Proposed school board changes worry education workers' union

The Canadian Union of Public Employees is concerned the provincial government is moving too fast with plans to change education.
 
An advisory panel of six people was appointed in December to review recommendations presented in a report by Dan Perrins, a former high-ranking civil servant under the NDP. 
 
Perrins’ report presented three options for changing school board governance:  Create one appointed school board to manage all 606 public schools in Saskatchewan, create four school boards, or adjust the boundaries of the existing boards.
 
CUPE Saskatchewan President Tom Graham said the roughly 7,000 education workers he represents are anxious about how changes may impact jobs and contract negotiations.
 
“They should be concentrating on doing their jobs and making sure schools are clean, safe places where kids can get an education,” he said.
 
Graham said members feel blindsided by the whole process.
 
“Nobody came and talked to us before this,” he said. “We hear about these things when everybody else does on the news.”
 
Graham said the only other place with a single provincial school board is Prince Edward Island — and it serves fewer students than there are in Regina.
 
Ultimately, Graham said he believes it all comes down to money.
 
“The government has said it’s not, it’s about education. But, I fear it is about trying to solve their financial woes.” he said.
 
The panel is set to present its findings in February.