Controversy continues over reduction of EAs in Sask. schools

REGINA – With the new school year underway, there are mixed views about recent changes to staffing in schools.

Earlier in the year, some school divisions in Saskatchewan for this year hired more professional staff, such as speech and language pathologists, occupational and physical therapists and educational psychologists.

At the same time, there were reductions in some divisions in terms of the number of educational assistants (EAs), paraprofessional staff members who provide in-classroom support for students with special needs.

Don Hoium, director of education for Regina Public schools, said the changes so far have been successful and things are going well in the division.

"Our additional ancillary staff – that’s our four psychologists, three social workers and two occupational therapists – have joined the area teams, providing support and reducing wait times for the needed services," he said. "We believe that we have the appropriate blend of staff to support the needs of our diverse student population."

In a recent newsletter, Kevin McTavish, executive director of the Saskatchewan Association for Community Living, encouraged parents with concerns about the changes to contact the SACL, their MLAs and school divisions.

"We believe the new services won’t be an adequate replacement for in-classroom support, especially in the rural areas," he said in the newsletter.

But Gloria Mahussier, SACL president, said the organization hasn’t seen an increase in the number of calls about the issue.

"We do support the hiring of more professionals," she said. "(Though) EAs fulfill a very important role. They provide the necessary supports for our children to be successful in the classroom."

Jackie Christianson – president of CUPE Local 3766 and an EA working for Regina Public Schools who raised concerns over the issue in the spring – said the changes have been felt in the classroom this year.

"There is definitely more stress in the classroom," she said. "Not only the EAs – the teachers are facing an incredible amount of stress. We don’t disagree that we need more professionals. (But) the gap that they’re filling is making up plans.

"If you want to hire more professionals, you need workers to implement the plans. And the reality is that the teachers and fewer EAs are having to deliver all these plans. There’s just not enough supports for these plans to be implemented."

Christianson, who is continuing to research the issue, said she won’t know how many EA positions were reduced in the province for this school year until January, when updated staffing numbers are to be released.

Darren McKee, assistant deputy minister for the provincial Ministry of Education, said EAs are "valuable contributors," but that the ministry has not been hearing concerns.

"We aren’t necessarily hearing concerns," he said. "We’re encouraged by the conversations happening between parents and school divisions around putting in a high-quality support system for students and we know that parents are becoming more engaged in that conversation.

"We continue to want to as much as possible to work towards high-quality outcomes for all students, whether they’re special needs or otherwise, so that’s, I think, what one of our main goals is."