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By Teena Monteleone

Education

STF president: Classroom complexity teachers not a perfect solution, but it is a start

Sep 3, 2025 | 1:46 PM

School divisions across the province started the new school year with additional teachers. The hirings were made to comply with a new article – established through binding arbitration – in the collective bargaining agreement between the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) and the provincial government to address issues of ‘classroom complexity.’

The Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division (SRPSD) which includes Prince Albert, for example, hired an additional 24.5 teachers

“The Classroom Support Coaches that will be working in our schools will be there to support both teachers and students. This will enhance an existing practice of a coaching model that we have in our schools. As a result, they will work alongside other school leadership personnel that have been in place from previous years to support student success,” said SRPSD Director of Education Neil Finch.

Classroom complexity was a significant issue throughout the last round of provincial collective bargaining. The arbitrator’s decision last spring provides for the addition of one classroom complexity teacher for schools with a student population over 150 students and a half-time complexity teacher for schools with a student population between 75 and 149 students. STF president Samantha Becotte said it’s going to help alleviate some pressure, but it’s not going to solve all the challenges schools face, especially in large urban schools like Carlton Comprehensive High School in Prince Albert where larger class sizes may be an issue.

“But that said, it’s an additional teacher, right? So, it will be an additional adult in the building who might be able to pull out a small group of students in that school to provide additional support,” Becotte explained. “One thing that will be consistent is that this teacher will not be assigned a classroom, so they’ll have a little bit more flexibility within their day to respond to some of the urgent needs, whether that’s with individual students or a smaller group, or to support a classroom or to support a teacher in a classroom.”

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The provincial arbitration decision also includes a classroom complexity fund of $20-million that will be distributed across the province. Becotte said school division leadership in collaboration with local teacher associations will decide where to spend the money.

“Depending on the needs of the school division, it could be hiring additional teachers to lower class sizes if they choose that as a priority. Or, they could hire a speech language pathologist hat might support a number of schools within the division, mental health councillor, occupational therapist…anything to address the increase in classroom complexities that we’re experiencing.”

The STF doesn’t yet know how many classroom complexity teacher positions have been filled throughout the province, but there is a commitment that came within the collective bargaining process to be given that information.

Becotte said she’s heard there have been challenges, especially in rural and remote areas.

“Even with classroom teaching positions, it is sometimes hard to fill.”

The Northern Lights School Division has faced a continuous teacher shortage for years. larongeNOW reported the division was still short 33 teachers two weeks before school started this year. Most of the teaching openings are located in La Loche, Pinehouse and Sandy Bay in the far north.

Becotte said the recruitment and retention issues are part of the reason why divisions are accessing temporary teaching permits more frequently. The permits are used to fill positions with an individual who may not be a certified teacher. She’s heard the majority of classroom complexity teaching positions that have been filled across the province are with individuals who were teaching in a classroom previously.

“So, there might be some kind of backfilling that needs to happen within school divisions as well.”

The STF is back at the negotiating table this spring. Becotte hopes to see areas of improvement within the classroom complexity article to better meet the needs of students and teachers.

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teena.monteleone@pattisonmedia.com