Northern Lights School Division facing persistent teacher shortage. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

staffing

NLSD short 20 teachers ahead of school year

Aug 31, 2023 | 2:32 PM

The Northern Lights School Division is approximately 20 teachers short for the upcoming academic year.

Director of Education Jason Young explained that is comparable to 2022 with vacancies spread out across northern Saskatchewan. Some of the most concerning communities when it comes to needing teachers are La Loche and Sandy Bay, which are both short six teachers.

Northern Lights has had a persistent teacher shortage for at least the last six years. On average, the division is short 15 teachers every month.

“We will utilize the new Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre and utilize some of their support,” Young said.

“That support is here in our office in La Ronge. It’s right here at the central office [with] the staff that we had last year with the centre. They are still here and that staff is still in place. They know our context, they know our students and we are grateful we have them to deliver the distance online learning classes.”

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To address the shortage, Northern Lights will also use the Facilitator Plus Model in addition to online learning. That model utilizes a teacher who comes in remotely to a classroom of students. A teacher’s assistant is present in the classroom to make sure the room is open and ready, as well as to welcome the kids.

That model has already been used at Dene High School in La Loche in 2022 as that school was on the verge of collapse due to the high number of vacancies.

“There were teachers in the schools on Monday,” Young said. “They are for sure getting ready for the students. A lot of planning is underway as per usual. Schedules are being made up and communications to families and so on. There have been some registrations taking place already, so I think they are just getting ready to fire up on all cylinders before school starts next week.”

In regards to the Ministry of Education’s announcement last week about education policy changes around sex education and gender, Young noted staff have an obligation to follow the directive. Schools must now seek permission from a parent or guardian “when changing the preferred name and pronouns used by students under the age of 16 in the school.”

The updated policy also requires parents or guardians to be informed about the school’s sexual health curriculum and given the option to decide whether or not their child will participate. Young added staff will continue to ensure student safety, mental health and wellbeing are looked after.

“We need students to feel safe and that they are welcome and to feel support from us,” he said. “That will be our role and what we do as a school system and as a division.”

In the 2021-2022 academic year, the Northern Lights School Division had 270 full-time teachers and 281 educational support staff. In total, the division had 586 full-time staff.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com