NESD Director of Education discusses initiatives for 2024, 2025

One major infrastructure project that was completed in the division was the Carrot River Valley School, which opened its doors to K-12 students in 2024. Lair said they were excited to share that opening with dignitaries, including Premier Scott Moe.

“Those 300-plus students have a beautiful new school,” said Lair. She added the division finished off $9.8 million worth of infrastructure projects, including about $7 million that went toward the new school in Carrot River.

“Really happy that the students are in the building, enjoying their return to their gym space again,” Lair explained. “We really appreciate all the work that the teachers and staff did in terms of the move over to the new building, as well as the work to the in-between time, when they didn’t have access to everything that they normally did.”

Lair said the year to come will see an increased focus on the transportation department, with several bus routes cancelled in the division due to a combination of bus driver openings, mechanic shortages, and fewer buses.

“Recruitment of mechanics, recruitment of drivers, especially replacement and sub drivers, and continued focus on our fleet and consistency with that,” Lair said. “It’s been a significant challenge across the province, and I think across the nation, in terms of shortages from suppliers of buses and just the humans that we need to run the department.”

The division has included some incentives as they look to hire more mechanics for their transportation department. Lair hopes that their efforts to improve bus service in the division pay off.

“I think we have some things that are turning around already, and we look forward to more work there to help provide that consistency for parents at home, because it’s important to know those services are in place.”

Lair said the division is also excited in the gains they have made in measures around belonging and well-being for both elementary and secondary students.

“We see some trends that had been headed downward around the pandemic and are now on an increase,” Lair explained. “I think that’s attributed to the good work of our school staff, our teachers, our educational associates, and even our facility staff concentrating on those environments.”

Another big change this school year was the new cellphone directive brought forward by the provincial government. Lair believes student learning and interaction has improved, in part, because cellphones are not accessed as much during the school day. She said anxiety, especially in girls, has improved with the new cellphone policy in place.

“I’m very pleased with how…easy the adjustment has been to our new cellphone policy in schools,” Lair said. “For the most part the new policy of having no cellphones during learning time for (Grades) 9-12, and not at all for K-8, has been really, really well received.”

She credits the students for knowing what’s best for their learning, and their understanding that the devices were not helpful in that regard, and what they can contribute to things like anxiety and well-being.

Enrolment in the division is stable, according to Lair, with just over 4,700 students enrolled in NESD. She said she’s happy with the stable numbers. Lair is also excited about some of the professional development undertaken by teachers about new and different ways on engaging students in the classroom.

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK

by Cam Lee

NESD Director of Education discusses initiatives for 2024, 2025

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