Released on August 26, 2020
As work continues to welcome students and staff back into classrooms on September 8, parents and caregivers will now have access to detailed information for their child’s local school. As previously announced, all school divisions will post online and communicate to parents and students these details no later than end of day, today.Copies of each specific school’s plan will be made available through their respective school division websites. A list of Saskatchewan’s school divisions can be found at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/education-and-learning/prek-12-education-early-learning-and-schools/k-12-school-divisions-in-saskatchewan.
These plans may be updated or refined as students and staff return to school. Further information regarding testing for the education sector, including reporting and notification, will be distributed to parents tomorrow.
The Government of Canada has announced that school divisions across the province will have access to additional funding as Saskatchewan is set to receive $74.9 million as a result of a new spending commitment by the Government of Canada.
This funding will be added to the $40 million in new education funding already committed by the province from the COVID contingency fund, and is in addition to the $40 million in funds available through school division savings. While application intakes will occur throughout the school year, the first intake closes end of day tomorrow.
“As we work with our sector partners to ensure a safe return to school, we know that there will be increased costs associated with staffing, preparation and supplies,” Education Minister Gordon Wyant said. “With the federal government’s contribution, there is now up to $150 million available to our education sector for costs associated with a safe return to school.”
Earlier this summer, the Ministry of Education centrally procured six million masks to distribute to school divisions to make available on a daily and ongoing basis. The first shipment has now been delivered to all 27 school divisions and is in addition to full-face shields the province obtained which will be made available for all staff. The second shipment of masks is set to leave the supplier today and will be delivered to school divisions during the first week of school.
The Government of Saskatchewan continues to monitor the transmission of COVID-19 in the province and updates will be made to the Safe Schools Plan as necessary based on the advice of the Chief Medical Health Officer.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Chris Hodges
Education
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1069
Email: chris.hodges@gov.sk.ca