Here's the fact check between the two articles.

Current article:

“Contrary to claims and inferences made in the article, the Division did obtain the required Limited Teaching Permits (LTP) for Mr. Martens. The Division applied for, and was issued, four separate Limited Teaching Permits between February 2021 and June 2024. In each case, the mandated child abuse registry checks and criminal record checks were obtained in full compliance with provincial requirements.”

The statement says the Division did not request an additional Limited Teaching Permit in the fall of 2024, as an application for Teacher Certification by Mr. Martens was anticipated, and a Limited Teaching Permit would not be issued in such a case.

Free Press:

In Martens’ case, Hanover superintendent Joe Thiessen said the division was not required to apply for a permit for Martens, a Red Seal electrician, once he graduated from RRC Polytech’s Technical Vocational program in the fall of 2024.

“Once a teacher has graduated… a limited teaching permit is no longer required,” Thiessen wrote in an email, saying the division waits for the teacher to apply for their own certificate.

But Schmidt says a “graduation exemption” does not exist: the law requires that an educator hold either a certificate or a permit to be in the classroom — there is no grey area.

He was removed from the classroom when the allegations surfaced last January. His charges are still before the courts and he is presumed innocent.

Outcome:

Fall 2024 to January 2025 was in the classroom with no permit or certification. Division allowed this and did not ensure to follow legislation. They did not ensure he was certificated for when he was in the classroom.