PSTA President

2024 PSTA Student Scholarship Recipients

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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!

Notice of PSTA Presidential Election for 2024-2026

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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

2024-2026 PSTA President Nomination Form
Download Now!

Provincial and Local Bargaining

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Funding Model’s Impact on Negotiating Local Agreements

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.

1915SSBA established. School boards have autonomy to set the mill rate to fund school budgets.
2006PSTA formed through almalgamaation of Sask Valley, Sask West and Sask East Teachers’ Associations.
20075% prep time on calendar
2009Government removes School Boards’ ability to adjust mill rate
20105% prep on calendar and 3% added to timetable
20125% prep on calendar and 5% on timetable.
20206% prep on calendar and 5% on timetable

Related:

PSTA LINC Agreement (2020)
Historical LINC Information

Code of Professional Ethics

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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:

2023 PSTA General Assembly

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Learning Together: Celebrating the Diversity of Prairie Spirit.

Agenda
8:30-9:00 (optional) coffee, tea, snacks and smudge
9:00-9:30 Welcome

  • Introductions
  • Land Acknowledgement & Blessing
  • Drumming and Round Dance

9:30-9:40 break/organization to attend sessions
9:40-10:40- Indigenous Ways of Knowing Session
10:40-10:50 Break (beverages and snacks provided)
10:50-11:00 Greetings from our partners

  • PSSD Board Vice Chair, Kate Kading
  • PSSD Director of Education, Tracey Young
  • STF President, Samantha Becotte

11:00-12:00 PSTA Business (closed session PSTA/STF members only)

12:00-12:45 Lunch 
12:45-1:45 PD Session 1
1:45-1:55 Break (water/juice and snacks provided)
1:55-2:55 PD Session 2
3:00-3:15 Individual School Staff Meeting (Reflection & SSL selection)

Documents:

2023-2024 PSTA Election Results

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The PSTA election was held last night at the final Representative Assembly for the 2022-23 year.

Some years we have trouble filling the available positions, so it was great to see members engaged and interested in working on the PSTA executive and committees and there were enough nominees to warrant an election for STF Councillors and LINC. Many executive and committee members are continuing from last year, but there are a couple new people joining or returning.

We also say farewell to a Katherine Blake (STF Councillor), Kathy Spence (STF Councillor), Lindsay Jarema (LINC) and Bruce Mellesmoen (Professional Development). Thank you for your contributions.

PSTA Vice President
Heather Wolfe was acclaimed as PSTA Vice President for 2023-2024.

Eleven PSTA members were nominated for ten available STF Councillor positions.

  1. Amanda Nelson
  2. Amy Korver
  3. Amy Orth
  4. Brett Berry
  5. Diana Jemieff
  6. Dustin Chahley (new)
  7. Jason Brose
  8. Justin Sauer
  9. Marcy Raciot
  10. Mark Perry (returning)

Eight PSTA members were nominated for six available LINC positions.

  1. Amanda Nelson
  2. Amy Orth (new)
  3. Carmen Kingsbury
  4. Carry Pepper-Martens
  5. Heather Wolfe
  6. Jason Brose

Five PSTA members were nominated for five Professional Development Committee positions.

  1. Amanda Nelson
  2. Amy Korver (new)
  3. Lisa Kuchler
  4. Melissa Murray (new)
  5. Mitch Larson

All three positions on the Communications Committee are vacant, so if you are interested in working on the Communications committee send me an email.