Province names members of educational committee

Six former teachers are among the eight people named to the Ministry of Education’s committee on class size and composition.

“The voice of parents, teachers, staff, leaders and Indigenous people was important as we worked to confirm membership on this committee,” Education Minister Gordon Wyant said in a media release issued Thursday.

“I am confident these individuals will help provide a path forward to address the challenges that exist in our classrooms.”

The committee, which is to meet for the first time next week, is to be chaired by Deputy Education Minister Rob Currie.

The ministry also is to be represented by Thomas Sierzycki (northern education adviser), Angella Pinay (senior Indigenous adviser) and Lynn Harper-Harris (student support consultant).

Dr. Shawn Davidson, the president of the Saskatchewan School Boards’ Association, is to represent that organization. The at-large members are: Dr. Michelle Prytula, the dean of the College of Education at the University of Saskatchewan; Brian Lach, a parent and a former superintendent and teacher; and, Amy Redding, the Prairie Valley School Division’s school community co-ordinator.

Dr. Andy Hargreaves, an expert on education policy, is to advise the committee.

The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation already has said it won’t participate in the committee. It believes the issues of class size and composition should be addressed at the negotiating table, not in committee meetings.

The STF and the province are in the middle of collective bargaining negotiations.

The committee is to examine class size and composition from pre-kindergarten to Grade 12 in Saskatchewan schools and also is to review strategies used in other places.

“The committee’s work will be used to create a framework to guide decisions on appropriate class size and composition within Saskatchewan classrooms,” the media release said.