Administrators named for three independent schools in Saskatchewan

A little over a week after announcing the plan, the Government of Saskatchewan has appointed three individuals to oversee the operations of three independent schools in the province.

Mike Walters (Saskatoon’s Legacy Christian Academy), Dave Derksen (Saskatoon’s Grace Christian School) and Randy Fox (Prince Albert’s Regent Christian Academy) are to start working with the schools Wednesday and are to remain in place for several months.

“The administrators’ priorities will be to direct the operations of the schools to ensure student safety and well-being, and to provide a positive learning environment for students,” the government said in a media release.

“They will review staff lists and determine if the appropriate staff will continue to provide teaching and other services within the schools, to ensure there is strong communication with parents, and to provide leadership to the school staff.

“They will also be reviewing the school policies and procedures, as well as reviewing historical documentation in order to make recommendations for any changes that might be appropriate or necessary.”

The three administrators also are to give reports to the Ministry of Education at least monthly to make sure the schools are teaching Saskatchewan curricula.

More than a dozen former students have alleged they were abused at Legacy Christian Academy in Saskatoon. A number of them have filed a class-action lawsuit, asking for more than $25 million for alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, negligence, assault, battery, infliction of mental suffering and conspiracy to injure minors.

The three schools at which the administrators are to work all had employees who were named in the lawsuit. The teaching certificates of the individuals named in the lawsuit from Legacy Christian Academy have been revoked.