in-kind support and have that divvied out to students that require that service,” she added.

Catholic Division adapts meeting format and plans virtual retirement tea

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Catholic Division adapts meeting format and plans virtual retirement tea

The Prince Albert Catholic School Division continues to adapt to what the COVID-19 pandemic means. Their regular meeting on Monday, May 25 saw more trustees in the building and some other adaptions to the format.

Director of education Lorel Trumier explained that the division took precautions but invited other trustees to the Catholic Education Centre for the meeting. They were adhering to social distancing rules and other parts of the Public Health Order.

“So we had four of the five members plus myself in one room and then we had our executive secretary sitting in another room in another part of the building,” she explained.

“I think you know as COVID continues we will just get smarter about how we can manage the pieces and we are always learning new strategies and trying to make things work. I think that it is good that we are learning and we are doing this all together in our world around us because it sure helps when we are trying to be cautious with our members that are involved in our school division,” she said.

There were only a few minor issues with teleconferencing but the meeting ran smoothly.

May was Catholic Education Month and the division celebrated it remotely, with a retirement tea normally scheduled for early June the division is taking the same strategy.

“We usually generally have what we call a retirement tea annually to acknowledge the retirees of our school division, whether they are teachers or support staff or members of our school division,” Trumier said.

The Retirement Tea Celebration is traditionally at St. Joseph’s Church instead it will be a virtual celebration with staff who chose to participate.

“What we do annually is we talk to the retirees, some people like to ride away in the sunset and not have any acknowledgement and some really have worked to celebrate with their peers and want to celebrate with their peers about working with them in their career. So it’s always a joyous time in retirement so that each of our retirees have time to enjoy some recognition and at this point we have a retirement celebration lined up for June 3,” Trumier said.

This year there is seven staff total retiring with four teachers, two caretakers and one member of the support staff completing their time in the division.

“We are going to do our best and acknowledge the people that we care about in that way and it will be interesting to see how we can do it but it is always fun,” Trumier said.

They will be following the recommendations of the Chief Medical Officer and gathering in the Teams application on Microsoft Office 365. All staff will receive the traditional gift of a clock on behalf of the board of education. Administration asked a board representative or Chair Susanne Stubbs to speak and also invited all board members to join the event through Teams. One of the retirees will also be recognized for a recent award.

“It’s exciting Louise Kerzinger is a recent recipient of the Catholic Education Service Award and we generally do a recognition of that service in our Parish church that she belongs to and we are not able to do that so this will be a nice way to acknowledge her efforts as a recipient and obviously as a long-serving teacher in our school division.”

Report to SCC chairs shows high engagement in supplemental learning

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Report to SCC chairs shows high engagement in supplemental learning

School Divisions in Prince Albert are in constant communication with School Community Councils (SCC) in the division. At their regular meeting on Monday, May 25 the board of education received an update on a report to the chairs of each SCC that showed that the division is doing well with matters such as supplemental learning in the division.

The report included items that were important to update the chairpersons on. Director of education Lorel Trumier explained that trustees are attached to each school and generally attend meetings and deliver reports on what is happening at the board level to SCCs.

According to Trumier, one important element was the 90 per cent engagement in Supplemental Learning since the closure of schools.

“We had a high level of engagement on the supplemental learning, which is an optional programs. That’s a very important message for our SCC community leaders to hear so that they know that the student population and the families are engaging and what we are doing whether it is through online and remote learning or remote learning through a paper package so that was positive,” Trumier said.

The report also noted the recent closure of schools until September at the earliest which Trumier explained puts the parents at ease in some cases.

“It gives us the chance to (plan) for what we call COVID preparedness for the fall,” she explained.

Preparing for any eventuality is easier said than done, according to Trumier. The division also recently put out surveys and they are just now getting into the responses. The online responses numbers nearly 350 and they are still waiting for paper package responses.

“Overwhelmingly parents are satisfied or very satisfied with the process we have used for supplemental learning, so that is a good sign,” she said.

“We got some great feedback. The kids really love seeing their teachers in the teacher videos that they create. They love hearing the teacher’s voices. We are pleased about that, that helps us do some more planning,”

The parents and students also appreciate the phone calls from teachers because of the opportunity to speak one-on-one. Other learning methods include YouTube videos and applications like Mathletics.

“There is lots of good feedback that we got, but I think that one of the takeaways is we need to consider all of these pieces as we set up for what the fall may have to look like. Our hope is that we get to be in school and we want to be there for our children in that fashion. We just will have to wait to see what the parameters are for return. So those kinds of things we talked about, registration, our online registration process was talked about with our councils and obviously we highlighted Catholic Education Week and made that known to them too,” she said.

Catholic Division approves amendments to maintenance plan

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Catholic Division approves amendments to maintenance plan

Schools are always in need of maintenance and the Prince Albert Catholic School Division has an ability to stay ahead of these with the Preventative Maintenance and Renewal (PMR) Plan. The board previously approved their plan but some changes had to be made because of COVID-19 and other items.

At their meeting on Monday, May 25 the board approved amendments and the amended three-year (fiscal years 2021-2022, 2022-2023 and 2023-2024) PMR projects list. Administration found projects costing $326,043 that previously did not appear in the list.

“Last night we did add some elements to some of the pieces we have been keeping an eye on and require at this point and then we approved the three year plan as proposed,” director of education Lorel Trumier explained.

The plan was previously approved but the process is always ongoing.

“It gets updated every year and it gets renewed along the way it is intended to be exactly what it says,” Trumier said.

The amendments can happen because incidents may happen like a boiler ending its life or a roof springing a leak.

“It means that we have to budget sometimes beyond three years so the projects will end up being in the fourth year or fifth year but it is a rolling plan so that we can continue to keep our eyes on the targets that are most important.”

The amendments include plexiglass for reception areas to protect workers in light of the pandemic at the Catholic Education Centre, Holy Cross, St Catherine, St. Francis, St. John, St. Mary, St. Michael and St. Anne. Other projects included sanding and refinishing the floor, replacing tiles and replacing stair treads at St. Mary. There are also various projects at St. Francis, St. Anne and Holy Cross in the amended list.

“So we are trying to make it COVID-prepared for both our students, our staff and our parents as well,” Trumier said.

She explained that they always estimate and assess as actual costs come in.

The most expensive project is the replacement of roofing on the second level at St. Francis which is estimated at $242,643.

The three-year plan which was approved earlier included a number of projects at Holy Cross, St. Francis ad St. John in 2021.
Chief Financial Officer Greg McEwan also gave an update on a Climate Action Incentive Fund which is available to the division. The fund is the result of an agreement between federal and provincial government to allocate just over $12 million to school divisions. The Catholic Division’s share is $269,378 and it is to be used for specific types of projects that have a result in reducing their energy footprint. Examples include things such as the installation of LED lighting or replacement of HVAC units, replacement of windows and doors, roofing and exterior refinishing.

These projects must be completed by March 31, 2021 administration is identifying projects and will the advise board once that work is complete.

SaskPolytech receives $2 million in funding for Saskatchewan’s first Technology Access Centre

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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SaskPolytech receives $2 million in funding for Saskatchewan’s first Technology Access Centre

Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Digital Integration Centre of Excellence (DICE) is Saskatchewan’s first Technology Access Centre (TAC) funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Innovation Saskatchewan.

The $1.75 million in funding from NSERC’s Colleges and Community Innovation program and $250,000 from Innovation Saskatchewan will expand DICE’s applied research capacity, infrastructure and equipment.

“Colleges and polytechnics play a pivotal and unique role within their communities by providing cutting- edge applied research expertise and state-of-the-art facilities that drive local innovation,” NSERC president Alejandro Adem said.

“These R&D collaborations contribute not only to the development and commercialization of new products and services for Canadians, but also the creation of new quality jobs and valuable training experience for our future generation of workers.”

NSERC’s investment connects colleges and polytechnics across Canada with local companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, to work together on applied research projects that will facilitate the development of new products and technologies for the benefit of their local communities and beyond.

“This initiative provides valuable infrastructure for Saskatchewan,” Tina Beaudry-Mellor Minister responsible for Innovation Saskatchewan said.

“Increased connections between researchers and business help advance every sector of our economy, and allow us to take advantage of the latest tech opportunities.”

“Thank you to NSERC and Innovation Saskatchewan for this important investment in Saskatchewan, in Saskatchewan Polytechnic and in Saskatchewan’s first Technology Access Centre,” Dr. Larry Rosia, Saskatchewan Polytechnic president and CEO said.

“The DICE TAC will help power up Saskatchewan’s growing tech sector and will position Saskatchewan Polytechnic at the forefront of data and digital applied research in Canada. Congratulations to our Applied Research Team for this incredible accomplishment.”

The DICE TAC operates under the Office of Applied Research and Innovation and is staffed with highly qualified specialists and technologists experienced in providing digital solutions focused on data. This includes data integrity, data transmission and data analysis and storage.

“Business and industry will work with the DICE TAC team to provide innovative solutions for solving data and digital challenges facing small and medium-sizes in Saskatchewan and across the country,” Susan Blum, Sask Polytech associate vice-president, Office of Applied Research and Innovation said. “Our student researchers, faculty and staff are working on exceptional applied research projects. If you have a digital business challenge you need assistance with, Sask Polytech is ready to help.”

“Innovation is taking things that already exist and putting them together in a new and exciting way,” Dr. Terry Peckham, Sask Polytech DICE TAC director explained.

“Saskatchewan’s first Technology Access Centre, DICE, will enhance the innovation ecosystem within the province by helping bring people and ideas together for our companies and industry.”

The DICE TAC expansion will allow Sask Polytech researchers to start on new and innovative projects to benefit Canada’s agriculture and mining industries. Intellectual property for applied research projects at Sask Polytech is always retained by the industry partner, creating more incentive for future creative engagement and ongoing collaboration.

New gym floors at two schools in Prince Albert this summer

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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New gym floors at two schools in Prince Albert this summer

The Saskatchewan Rivers School Division recently put out to tender a replacement project for gym floors at two Prince Albert schools, École Arthur Pechey and John Diefenbaker Public School.

The tender request opened May 12 and closed on Friday, May 22. The Preventative Maintenance and Renewal (PMR) funding provided by the Ministry of Education each year makes a project like this possible.

According to Saskatchewan Rivers Superintendent of Facilities Mike Hurd, the preventative maintenance projects work is done throughout the division and they have been replacing gymnasium floors as required.

“They get to where they have outlived their life and we have been replacing them. We get some funding from our ministry, Preventative Maintenance and Renewal (PMR) funding and we utilize that to do those things,” he said.

He explained that the PMR funding simplifies the process and allows them to stay ahead on maintenance in the division.

“The nice thing about that is we are able to determine the projects that are a priority to the division. Our board can look at the plan and say this is what we need to do here instead of applying for something and waiting to see whether the ministry will approve that,” Hurd said.

The old method had schools apply for projects to be approved by the Ministry of Education and wait and see, but with PMR funds each division can determine priorities.

“Up here we haven’t had a lot of new major capital projects— not like Saskatoon, Regina they really get them because their enrollment has been so good and they have had to with growth they have had to build schools whereas we have been fairly stable here and a lot of our schools are aging,” he explained.

According to Hurd, the PMR funding helps to increase the life cycle of schools in the division.

“We don’t get new schools as often as those larger centers do so we have to make the best of what we have and try to stay on top. And if you are doing preventative maintenance than you don’t get behind, it helps you,” Hurd said.

Both school’s floors are over or nearly 30 years old.

“If we were in a real bind we could probably carry it on a little bit longer but we have got the budget to do it so we use it for those things,” Hurd explained.

The board requested a proposal for replacement, supply and installation of new gym floors at both schools. The projects are expected to begin at the end of June and be completed by late August before school may or may not return.

According to Hurd, the vinyl floors seams’ start to let go after years of wear and tear and begin to get brittle. He explained that these two projects and possibly one more would mean that every school in the division would have replaced their gym floors.

Proposals were evaluated based on budgetary constraints, pricing, specifications being met and quality, warranty, experience, past history working with the proponent, completion timeline and any other criteria that Sask. Rivers wishes to use in the selection process.

According to Hurd the division received four proposals between the two projects.

“We used an RFP and we had our own specifications. Everybody that bid met the specs for the floors that we put out,” he said.

Hurd was pleased by the process and the variety of bids that came into the project. The floors in K-8 schools have to be a bit more flexible for use than a floor like that at Carlton Comprehensive Collegiate according to Hurd.

“In a K-8 school you want a more multi-functional floor, something that you can have a Christmas supper on or play sports on.

The products that they tend to use are cushion-type of polyurethane that have long life.

The costing was based on the price for synthetic flooring, sheet vinyl flooring and logos. The cost includes delivery, installation, worksite preparation and other items. The scope of the work includes removal of existing flooring, concrete floor preparation and leveling, installation of new floors, painting of game lines, retrofit of floor sockets, painting of school logo at centre and any worksite preparation and sealing off of entrance doors.

The floor at Arthur Pechey measures approximately 4,640 square feet and the floor at Diefenbaker measures approximately 4,144 square feet.

The COVID-19 pandemic makes it possible for the projects to start earlier if crews are available.

“Both of those floors have paid for themselves and to be quite honest if we had to go a couple of years because we didn’t have the money we could,” Hurd said.

STF ratifies new agreement with province

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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STF ratifies new agreement with province

The Saskatchewan Teachers Federation and their membership voted 85 per cent in favour of a new four-year Agreement in a vote that was held from May 19 to 21. For teachers, regaining lost purchasing power and alleviating challenges of class complexity were the two most important issues to address in this round of bargaining. Unfortunately, the Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee was unwilling to include any provisions about class complexity in the Agreement.

The STF stated in a release on Thursday that these concerns were not addressed but the world has changed with the COVID-19 pandemic and this will allow them to focus on meeting the challenges.

STF President Patrick Maze said that the 85 per cent ratification number was positive.

“I think that the pandemic played into that and the economic uncertainties in the province and in the country and globally did as well,” Maze said.

The pandemic created the necessity to build the Provincial Response Education Team and their work made implementing a new class size and composition committee with expanded partners possible.

“That team has gone back to the traditional partners in education in order to make things work and I think they have done good work and it has produced results and had a fairly orderly education sector response to the pandemic and the planning that has gone on there,” he explained.

The committee’s structure is modelled after the Education Sector Response Planning Team and the Federation is cautiously optimistic a collaborative sector approach to COVID-19 response can be replicated to address class complexity.

“The Government’s commitment to revise the terms of reference and the membership of the class composition committee and formulate that around the lines of the Response Planning Team gives us a renewed hope that there is potential for some tangible results to come out of that class composition committee,” Maze explained.

The previous class competition committee, announced in November, 2019 that did not have a seat at the table for the STF and Maze felt the composition was stacked against them. The new committee has more traditional partners like the Saskatchewan School Boards Association, the deans of education from both the University of Saskatchewan and University of Regina and less Ministry of Education representation.

“It should give better representation to teachers, better representation to students and hopefully will produce some better results,” Maze said.

The new committee is a positive outcome from the shutdown of the education system because of the pandemic, Maze explained.

“The good work that the Response Planning Team has done gives us a bit of renewed hope that they can translate into better class composition across the province,” he said.

Maze noted that if the new committee doesn’t result in legitimate action on class composition from the government the issue could arise in future bargaining.

“ Bargaining is a long-term game for us and we don’t expect to get everything that we want in a contract. We need to build towards the future. So giving the government an opportunity to not have it in contract this round gives them an opportunity to get composition right so that we don’t have to bargain for it. And realistically, we shouldn’t have to bargain for students’ learning conditions. That should be government’s responsibility … to fund education for success.”

Another issue that the pandemic has brought to the forefront is the inequality that exists in the education system. Issues such as the gap in technology because of socioeconomic and rural versus urban differences and others can be addressed by the committee.

“The teachers are very concerned about those students during a pandemic when they don’t see the students daily and they don’t have the ability to check in on them and make sure they are doing okay. So we want to make sure that the Composition Committee is able to address some of those equity issues potentially and make sure that kids have a bit more level playing field so that they can all get the education they deserve,” Maze said.

“Things like having access to Wi-Fi and things like having a device at home that you can access Wi-Fi with. Finding out what the needs are of students is really eye opening sometimes to realize that some students don’t have access so we need to start addressing the needs where they are at,” he explained.

The Agreement will be effective from September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2023. Teachers will receive zero per cent in year one and two per cent increases in each of the following years. Government has agreed to create new educational regulations that would compel school boards to provide the Federation with a list of all substitute teachers each school year.

According to Maze, the length of the contract will give both sides time to work on relationships and see the progress of the class composition committee. He explained that bargaining is a lengthy process where there is at least a year and a half of preparation before the cycle begins anew.

Five new COVID-19 cases on Friday, four of which are in the far north

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Five new COVID-19 cases on Friday, four of which are in the far north

The provincial government reported five new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, May 22. Four of the new cases were in the far north and one was reported in the south. The new provincial total is 627 cases reported.

With 521 recoveries and seven cases resulting in deaths so far, 99 cases are considered active.

Twelve more recoveries have been reported.

There are still five people in hospital with illnesses related to COVID-19. Two are receiving inpatient care, with one each in the Saskatoon and Regina, and three people remain in Saskatoon in intensive care. The province is emphasizing that these areas are where the patient is hospitalized, not the regions where they live. Active cases are included in the number for their region of residence.

There are currently 49 cases who are health care workers; however, the source of the infections is not related to their work environments in all instances, 248 of the cases are from the far north, 165 are from the Saskatoon area, 110 are from the north, 76 are from the Regina area, 16 are from the south and 12 are from the central region.

Of the 590 cases in the province: 140 cases are related to travel, 349 are community contacts, which includes mass gatherings, 73 have no known exposures and 65 are under investigation by local public health.

The age breakdown shows 92 cases involve people 19 years of age and under, 223 cases are in the 20-39 age range, 190 are in the 40-59 age range, 104 are in the 60-79 age range and 18 are in the 80-plus range.

The gender breakdown shows 51 per cent of the cases being females and 49 per cent being males.

As of May 22, 42,843 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the province.

Province releases guidance on non-medical cloth masks for the general public

While the primary driver of COVID-19 transmission is by people who are symptomatic, there is evidence that some COVID-19 infected people who never develop symptoms or are not yet sick are able to transmit the virus.

The Public Health Agency of Canada now recommends wearing a non-medical cloth mask in community settings (even if you have no symptoms) where physical distancing is not possible or is unpredictable, such as on public transit or in grocery stores.

Some guidelines include to avoid touching the mask – if you must adjust it, wash your hands afterward; masks must not be shared with others; put on and take off the mask with clean hands using the ear loops or ties, being careful not to touch your face; non-medical masks or cloth face coverings should be washed after each use; do not use face coverings on children under the age of two and a homemade mask does not replace public health measures that are proven to be effective.

The best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to continue to follow the guidelines to stay home as much as possible, practice physical distancing, frequently wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water and cover your cough or sneezes with tissues or your sleeve.

The next provincial news conference is scheduled for Monday, May 25.

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