Along with the rotating strike on Wednesday, the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation is also announcing a withdrawal of noon hour supervision across the province for Thursday.

President Samantha Becotte says it means teachers won’t be able to supervise students who are eating lunch at school or taking part in noon hour activities. Teachers will leave the building during their designated lunch break period.

Becotte explains that although teachers often provide lunch break supervision, it is voluntary. She adds that the responsibility to provide the necessary level of supervision for safety is held by school divisions and teach division will make parents and caregivers aware of any changes for Thursday’s job action. Because of government funding cuts, Becotte says parents in several school divisions pay fees of $100 or more for their kids to stay at school over the noon hour. “School boards face the impossible task of balancing government funding shortfalls and the rising costs of services that students need. Students and families are caught in the middle, and I encourage every parent and caregiver in the province to let our government officials know how they feel about that.”

Along with a wage increase, the STF wants class size and complexity addressed in the contract so funding isn’t just announced here and there and can be relied upon year after year. Becotte expects there will be education funding announced in the budget in March because it’s an election year, and she welcomes that, but reiterates that funding needs to be more than one-time funding for projects so school boards can rely on it year after year for budgeting.

Wednesday’s rotating strike will affect Saskatoon’s school divisions, Prairie Spirit, which surrounds the city, Northern Lights and Creighton school divisions.