The Southeast Cornerstone School Division ratified collective agreement with various non-teaching employees in 21 schools across southeastern Saskatchewan, during their board meeting on Thursday in Carlyle.

The agreement with Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 299, was ratified for the period of Jan. 1, 2007 to Dec. 31, 2008. As well the agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3951, Local 4377 and Local 4765 was ratified for the period of Jan. 2006 to Aug. 31, 2008.

"We are working towards equality across our school division with our collective agreements," said Don Rempel, Director of Education of Cornerstone. "We are making very good progress, with previously approved collective agreements and contracts in place for non-union employees and the vast majority of non-teaching staff have been successful in establishing new agreements."

It was also reported to the board that bargaining will begin with four newly certified bargaining units on the week of Nov. 19. "It is hoped that a small number of collectives will develop tentative agreements in the near future," said Rempel.

A tentative agreement with the South East Cornerstone Teachers' Association was reached in June of 2007; however, when the teacher bargaining team presented their agreement to the membership, it failed to be ratified by the large collective.

Also during the business meeting, the Cornerstone board requested some information on the use of stop arms for buses in the City of Weyburn. "This information was provided to the board to review, as there had been some concern from the School Community Councils in Weyburn," said Rempel.

The board also approved requests for delegations from non-viable schools in the school division. "Through the school viability process, these delegations give a chance for these schools to present their case to the board to aid in the decision process," said Rempel.

The annual meeting of electors was hosted by Carlyle Elementary School the same evening, with a report to the ratepayers on the activity relating to teaching, learning and the operation and management of schools for the latter half of the 2005-06 school year and the complete 2006-07 school year. "This was our first electors meeting as an amalgamated board, and it had been a very busy and productive day," said Rempel.

Audrey Trombley from Griffin was acclaimed as Chairperson of the Board and will continue in the role she first assumed upon the creation of the school division in June of 2005. Carol Flynn, who represents sub-division #1 (Rocanville, Moosomin and Wapella), was re-elected as vice-chairperson of the board. Flynn has served as vice-chair since the creation of the new school division.

The Cornerstone board of education appointed five board members to sit on the Comprehensive School Governance Authority, which oversees the governance of the Comprehensive Schools in Estevan and Weyburn. Garry Hammett, Pam Currie, Bryan Wilson, Len Williams and Janet Foord will provide direction to the management of the two schools, comprising a governance authority along with two board members to be appointed by the Holy Family RCSSD board of education.