March 2, 2020
Announcement: Saskatchewan Education Instability

To: 8 online petitioners; 9 email respondents; 6 mail canvassers; 171 reporters and commentators; 26 trustee candidates and trustees; 26 of the many voters who are very concerned about our "one-size-fits-all" school boards; and 210 generally interested folks including members of the Social Mavrik Federation.

From: Bob Bray, President, Social Mavrik Federation

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CAMPBELL RIVER: Bob Bray observes that parents in Saskatchewan are facing the likelihood of school closures this year.
Saskatchewan Education Instability
The media in Saskatchewan is reporting that teachers took a strike vote on February 10th and 11th with 90.2% voting in favor.

That means a certain minority of teachers voted to oppose strike action. This number can be determined as follows.

The Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation has a membership of 13,500 teachers.

Media stories put the strike vote participation rate at 96%. That equates to 12,960 teachers.

Favorable votes from 90.2% equates to 11,690 teachers in favor of strike action.

It also equates to 1,270 teachers voting to oppose strike action, that's 9.8% against.
These 1,270 teachers might appreciate having another choice as to where to practice their profession beyond independent schools that are private.

They might like the opportunity of considering independent schools that are public.

Another education stakeholder group that might like more choice is parents.

Parents who depend on government to directly provide schooling for their children through schools operated by school boards are saddled with the inevitability of strike days.

Parents who can choose independent schooling (private or home) enjoy education stability.

Education stability is achieved in Alberta by publicly funded charter schools.

Saskatchewan parents, teachers and principals could benefit from more school choice if its legislators were to allow the voluntary formation of 20 charter schools.
Public Independent Charter Schools - a survey
The email questionnaire can be inspected by clicking on the blue button or the underlined link below.
New respondents are shown in red lettering (None this past week)

So far 9 citizens in British Columbia have emailed their position on independent publicly funded K-12 charter schools and the results are shown below.
Respondents'
Province



---------------------
British
Columbia
---------------------
Saskatchewan

---------------------
Allow Ministry
To Approve
Up To 20 Public
Charter Schools

-------------------------
SUPPORT = 9
OPPOSE = 0
-------------------------
SUPPORT = 0
OPPOSE = 0
-------------------------
Respondent Demographics
Average Age
Number of Children
Number of Grandchildren
Number of Great Grandchildren
--------------------------------------------------
Avg Age=69 C=23 GC=53 GGC=4
Avg Age=0 C=0 GC=0 GGC=0
--------------------------------------------------
Avg Age=0 C=0 GC=0 GGC=0
Avg Age=0 C=0 GC=0 GGC=0
--------------------------------------------------
An easier-to-read summary of survey results can be seen here.
Ontario Charter Schools - a petition
This online petition includes a history of charter schools in Canada and was viewed 60 times in the week of Strike Day 27; 34 times in the week of Strike Day 26; 52 times during Strike Days 21 to 25; 89 times during Strike Days 16 to 20; 93 times during Strike Days 11 to 15; 110 times during Strike Days 6 to 10; and 93 times in the week of Strike Day 5. The names of its signatories can be inspected by clicking on the blue button or the underlined link below.
New petitioners are shown in red lettering (None this past week)

So far 30 citizens in Ontario and British Columbia have added their name and address to this petition to call on the Ontario Government to allow charter schools in Ontario.
Petitioners'
Province


---------------------





Ontario








---------------------



British
Columbia


---------------------
A ll ow Ministry
To Approve
Up To 20 Public
Charter Schools
-------------------------





SUPPORT = 21








------------------------



SUPPORT = 9



-------------------------
Petitioner Demographics


Name of City or Town
--------------------------------------------------
Bowmanville = 1
Cochrane = 1
London = 1
Malahide = 1
Mississauga = 1
North York = 1
Oshawa = 1
Ottawa = 1
Sarnia = 1
St. Catherines = 1
Thorold = 1
Toronto = 8
Union = 1
Welland = 1
--------------------------------------------------
Campbell River = 1
Chilliwack = 2
Courtenay = 1
North Saanich = 1
North Vancouver = 1
Vancouver = 1
Victoria = 2
--------------------------------------------------
School Board Schools = Education Instability
Updates are shown in red lettering

Saskatchewan School Board Elementary and High Schools (x Boards)
  • 48 hours notice requirement is in effect to begin job action
  • issue #1 is a raise
  • STF asks for 8% over 3 years
  • Minister of Education offers 4% over 3 years plus signing bonus
  • Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation
  • 13,500 teachers

Ontario School Board High Schools (31 Secular Boards)
  • 596 High School principals
  • Strike Day 1 - Wednesday, December 4
  • Strike Day 2 - Wednesday, December 10, against 9 School Boards
  • Strike Day 3 - Wednesday, December 17, against 10 School Boards
  • Strike Day 4 - Wednesday, January 8, against 8 School Boards
  • Strike Day 5 - Wednesday, January 15, against 16 School Boards
  • Strike Day 7 - Tuesday, January 21, against 13 School Boards
  • Strike Day 17 - Tuesday, February 4, against 10 School Boards
  • Strike Day 24 - Thursday, February 13, against 9 School Boards
  • Strike Day 26 - Friday, February 21, province-wide
  • Strike Day 27 - Friday, February 28, against 16 School Boards
  • Strike Day 28 -Thursday, March 5, planned against 9 School Boards
  • issue #2 is hiring new teachers based on seniority os substitue teachers
  • issue #1 is a raise
  • OSSTF asks for 6% over 3 years
  • Minister of Education offers 3% over 3 years
  • Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation
  • 60,000 teachers and education workers
  • OSSTF teachers opposed to strike action: 1,350

Ontario S chool Board Elementary School s (31 Secular Boards)
  • 2,526 Elementary School principals
  • Strike Day 6 - Monday, January 20 against 3 Boards
  • Strike Day 7 - Tuesday, January 21 against 4 Boards
  • Strike Day 8 - Wednesday, January 22 against 3 Boards
  • Strike Day 9 - Thursday, January 23 against 4 Boards
  • Strike Day 10 - Friday, January 24 against 2 Boards
  • Strike Day 11 - Monday, January 27 against 3 Boards
  • Strike Day 12 - Tuesday, January 28 against 5 Boards
  • Strike Day 13 - Wednesday, January 29 against 4 Boards
  • Strike Day 14 - Thursday, January 30, against 3 Boards
  • Strike Day 15 - Friday, January 31, against 2 Boards
  • Strike Day 16 - Monday, February 3, against 3 Boards
  • Strike Day 17 - Tuesday, February 4, against 8 Boards plus 1 Authority
  • Strike Day 18 - Wednesday, February 5, against 9 Boards plus 1 Centre
  • Strike Day 19 - Thursday, February 6, province-wide
  • Strike Day 20 - Friday, February 7, against 8 Boards plus 6 Authorities
  • Strike Day 21 - Monday, February 10 against 10 Boards and 1 Authority
  • Strike Day 22 - Tuesday, February 11, province-wide
  • Strike Day 23 - Wednesday, February 12 against 7 Boards, 6 Authorities
  • Strike Day 24 - Thursday, February 13, against 14 Boards and 1 Centre
  • Strike Day 25 - Friday, February 14 against 3 Boards
  • Strike Day 26 - Friday, February 21, province-wide
  • issue #1 is a raise
  • ETFO asks for 6% over 3 years
  • Minister of Education offers 3% over 3 years
  • Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario
  • 83,000 teachers and education workers
  • ETFO teachers opposed to strike action: 830

Ontario School Board French Schools (4 Secular and 8 Catholic Boards)
  • 557 French School principals
  • Strike Day 24 - Thursday, February 13, province-wide
  • Strike Day 26 - Friday, February 21, province-wide
  • Strike Day 28 - Thursday, March 5, planned province-wide
  • issue #1 is a raise
  • AEFO asks for 6% over 3 years
  • Minister of Education offers 3% over 3 years
  • Association des enseigantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens
  • 10,500 members
  • AEFO teachers opposed to strike action = 315

Ontario School Board English Schools (29 Catholic Boards)
  • 1,338 English Catholic School principals
  • Strike Day 7 - Tuesday, January 21, province-wide
  • Strike Day 17 - Tuesday, February 4, province-wide
  • Strike Day 26 - Friday, February 21, province-wide
  • Strike Day 28 - Thursday, March 5, planned province-wide
  • issue #1 is a raise
  • OECTA asks for 6% over 3 years
  • Minister of Education offers 3% over 3 years
  • Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association
  • 45,000 members
  • OECTA teachers opposed to strike action: 1,305

Ontario Ministry of Education Vouchers
  • Strike Day 5, Jan 15, vouchers announced today, 12,000 applications received
  • Strike Day 6, Jan 20; 130,000 applications received
  • Strike Day 14, Jan 30; 248,000 applications received: 17% of eligible parents
  • February 27; 756,000 applications received; 52% of eligible parents
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Contact:
Bob Bray, President, Social Mavrik Federation
Phone: 250-900-2422
Mail: 422-1434 Ironwood Street, Campbell River, British Columbia V9W 5T5
Email: bob.bray@socialmavrikbc.ca
Website: socialmavrikbc.ca
The Social Mavrik Federation is a registered society in British Columbia dedicated to cultural politics through endorsing MP / MLA / Trustee candidates and supporting thoughtful petitions, as directed by its members.
Facebook:
I have posted the image below on my Facebook page. I invite you to visit it at facebook.com/bob.bray.334 and, if you do, you are welcome to give it a like, and/or a share and/or a comment.
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Twitter:
My twitter handle is bobbrayCR.

A recent tweet and image :
Bob Bray @BobBrayCR · Feb 26
It's Ash Wednesday and all schools (private, home, school board) are open. I imagine principals are happy their staff are at work. #onchartersch #opcouncil #onpoli #cdnpoli #onted A charter school petition: https://gopetition.com/petitions/support-charter-schools-in-ontario.html
Click here to see a larger version of the above image.
As of March 1st this tweet had been seen 154 times with 8 engagements.
Backgrounders:
Topics covered in previous Announcements: