Father worried about support for son with autism after Saskatoon Public Schools says 80 EAs being cut

The loss of 80 temporary education assistants from the Saskatoon Public School division this month is raising concerns for some parents about the direct impact it could have on children's ability to learn in the classroom.

The division said this week it's making cuts over the next two weeks because funding didn't come through through the federal Jordan's Principle program, which is meant to ensure First Nations children receive the health, social and education services they need.

The division has been using the funding to pay for EAs since the 2018-19 school year.

Keldon Sanderson said he's worried about support for his son Kaden, who has autism and has been working with an EA funded through Jordan's Principle at his public elementary school.

"He knows who his worker is, he knows her by name, he gets excited when he gets to go to school, because he knows that he's going to be working with her," Sanderson said. "She's given him a lot of support where he's needed it."

Because of his autism, Kaden thrives off routine, and the sudden loss of his support system will affect his learning, Sanderson said.

He worries the connection his son has formed will be lost.

"My biggest worry is probably the support," Sanderson said.

The education assistants know the kids they work with and form bonds with them, he said.

"That's really what those kids need is that support with that one person who is able to understand them and able to be patient with them in class."

Backlog in applications

The school division said last year it received $15 million through Jordan's Principle, and this is the first year funding hasn't come. It had hired 200 new educational assistants through the program at the beginning of this school year, anticipating it would receive the funding needed to pay for those jobs.

There has been a backlog in assistance requests  under the Jordan's Principle program, which Ottawa has been ordered to address by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. Federal lawyers filed an application for a judicial review of that order in December.

Other Saskatchewan school divisions, like Saskatoon Catholic and Regina Public, have received recent funding through Jordan's Principle.

Regina Catholic is still waiting but doesn't intend to lay anyone off. 

"I know there's a need for additional EAs and other professional support, whether it's speech language pathologists, mental health counselors, more teachers," said Samantha Becotte, the president of the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation.

"But I haven't heard of having to lay off any of their supporters at this time because of a change with Jordan's Principle."

WATCH | 80 educational assistants being laid off in Saskatoon schools:

In a statement to CBC earlier this week, a spokesperson for Saskatchewan's Education Ministry called the situation "disappointing," and accused the federal government of reducing funding "for vulnerable First Nation students in Saskatchewan schools."

The province also noted Saskatoon Public Schools received $286 million dollars in operating funds.

But the teachers' federation says that's not enough.

"The only reason that school divisions and families have turned to Jordan's Principle within education is because our provincial government has been underfunding education for so long," Becotte said.

"These supports are needed and necessary for students to be successful."

A statement sent earlier this week from Jennifer Kozelj, a press secretary for Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu, also said "ensuring equal access to educational services for all students" in public schools is a provincial responsibility, and that Jordan's Principle funding should "be used when necessary, [but] it shouldn't negate provincial or territorial responsibility."

Saskatoon Public has 110 more temporary education assistants whose contracts are up in the air. Those EAs are funded until June because of a surplus from last year. A decision will be made in May to see if the division can afford to keep them.

In the meantime, the teachers' federation is hopeful the province will step up and fill the funding gap. 

The public school board said parents will be informed before Feb. 14 if their child is losing EA support.