MOOSE JAW — Prairie South School Division (PSSD) may have seen a 21-per-cent increase in injury claims from employees during the 2023-24 school year, but its insurance premium discount dropped by nearly $68,000.
The Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) accepted 17 injury claims from division staff in 2024 versus 14 submissions in 2023, an increase of three claims or 21.42 per cent, the 2023-24 human resources accountability report showed. Meanwhile, WCB accepted 18 claims in 2022 and 26 in 2021.
The claims lost last year resulted in 609 time-loss days for $131,436 in compensation and medical costs. In comparison, claims in 2023 resulted in 312 time-loss days for $123,543 in compensation and WCB medical costs.
Prairie South paid a base premium last year of $232,204 and, even with an increase in claims, received a discount of $67,726 for an overall base premium of $164,478.
Amy Johnson, human resources superintendent, said during the January board meeting that the increase in time-loss days was “a significant amount” and was due to two employees being on long-term absence. However, “a bright spot” was one employee who agreed to retrain and was now working in a different position.
The division has worked to reduce its injuries and enhance safety, particularly since 2017, when it hired BCL Consulting Group Inc. to review historical WCB claims to find savings, she added. BCL’s efforts resulted in PSSD receiving a maximum WCB premium discount of 30 per cent in 2023, while the division should receive a four-per-cent discount this year.
Staff composition
Prairie South had 1,379 total employees in 2023-24, equalling 937.32 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, the report showed. Classroom teachers had the highest FTEs at 431.6, followed by other educational staff at 266.17 FTEs and transportation at 117 FTEs.
Training and development
PSSD spent $638,328 on professional development for staff in 2023-24, with that funding covering enrolment fees and travel costs, Johnson said.
“We are a learning organization, and providing support to our staff to improve and grow themselves and better our organization is really important,” she continued. “And continuing that is our tuition reimbursement program, another thing to be really, really proud of.”
Employees who upgrade their qualifications can apply for tuition and book reimbursement annually, the report said.
Last year, 36 teachers took 98 courses and were reimbursed $73,415. Meanwhile, 28 support staff took 52 courses and were reimbursed $32,136.81. Also, the division approved one teacher for educational leave for a total cost of $14,833.58.
Attendance
Data for 2023-24, 2022-23 and 2021-22 showed the average number of days staff were absent due to illness was:
- Teachers with a teacher’s certificate: 25.8 / 23.2 / 22.7
- All classroom teachers: 23.1 / 20 / 19.8
- CUPE staff: 19.3 / 20.5 / 21
- Out of scope: 12.8 / 15.6 / 12.8
- Bus drivers: 10.6 / 12.7 / 12
Meanwhile, total days absent for illness in 2023-24 for each group were, respectively, 3,148.76, 1,197.21, 637.5, 68.3 and 147.5.
Labour relations
The division issued verbal warnings to three teachers and seven support staff, letters of discipline to one teacher and four support staff, suspended six support staff, investigated two teachers and two support staff, had mutual termination with one teacher and involuntarily terminated three support staff, the report said.
Meanwhile, the teachers’ union filed zero grievances, and CUPE filed three grievances, although all were resolved or withdrawn.
The report noted that one parent/guardian — on behalf of a student — filed a human rights complaint last year.
Student health
School counsellors conducted roughly 23 suicide screenings last year — three were of low concern and two were high concern — compared to roughly 21 screenings in 2022-23 and about 25 in 2021-22, the report showed. Furthermore, there were about 28 follow-ups last year compared to just over 30 the year before and nearly 60 two years ago.
Johnson noted that the decrease in follow-ups was “a really good sign” since it meant students had access to more resources and services while there were no signs of actual threats.
The next PSSD board meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 4.
