STF president disappointed no extra money in Sask. budget for COVID-19 related school safety measures

As the provincial government announced its full 2020-21 budget, Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation President Patrick Maze said he was not only surprised, but disappointed it didn’t specifically contain additional money for safety measures relating to COVID-19.

The budget allotted $20 million to fund the ratified teachers’ collective bargaining agreement, $200 million for a general health and safety contingency fund, along with $148 million in ‘re-purposed funding’ for various ministries to address pandemic related expenses.

But Maze hoped for money set aside to address what he says is going to be a myriad of additional expenses when children return to school in September.

“We know that there’s going to be a significant increase in costs around sanitizing equipment and supplies, and extra maintenance staff, and there’s likely going to be extra costs as we attempt to practice social distancing in schools as well. So, requiring some divisions to rent extra facilities in order to provide more space for students to learn in, and so it’s a bit puzzling as to how that’s all going to play out.”

He says as the employer, the provincial government has a responsibility to make sure they keep the teachers and the students in their charge, safe.

In other provinces where students have already gone back to school, there have been additional costs incurred, he explained.

“Just signage in schools and sanitizing equipment in order to make sure the buildings are clean- and the buildings have to be cleaned more often….and to not recognize those costs while still announcing that schools are going to be reopened in September just seems puzzling.”

He’s afraid that because some school divisions are facing budget deficits, even with some additional provincial funding this year, teachers are going to be told “here’s a spray bottle and some more assignments for you.”

“The problem is that school divisions are already dipping into reserves and they’re having to make very difficult decisions at a time when they should be sparing no expense to make sure that their employees are safe.”

Maze said it comes down to having confidence in the employer that safety is indeed a top priority.

Students are expected in some divisions, to return to school in some capacity as early as September 1, however no detailed plans have yet been announced.