Northern Education Action Plan Saskatchewan Principals’ Short Course Ministry of Education Wednesday, July 5, 2017 Introductions : Round table. Thank you for all the hard work done in the difficult time by all of you.

The impetus: where it all began. January 22, 2016 La Loche tragedy January 23, 2016 Deputy ministers and assistant deputy ministers from key involved ministries (e.g. Justice, Education, Health, Social Services, Advanced Education and Government Relations) began meeting with local community leaders. These meetings helped identify the key elements and partners in a broad strategy to assist the community’s longer-term recovery, as well as gain a sense of the community’s capacity to work with government agencies. The meetings resulted in an emerging focus on four community priorities that should be addressed in any comprehensive assistance strategy:   improved health services (staffing; equipment; mental health, addictions and parenting skills counselling); strengthened education and vocational training, especially for youth, including new partnerships with post-secondary institutions on expanded access; new infrastructure investments (a new landfill, some sewer and water upgrades, and a completed road to Fort McMurray); and increased housing.

Coordinating Government’s Response Beginning on January 23, 2016 Deputy ministers and assistant deputy ministers from key involved ministries (e.g. Justice, Education, Health, Social Services, Advanced Education and Government Relations) began meeting with local community leaders. These meetings helped identify the key elements and partners in a broad strategy to assist the community’s longer-term recovery, as well as gain a sense of the community’s capacity to work with government agencies. The meetings resulted in an emerging focus on four community priorities that should be addressed in any comprehensive assistance strategy:   improved health services (staffing; equipment; mental health, addictions and parenting skills counselling); strengthened education and vocational training, especially for youth, including new partnerships with post-secondary institutions on expanded access; new infrastructure investments (a new landfill, some sewer and water upgrades, and a completed road to Fort McMurray); and increased housing.

The Ministry of Education’s Response The Ministry of Education created a Northern Education Action Plan (NEAP) to address significant challenges for Northern Saskatchewan children and youth. Why? The Ministry of Education has created a Northern Education Action Plan to address significant challenges for Northern Saskatchewan children and youth.

Northern Education Action Plan The NEAP: builds upon and incorporates the work developed from the La Loche Action Plan developed by the La Loche Education Sub-committee established by the Assistant Deputy Ministry’s Working Group on Northern Issues; demonstrates the ministry’s commitment and resolve to ensure equitable outcomes for Northern students; and supports student success and includes short, medium and long-term actions.

Northern Education Action Plan The NEAP is a comprehensive multi-branch plan which includes actions that fall under three broad categories: Safety and Security; Student and School Support; and Infrastructure. Thank you again for your dedication to the students, teachers and education administrators and support staff within this province.

Northern Education Action Plan Ministry Actions for 2017-19: Safety and Security Support the facilitation and development of incident event preparedness and response Facilitate discussions with the Federal government to explore parallel actions between provincial school divisions First Nations education organizations Support the Northeast Initiative Provincial Steering Committee Student and School Support Support actions and facilitate opportunities identified (and requested) in the Early Years Plan (i.e., EYE TA) that support Northern schools and divisions Facilitate opportunities and support the ESSP priorities and outcomes for Northern school divisions that improve student learning outcomes Facilitate implementation of FTV School Readiness self-assessment and implementation plan

Northern Education Action Plan Student and School Support (continued) Create a communication mechanism for ensuring that Northern educators are aware of provincial policies and procedures that can be utilized to increase their opportunity to assist students in achieving credits and complete Grade 12. Examples: supplemental exams, credit recovery, locally developed courses, course challenge, dual credits, special projects, teen parent child care and school supports, Alternative Education. Communicate with and inform Northern teachers, school divisions and First Nations schools of departmental examination processes and resource. Provide support to Northern school divisions and First Nations education organizations as they develop strategies for all Grade 9 students to have a graduation and post-graduation plan and processes for maintaining those plans through Grade 12.

Northern Education Action Plan Student and School Support (continued) Facilitate exploration and implementation of career development and training (for students). Support development of a coordinated counselling plan for La Loche. La Loche Action Plan Support the Assistant Deputy Ministers’ Working Group on Northern Issues: La Loche Education Sub-committee. Infrastructure Address infrastructure needs and requirements. Explore and potentially facilitate and support the process for Northern schools to have Public Safety Canada’s Critical Infrastructure Resilience Tool (CIRT) and Protective Measures Index (PMI) conducted. Provide updates as you progress through the items.

Governance Add diagram here A governance structure has been established to oversee the response. Cabinet was clear that the community must be involved in the solution. This diagram demonstrates how the work at the community level is connected to government. For each of the 4 priorities, there is a sub-committee, which is co-chaired by the community and government. Sub-Committees are expected to be established within the next couple of weeks. While each sub-committee will establish a work plan, these work plans will be brought together into one common plan. The work in La Loche can be a template for work in other northern communities.

Community Interests Health Education Infrastructure Housing It has become clear that there is a need to support the community in developing and implementing a plan that can be replicated in other northern communities. The community has identified four priorities: education, health, infrastructure and housing. These four priorities are interconnected. For example, for services to increase in the community, there needs to be housing. Each of the four priorities has a sub-committee that includes representatives of provincial and federal governments and other agencies. It is essential that the four sub-committees remain connected and look for synergies regarding budget requirements and links with federal counterparts.   While the various parts of the community came together in a good way in response to the tragedy, as time moves on, they are reverting to fractious relationships, turf protection, language issues and old ways of doing things. This will be a challenge going forward. Staff deployed to La Loche have noted that the community has changed in a positive way over the past 20 years.