PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON FUTURE OF EDUCATION ANNOUNCED

Released on May 7, 1996

Education Minister Pat Atkinson today announced province-wide
consultations to begin this month on structuring options for public
education.

Atkinson said that during the consultations, the public will be asked
to consider four distinct options for restructuring the education
system. "As well, we will be open to consider any new options put
forward by the public or other education stakeholders."

The options are presented in a public discussion paper Structuring
Public Education for the New Century: Ensuring Quality Education for
Saskatchewan Students.

The options are:

Status Quo - current school division structure to exist but changes
would continue to occur and be locally determined.

School Division Restructuring - new boards of education to be
elected in larger divisions and local school councils established.

Regional Partnership Approach - restructure school divisions and set
up local school councils, with new partnerships between school
divisions, post-secondary institutions and other organizations.

Regional Learning Authorities - integrate Kindergarten to Grade 12
education with some post-secondary programs and services.

"Demographic and economic changes are challenging school divisions,
particularly in rural Saskatchewan, to continue to provide excellent
educational programming," Atkinson said. "The purpose of this public
consultation is to seek input on how we can best work together to
structure education to meet the needs of our students for the future."

Consultations with education partners will begin immediately. A series
of public meetings throughout the province will begin this month and
conclude in October of this year. Following the consultations, a
summary of the public response will be made available.

"Saskatchewan has a history of successful consultation and
collaboration with our education partners and the public. Regardless
of which option is chosen, changes will be made in a co-operative way,
involving all partners in education: parents, community members,
educators, students and school board members," Atkinson said.

"I encourage everyone with an interest in our public education system
to attend the meetings and let your voice be heard. A successful
public education system that meets our students' needs is critical to
the future of our students and our province."

The discussion paper will be available at the public meetings, or in
advance at the Department of Education and the department's regional
offices. The discussion paper is also available at
http://www.education.discuss.gov.sk.ca on the Internet.

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For more information, contact:

Ken Horsman
Education
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-6068



MEDIA BACKGROUNDER

Public Consultation on Education Structure

History

Currently there are 119 school divisions in Saskatchewan: 89 public, 22 separate and 8 conseil scolaire
(Francophone school divisions).

Two major reviews of the structure of education recommended restructuring the education system to enable
all school divisions to provide a wide range of programs and services.

The School Finance and Governance Review in 1991 suggested that the size of school divisions
increase to an average of 7,000 students.
The Saskatchewan School Trustees Association Task Force on Educational Governance in 1993
recommended the establishment of about 35 divisions with enrollments of 2,500 to 5,000 students each.

Voluntary pilot projects since suggest that restructuring could achieve administrative savings that may be
redirected to the classroom. For example:

A joint planning report from Kinistino, Prince Albert and Prince Albert Rural school divisions estimates
that restructuring could free up to $500,000 a year, and
The Arcola and Oxbow school divisions estimate that by sharing a director of education and a secretary-
treasurer, over $100,000 in administrative savings has been realized.


Purpose

Following the New Century public consultations by the provincial government, which identified education as
a priority, the current consultations are taking place to identify the best ways to structure the education system
for the future, especially in rural Saskatchewan.

Options

Four options are presented in the public discussion paper and other options and suggestions are invited. The
four options for consideration include:

Status Quo - current school division structure to exist but changes would continue to occur and be locally
determined.

School Division Restructuring - new boards of education to be elected in larger divisions and local school
councils established.

Regional Partnership Approach - restructure school divisions and set up local school councils, with new
partnerships between school divisions, post-secondary institutions and other organizations.

Regional Learning Authorities - integrate Kindergarten to Grade 12 education with some post-secondary
programs and services.




Public Meetings

Led by Department of Education regional directors, public meetings will be held throughout the Province.
Meetings are currently scheduled for this Spring, as part of ongoing meetings that will conclude in the Fall. A
schedule of spring meetings follows.

Region #1 (Weyburn): Weyburn Comprehensive School, May 28, 7 p.m.; Estevan Comprehensive School,
May 30, 7 p.m.; Melville Comprehensive School, June 3, 7 p.m.

Region #2 (Swift Current): Swift Current Comprehensive School, May 27, 7 p.m.; Morse School, May 30, 7
p.m.; Rockglen School, June 5, 7 p.m.; Gull Lake School, June 10, 7 p.m.; Assiniboia 7th Avenue School,
June 11, 7 p.m.; Shaunavon School, June 12, 7 p.m.; Gravelbourg Elementary School, June 17, 7 p.m.;
Lafleche School, June 18, 7 p.m.; Leader School, June 19, 7 p.m.; Elrose Composite School, June 19, 7 p.m.;
Maple Creek Sidney Street School, June 20, 7 p.m.

Region #3 (Regina): Balgonie Greenal High, May 28, 7:30 p.m.; Lumsden High School, June 6, 7:30 p.m.;
Pense School, June 12, 7:30 p.m.; Moose Jaw Lindale School, June 17, 7:30 p.m.; Davidson High School,
June 18, 7:30 p.m.; Cupar School, June 20, 7:30 p.m.

Region #4 (Saskatoon): Outlook Elementary School, May 27, 7 p.m.; Saskatoon Aden Bowman Collegiate,
June 10, 7 p.m.

Region #5 (Melfort): Hudson Bay Composite, June 10, 7:30 p.m.; Prince Albert Wesmor School, June 11,
7:30 p.m.; Kelvington High School, June 12, 7:30 p.m.; Tisdale Centennial Junior High School, June 17, 7:30
p.m.; Melfort Unit & Comprehensive Collegiate, June 18, 7:30 p.m.; Nipawin L.P. Miller Comprehensive
School, June 19, 7:30 p.m.

Region #6 (North Battleford): Spiritwood High School, June 10, 7:30 p.m.; Meadow Lake Jonas Samson
Junior High, June 12, 7:30 p.m.; Turtleford School, June 19, 7:30 p.m.

Northern Region (La Ronge): Creighton, (location t.b.a), June 3, 7 p.m.; La Ronge, (location t.b.a.), June
10, 7 p.m.; Ile-a-la-Crosse, (location t.b.a.) June 13, 7 p.m.

Regional Office Locations

Region 1 Office Region 4 Office
J. Auburn Pepper Building8th Floor, 122-3rd. Ave. N.Northern Region Office
110 Souris Avenue Saskatoon, SK S7K 2H6Box 5000
Weyburn, SK S4H 2Z9 Phone: (306) 933-7645La Ronge, SK S0J 1L0
Phone: (306) 848-2428 Phone: (306) 425-4380
Region 5 Office
Region 2 Office 107 Crawford Ave. East
350 Cheadle Street West Melfort, SK S0E 1A0 Note: Additional meetings
Swift Current, SK S9H 4G3Phone: (306) 752-6166will be scheduled during
Phone: (306) 778-8247 the spring and summer.
Region 6 Office For updated information,
Region 3 Office 1146 - 102 Street call the inquiry line
Room 312, 3085 Albert St.North Battleford, SK S9A 1E9at 787-2010.
Regina, SK S4P 3V7 Phone: (306) 446-7434
Phone: (306) 787-1195