Education minister wants feedback on how Sask. schools are governed

The province wants parents and teachers to give some thought and feedback on how Saskatchewan’s schools are run.

A six-member panel has been formed to consult the public following a report released on Wednesday. The report was put together by Dan Perrins, a long-serving former civil servant who finished his career as deputy minister under then-Premier Lorne Calvert.

Perrins’ report considers three options for changing school governance.

The first would merge the province’s 18 existing public boards of education.

 It would be responsible for managing 606 public schools across the province and report to the minister of education. This option would include some method for local input and local expertise.

The second option would establish four regional public boards of education, each representing a specific geographical area.
 
They would also be accountable to the minister of education.
 
The third option would create new boundaries.
 
“There are two issues. One is the issue of finances and looking for efficiencies and dollar savings,” said Don Morgan, Minister of Education. “The other is looking for the best possible method to ensure good educational outcomes for our students.”
 
Morgan didn’t want to comment on specific options.
 
He said he would rather leave that up to the panel.
 
But he said, ultimately, the end result could mean fewer boards and different methods to select trustees.

Saskatchewan could also end up with the status quo.
 
The advisory panel members are:
• Ray Morrison (Chair), Saskatoon Public Schools Board Chair;
• Duane Favel, Ile à la Crosse Board of Education Chair;
• Janet Foord, former Southeast Cornerstone board member;
• Ben Grebinski, Director of Education for Prairie Valley School Division;
• Doug Moen, former Deputy Minister to the Premier; and
• Leanne White, Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation.

The submission form will be open until January 23, 2017.
 
The six-member panel will present their findings in February.

There are over 170-thousand K-12 students in the province.