The school division is also hiring fewer teachers due to a provincial grant reduction. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Staffing Shortage

NLSD short 13 teachers ahead of school year

Aug 20, 2021 | 3:00 PM

The Northern Lights School Division (NLSD) is facing a teacher shortage just weeks before students are scheduled to return to the classroom.

Teachers are still needed in Cumberland House, La Loche, La Ronge, Pinehouse Lake and Uranium City. For instance, Dene High School in La Loche needs two teachers and La Ronge’s Pre-Cam Community School needs a French immersion teacher. All together, 13 teachers are needed.

“I’m quite concerned about where we are at,” Director of Education Jason Young said, adding he doesn’t know why more teachers aren’t applying for positions in Northern Saskatchewan.

In 2019, Northern Lights was short 15 teachers as classes began and, in 2020, it was only one.

The school division is also busy hiring administrative staff for Air Ronge’s Gordon Denny Community School. Scott Hepworth resigned as principal after accepting a position in Stanley Mission and the vice-principal decided to depart as well. Young is confident, however, both those position will be covered within the next week.

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Due to declining enrolment rates, the school division had a $300,000 reduction in its provincial operating grant. That equals out to about three teachers and, consequently, fewer teachers were hired for the upcoming academic year. In 2019-2020, the division had 280 full-time teachers.

Young mentioned declining enrolments has been a pattern for several years. In 2016-2017, there were 4,210 students compared to 4,056 in 2019-2020.

“We’re projecting enrolment to go down this fall,” he said. “As a result of that, they give us fewer dollars to run our operation. If it is higher than that and we speculated or made the projection wrong, then they would give us the increase.”

With students returning to class in two weeks, Young noted the board has yet to decide what public health measures should be in place as a precaution against the coronavirus. He’s particularly concerned about the low vaccination rates across Northern Saskatchewan.

“We are contemplating keeping the restrictions in place,” Young said. “I think until we see that vaccination rate get higher, that’s really going to help us gain confidence that we can ensure everyone’s safety.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno