On the one-year anniversary of the declaration of the global pandemic, the Government of Saskatchewan nearly $29 million in approved funding to support schools during the pandemic.
This amount, announced on March 11, is meant to help school divisions and independent schools with sanitation, substitute teacher costs, procure PPE, and assist schools in ensuring proper supports for students are in place for the fall of 2021, the government said in release.
鈥淭his third round of funding will ensure school divisions continue to have the resources needed to keep schools safe for students and staff,鈥� said Dustin Duncan, the provincial education minister. 鈥淣early $21 million of this funding allocation will provide the supports necessary for school divisions as they make preparations for the fall.鈥�
This funding is in addition to the $37.5 million announced in December and the $51 million announced in September. This funding is from the more than $150 million in the COVID contingency fund for education from provincial, federal and school division savings.
Fifty-three applications have been approved to provide new funding to school divisions, qualified independent schools and historical high schools. The applications are primarily for sanitation and substitute teacher costs, totalling $3.1 million in funds. In preparation for the fall, school divisions are receiving $20.7 million to be used for:
- Interventions for Grade 1 students who did not attend Kindergarten in 2020-21;
- Interventions to support Grade 1 to 3 students who are behind in their reading levels;
- Support staff to reach out and engage with students and families that did not attend or had low attendance in 2020-21;
- Supporting student mental health; and
- Sanitation and PPE.
In addition, $4.9 million from the nearly $29 million will be allocated to school divisions and independent schools to recognize previous and future purchases made directly for PPE required to maintain the safe operations of schools during the pandemic.
With this latest allocation, the remainder of the COVID contingency fund for education has been distributed to school divisions, independent schools and historical high schools.
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NDP response
New Democratic Party Education Critic Carla Beck, MLA for Regina Lakewood, said by phone from Regina said the funding would be appreciated by school divisions.
She said that, as the pandemic clears up, it's important the province starts looking at next year and how support will be provided to students.
鈥淓ven before the pandemic hit, we know that our classrooms were overcrowded in many cases, and under-resourced,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 think it is very important that we start looking now at how we can support school divisions to help undo some of what has happened over the last year, in terms of learning loss, in terms of mental health concerns and I think that that needs to be funded.鈥�
The education critic said it's going to take some concentrated effort, co-operation and funds to make sure there is a plan over the next several years to bring students back to even where they were before the pandemic.
On March 11, some high schools resumed 100 per cent attendance after months of running at 50 per cent capacity. Beck said in that regard, some divisions have moved to full-time, and some are still half-time.
鈥淭his is where the local knowledge of boards is really important, and what鈥檚 going on in the local context,鈥� she said.
鈥淲e're in a race between getting the vaccine out, and getting it into arms, and making sure people have some protection against the virus and the spread of these variants. So, where people are congregated in high numbers, and exposed possibly to the virus, I think that still does remain a concern. It's something that we shouldn't forget is a danger that is present for those who are working in our classrooms.鈥�
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