Director of Education says SECPSD set up for success in the new school year

The school year is set to start soon with the Southeast Cornerstone Public School Division (SECPSD) getting ready for this September.

Teachers will be coming back to school to prepare for classes with students joining them the week after.

Director of Education Keith Keating says that he's optimistic about the year ahead.

"Well, so far it's looking good. It's a little early to say at this point, but we're looking forward to having all the school staff back next week and then the students the week after."

"We're hoping for an excellent school year filled with lots of positive outcomes for students. I'm always impressed by the talent of our students and staff. I'm looking forward to seeing all the great things that happen in our schools."

Many schools will be working through a cell phone ban in classrooms that was announced by the province earlier this month, but the SECPSD won't have to change their policies too much.

"We're working through the policy that's come down from the government of Saskatchewan on the cell phones and there will be the policy will be rolled out in school. But it won't be a huge amount of change, for some schools will be a bit of change, but many schools already had policies that limited cell phone use during classroom time."

Keating says that while the schools don't yet have teachers in them they're still hard at work on getting the next year running.

"Right now staff has been busy planning for start-up. I know staff don't officially start in schools until next week, but I know planning for the year always begins the year before and occurs over the summer as well. So, I know there have been a number of teachers and staff in buildings in the last week or two and just getting ready for the year."

Keating can't wait to see what comes out of the 2024-25 school year.

"I most look forward to seeing all the great things that students and staff are doing at the schools and I'm really looking to forward to a year without some of the tensions that we had last year in terms of job action. So I know everybody's ready to get back and is excited to see all the great things that staff and students will be doing in schools."