PRAIRIE SPIRIT TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION
PSTA President The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation asked Greater Catholic School Board Trustee candidates to complete a survey to provide voters with a clearer understanding of their positions in key education issues.
Download the PDF and share with your friends, family and neighbors.
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The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation asked Saskatoon Public School Board Trustee candidates to complete a survey to provide voters with a clearer understanding of their positions in key education issues.
Download the PDF and share with your friends, family and neighbors.
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The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation asked Board Trustees candidates to complete a survey to provide voters with a clearer understanding of their positions in key education issues.
All 19 candidates were contacted and asked to complete the survey. Eight candidates completed the survey and we have their responses ready for you to download.
Download the PDF and share with your friends, family and neighbors.
| Subdivision No. | Communities | Candidate * completed STF Survey in bold |
| 1 | Blaine Lake, Laird, Leask, & Waldheim, & Green Leaf, Leask, and Riverbend Colonies | Friesen, Wendy Wieler, Pamela |
| 2 | Duck Lake, Hague & Rosthern | Kading, Kate (Acclaimed) |
| 3 | Borden & Langham | Hosegood, Melissa Maksymiw, Neil Summach, Emily |
| 4 | Dalmeny, Hepburn & Osler | Lalonde, Carrie Willems, Christa-Ann |
| 5 | Asquith, Perdue, & Eagle Creek & Sunnydale Colonies | Friesen, Cindy (Acclaimed) |
| 6 | Delisle, Pike Lake & Vanscoy & Willow Park Colony | Howe, Bernard Poggemiller, Shelby |
| 7 | Clavet, Dundurn, Hanley & South Corman Park & Hillcrest Colony | Lavoie, Rhonda Martineau, Bernard Spray, Michelle |
| 8 | Aberdeen, Allan & Colonsay & Lost River & Riverview Colonies | Richards, Michael Wudrick, Grace |
| 9 | City of Martensville | MacLean, Kimberly (Acclaimed) |
| 10 | City of Warman | Dereniwski, Adin (Acclaimed) |
| 11 | Muskeg Lake Cree Nation | Greyeyes, Kimberly (Acclaimed) |
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I am pleased to report the results of the PSTA Executive and Committee elections held at the PSTA Representative Assembly on May 21, 2024. Members of the Representative Assembly voted to elect our new executive and committee members for the 2024-2025 term. These elections are essential for determining the leadership and direction of our association, so it is notable this year that the number of nominees required elections for the Vice President, and the STF Councillors and LINC groups.
Vice President Election: Heather Wolfe has been re-elected as Vice President.
STF Councillors:
Local Implementation and Negotiations Committee (LINC):
Professional Development:
Communications:
Two vacant positions remain on the Professional Development Committee and two vacant positions remain on the Communications Committee. The executive may appoint members to fill these vacancies (12.2.3 PSTA Constitution). Please contact PSTA President, Scott Woods-Fehr if you are interested in joining either committee.
Thank you to all who participated and voted in the elections. Your involvement is crucial to the continued success of our association.
This year the PSTA received 25 applications for the 2024 PSTA Scholarship. Three scholarships of $1,000 were available to all Prairie Spirit students graduating in 2024 who have enrolled in any post-secondary institution, and the Cindy Clarke Memorial Scholarship of $1,000.00 is available to a Prairie Spirit student graduating in 2024, who has enrolled in a post-secondary institution in a Bachelor of Education program. Six of the 25 applicants were eligible for the Cindy Clarke Memorial Scholarship.
The PSTA Student Scholarship Committee chose Jada Mahussier of Delisle Composite School, Erika Roberts of Blaine Lake Composite School, and Sana Arora of Warman High School to each receive a $1,000 scholarship to help toward the cost of their post-secondary education.
Tylar Wolfe of Allan Composite School is the winner of the Cindy Clarke Memorial Scholarship for a Prairie Spirit graduate entering a Bachelor of Education program.
We wish all of you the best in your future education endeavors!
PSTA members are invited to submit nominations for the office of PSTA President for the term of July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026.
The PSTA President’s duties are described in PSTA Policy and Guidelines Section 3.6 President. Please forward completed nomination forms to Returning Officer, Jason Brose by 4:00 pm on March 5th.
We encourage you to provide a photograph of yourself and a written statement, which will be posted on the PSTA web site leading up to the election.
Nominees will be given an opportunity to record a video response to questions provided by the Returning Officer. Questions will be made available to nominees on March 5th and posted on the PSTA website on March 12th.
The general membership elect the President through a secret ballot. All PSTA members are eligible to vote.
Voting for the PSTA President election will be facilitated by your School Staff Liaisons and occur using Election Runner on March 18th and 19th.
Please contact Jason Brose if you have any questions.
PSTA President Nomination Form
In 2009, the Saskatchewan Government revised the education funding model, significantly impacting the PSTA’s LINC Agreement negotiations. This new model introduced a uniform provincial tax rate for residential, commercial, and agricultural properties, replacing the previous system where each school division independently set property tax rates to meet local needs and fund budgets.
Previously, if negotiating a LINC Agreement required additional funding, a school board could raise the mill rate accordingly. Under the current model, school funding is mainly based on student enrolment, and school boards must finance any additional expenses from teacher negotiations without extra funding, while ensuring they present a balanced budget to the Ministry of Education.
For context, increasing prep time by 1% in our LINC Agreement costs the school division approximately $850,000 per year and must be funded through the current funding model. To fund this increase, the PSSD Board would need to increase class size or cut programs.
| 1915 | SSBA established. School boards have autonomy to set the mill rate to fund school budgets. |
| 2006 | PSTA formed through almalgamaation of Sask Valley, Sask West and Sask East Teachers’ Associations. |
| 2007 | 5% prep time on calendar |
| 2009 | Government removes School Boards’ ability to adjust mill rate |
| 2010 | 5% prep on calendar and 3% added to timetable |
| 2012 | 5% prep on calendar and 5% on timetable. |
| 2020 | 6% prep on calendar and 5% on timetable |
Teachers are strongly encouraged to become knowledgeable about the Federation’s codes, standards and procedures, the Regulatory Board’s standards of competence and conduct, as
well as their employers’ policies and procedures.
Teachers can’t be expected to know all of the necessary STF codes, standards and procedures, but one topic that comes up frequently and is worth highlighting is our Code of Professional Ethics (STF Bylaw 6.2) and in particular, Section 6.2.16 which states, a teacher is “To inform an associate before making valid criticism and to inform the associate of the nature of the criticism before referring the criticism to appropriate officials.“. This means you need to speak to the person you have concerns with, before you speak to your administrator, superintendent or another colleague. An exception is made for STF Senior Administrative Staff, where an STF member is not only permitted to first contact STF SAS, but encouraged to seek advice and guidance from the STF SAS before speaking to the other member as they can help clarify issues and procedures.
It is important to note that the legal duty in Saskatchewan to report criminal acts, child abuse or neglect to the proper authorities supersedes the policies established by school divisions and the professional codes or standards established for members by the Federation. If a teacher suspects that a colleague has engaged in any conduct of this nature, it is their personal duty to call the police and/or social services agencies.
Teacher Professionalism: A Public Trust
Relevant Links and Documents: