Saskatchewan Teachers to Withdraw Noon-Hour Supervision 

 Today, teachers are giving 48 hours’ notice of a one-day, provincewide withdrawal of noon-hour supervision that will take place Thursday, February 8.

The withdrawal of noon-hour supervision means teachers will not be available to supervise students who are eating lunch at school or taking part in noon-hour activities. Teachers will leave the building during each school’s designated lunch break period. Although teachers often provide lunch break supervision, it is done on a voluntary basis.

The responsibility to provide the necessary level of supervision to ensure student safety is held by school divisions under The Education Act, 1995. School divisions will make parents and caregivers aware of any operational or schedule changes due to Thursday’s job action.

“A decade of government funding cuts has meant parents in several school divisions are forced to pay out-of-pocket fees of $100 or more for their kids to stay at school over the noon hour,” says Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation President Samantha Becotte. “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.”

Teachers understand that the withdrawal of noon-hour supervision will be an inconvenience to many families. Parents and caregivers concerned about the impact of job action should contact their MLAs and elected school board trustees and urge them to get the government’s bargaining committee back to the table. Individuals are invited to join tens of thousands of people from across the province in taking action and showing support for education and teachers by signing up for Tell Them Tuesday.