Horizon School DIvision teachers are on strike Thursday. (File photo/northeastNOW)

By Cam Lee

Teacher strike

Horizon School Division teachers off job for the day

Feb 1, 2024 | 10:22 AM

A local school division has been affected by the rotating teachers’ strike.

Teachers in the Horizon School Division, which includes schools in a wide area from Humboldt to Foam Lake, are off the job on Thursday in the first of the rotating strikes from the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation (STF).

Director of Education Kevin Garinger told northeastNOW that as soon as the division is made aware of any strike action, the immediate response is to communicate with families and staff.

“To make sure that people are aware that there are not going to be teachers at school, and therefore we ask that students do not attend school on those strike days,” Garinger said. That information is sent to all families via the division’s website and their social media accounts.

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Garinger said they have the ability through their system to communicate to every family by whatever means they prefer. Some like to get the information by email, while others prefer text messages or phone calls.

“That said, things can get missed…and by all means, we really encourage and really want our families to reach out to our office if they have any questions, if there’s any concerns that way we want to make sure we can help support them in the best way possible,” said Garinger.

He added the division is not aware of any family that missed the notification of the previous two days of strike action. With the strikes happening twice previously, Garinger said that gives the division a deeper understanding of the importance of providing more and better information for families.

That includes background information on the negotiation process between the teachers and the province.

Other divisions affected by Thursday’s rotating teachers’ strikes include Holy Trinity, Prairie South, Prince Albert Catholic, Saskatchewan Rivers, Light of Christ, and Living Sky. Sakewew High School in North Battleford is also affected.

Teachers previously hit the picket lines province-wide on Jan. 16 and Jan. 22.

The STF has lobbied to include class size and complexity in negotiations with the provincial government, which has thus far rejected the request.

Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill has said those issues should instead be discussed with school boards and school divisions.

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cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK