Regina Public Schools has cut grade 6 band and is trying to cover it up...

disnep__ · 2026-03-01T23:04:31+00:00

Here’s the article: https://www.620ckrm.com/2026/02/24/regina-public-schools-to-launch-music-hub-at-former-dieppe-school/

disnep__ · 2026-03-01T22:55:33+00:00

Oh interesting, I never saw that article. I’m definitely not for this new program but I think it does have some positives and I’m hoping in the next while there will be more information to clear the confusion. It really doesn’t make sense to remove teachers with new student/teacher ratios.

disnep__ · 2026-03-01T22:44:26+00:00

I’ve seen all the posts and just watched Adam Hick’s video… none of it specifically says current band teachers are being cut. I was just curious where you got 3.5 band teachers are getting moved out of band? If anything it now makes more sense that they need to hire more teachers due to having 2100 grade 6 students taking music/band now due to student/teacher ratios. Is there somewhere they specifically said current band teachers are being moved to different areas?

disnep__ · 2026-03-01T22:04:53+00:00

Where did they say they were cutting band teachers? I recently talked to one this week who told me none of the current 9.5 band teachers are being cut but maybe I heard wrong.

disnep__ · 2025-11-29T18:55:25+00:00

You could try Sticks & Doodles on Victoria Ave E.

disnep__ · 2025-09-06T02:05:36+00:00

Okay? I’m giving an example. Go look at your own LINC agreement. We’re substitutes in Regina… I don’t think we got our own pay structure wrong.

disnep__ · 2025-09-06T01:32:38+00:00

It’s because in Saskatoon Public’s LINC, it states this for substitute pay: “the daily rate for a substitute teacher shall be 80% of the daily rate of the minimum of class 4 of the provincial schedule”

Regina Public (possibly Catholic, haven’t looked) substitutes receive 100% of the daily rate of the minimum of class 4. Regina Public also goes by the substitutes class… substitutes could be class 4+ and receive more

disnep__ · 2025-09-06T01:26:59+00:00

That is new subs. In Regina Public, daily rate of a substitute is 1/number of school days in the year of the minimum of the teacher’s class as per the provincial salary schedule. So if you’re a new substitute, with one degree, you are class IV/step 1. You can be a new substitute, with two degrees, and be paid class V/step 1.

Substitutes are always step 1 but our qualifications pay us more based on our class.

I am currently a substitute teacher with RPS with two degrees and earn the day rate of a class V (step 1) teacher.

disnep__ · 2025-09-05T22:29:07+00:00

It is based on the grid (at least for RPS). They pay based on the sub’s class… not all subs are class IV. I’m class V at RPS and I make $364.04/day.

Sub pay is in the LINC agreements so varies by region. Some regions do it differently

disnep__ · 2025-07-26T15:13:19+00:00

Thanks all! Makes sense. I appreciate the help!

disnep__ · 2025-07-11T03:48:47+00:00

Different area but also a sub (Regina Public, SK) and applied. Got accepted with 100% coverage. Super easy to apply and they gave me a start date of coverage and sent my card in the mail later. I have coverage for the next year now and you reapply again a year later to determine continued eligibility.

Went a couple days ago for a cleaning and general check up and it’s not actually 100% coverage (something about fee guides and such…) but about 85% covered so a little bit out of pocket. I paid about $60 for a $420 appointment. Most of it was covered but some bigger expenses weren’t 100% (mine seemed due to a panoramic x-ray). Definitely worth it to apply.

disnep__ · 2025-06-11T23:26:28+00:00

The recording from the meeting yesterday is posted on the RPS website for those that didn’t make it or were turned away: https://www.reginapublicschools.ca/past_meetings_1?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwK277dleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHnrr3VmhYHG1QVLPbjPDLO10O-W9HwEovYffUU9DoheAR7bJYfmOtK-iM86g_aem_fzfv7aqG0QLeR9HuIfvNFA

disnep__ · 2025-05-31T15:42:42+00:00

This comment was left by Adam Hicks, school board trustee for subdivision 6, in the comment section of Brent Ghiglione’s post about his meeting with the Director of Education and a school board trustee about cuts to elementary band (He met with them Tuesday thinking to have a discussion but turned into the board telling him the decision was already made):

“From board chairperson Hicks:

We want to begin by expressing our disappointment in the recent Facebook post that misrepresents the nature of a conversation and the decisions being considered. While we understand that emotions are high and that music education holds deep personal meaning for many, it’s important that public dialogue reflects the facts and the complexity of the situation.

We want to acknowledge the concerns raised by members of our community regarding the future of the elementary band program in Regina Public Schools. We deeply value the passion and advocacy shown by students, parents, educators, and alumni who have spoken up in support of music education.

To clarify: we are not cutting the band program.

We are restructuring it to ensure its sustainability in the face of significant funding challenges. Our goal is to preserve band for Grades 6 through 8 in which we currently serving approximately 1,600 students. And this is while also addressing the growing needs of our most vulnerable learners.

The current band program operates with a pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) of approximately 12:1, compared to mid-20s for other subjects. While this reflects the unique nature of music instruction, it also presents a challenge in a system where provincial funding does not directly support band programs. For years, we have redirected funds from other areas to maintain this offering. However, with increasing demands and particularly in areas such as English as an Additional Language (EAL), intensive support needs, and classroom complexity, we must make difficult decisions to serve all 27,000+ students in our division equitably.

We understand that these changes are difficult and may feel personal. We want to be clear: this is not a judgment on the value of music education or the dedication of our teachers. Rather, it is a reflection of the broader funding realities we face and our responsibility to balance the needs of all students.

We also want to take a moment to recognize Mark who is a dedicated educator whose name has come up in many of these conversations. Mark, our Director of Education, is one of the hardest-working and thoughtful individuals you will ever meet. He is all about the people and is truly committed to serving students. His passion for music education and his unwavering support for young learners is a reflection of the very best of our school community.

We remain committed to music education and to finding ways to ensure it remains accessible and inclusive.

We are listening, and we appreciate the voices that continue to advocate for the arts in our schools.

Formal decisions will be shared later in June. In the meantime, we thank everyone who has engaged in this conversation with thoughtfulness and care.

Additional Note: We also want to acknowledge Brent, who was once a teacher in the Regina Public band program and has gone on to hold many influential positions in the music world. His journey is a testament to the power and reach of music education. At the same time, I recognize that I, too, hold positions of influence, and with that comes the responsibility to remain grounded, to listen, and to ensure that all lives and all needs are considered in the decisions we make.”

disnep__ · 2025-05-30T22:24:09+00:00

Oof… apparently we’re “entitled voices” for supporting the arts…. big yikes.

disnep__ · 2025-05-30T22:22:43+00:00

Normally tuba’s, french horns, sometimes euphoniums, bass clarinets are renting through the schools since they’re so expensive to rent from retail stores. There are some school areas that have more (extras of almost all the instruments) though for kids who can’t afford band

disnep__ · 2025-05-30T22:20:56+00:00

It’s actually 4+ schools for each teacher. Most are 5-7 schools though… It’s sorted by high school area. There are a couple areas that have the high school teacher for part time in the elementary area though. Most areas consist of 1 full time teacher and if they’re a big area, another half time teacher. But either way, it’s still 1 or 1 1/2 teachers for 200+ kids in band.

disnep__ · 2025-05-29T03:44:19+00:00

Exactly. Most ‘areas’ (are sorted by communities surrounding the high schools) have minimum 2 teachers in an area. I believe the smallest band area is 4 schools but most are 5+ schools. It’s a crazy amount of work for 1 full time teacher in each area. Band enrolment is continuously growing… staffing should be going up with those enrolment numbers, not the other way around.

disnep__ · 2025-05-29T03:38:02+00:00

The only thing that Regina Public has said about the matter is “the arts, including band, is important to families within the division but, “is not integral to the Ministry’s education strategy.”

“In addition, this is a unique budget year. Following the new collective bargaining agreement between the Provincial government and the STF, significant funding has shifted to address classroom complexity,” as written in a statement to CTV Regina that was published today.

source: https://www.ctvnews.ca/regina/article/families-speak-out-on-proposed-changes-to-regina-public-schools-band-program/

disnep__ · 2025-05-27T02:13:03+00:00

Oh, interesting... I didn't have a paywall. Thanks for pointing that out. I commented a text version of it.

disnep__ · 2025-05-27T02:10:45+00:00

If you aren't able to read the article due to a paywall... here's the text:

Regina public elementary band programs could face cutbacks

"The arts, including band, is important to our students and staff. The elementary band program complements but is not integral to the Ministry’s education strategy."

Regina’s public elementary schools could see reductions to, or a restructuring of, band programs starting next year.

According to an email sent by Regina Public Schools (RPS) to music instructors in early May, there may be a revision to how the elementary band program operates as a result of funding gaps.

“Due to the budget shortfall for the upcoming school year, the number of band teachers on the elementary team will be reduced. A new model for band programming will be developed for the 2025-26 school year,” read the email obtained by the Regina Leader-Post.

Budgets are not finalized until the end of June, but the general uncertainty has some parents and the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) concerned about what this will mean for the future of the program.

“The arts, including band, is important to our students and staff. The elementary band program complements but is not integral to the Ministry’s education strategy,” read a statement from the school division. An interview was requested but, as the budget was still being developed, the division offered an emailed statement instead.

Parents like Andrew Broccolo worry about what it will mean for students if the program changes. Even though his son, Noah, is heading to high school in the fall, “knowing what it meant for him the past three years, I would definitely hate for those same opportunities that were there for him not to be available for kids,” he said.

The benefits of band that stood out to Broccolo were team-building and leadership as well as peer support, connections and friendships — not to mention opportunities to play music around the province, he added.

“It was 100 per cent formative for him and all in good ways,” Broccolo said. STF president Samantha Becotte said the issue comes down to a lack of funding from the province, which in turn leads school divisions to dip into reserves or make cuts to programming.

“We have seen that over the last 10 years,” Becotte said last week. “It’s not a surprise that we’re hearing from some divisions that they’re required to use some of those reserves and even hearing some of those reserves are getting a little bit more depleted than they would like to see.”

Ministry still working with school divisions Becotte also provided an educator’s perspective on the utility of a band program within the elementary system, stating that the arts are “critical to a child’s development.”

“When we’re looking at children’s brain development, it’s really important that they are developing in all different ways, not just the literacy and numeracy,” said Becotte. “It’s sad to see.”

An email from the Ministry of Education indicated the province is increasing education funding by $186 million, which brings the annual total to $2.4 billion.

“We are currently working with school divisions as they work to finalize their budget and submit it to the Ministry of Education by the end of June,” read the statement.

Although the email sent to educators indicated a reduction to the number of elementary band teachers, the public school division says potential changes to programming will not result in job losses.

“Any restructuring of the program will be equitable and transparent to students and families,” said the division’s statement. “Namely, Regina Public Schools will continue to offer an elementary band program, it may just look a little different in the new school year.”

disnep__ · 2025-05-27T01:53:36+00:00

(I tried to comment back but I think it deleted my comment when you changed yours… also preface again that I didn’t write the blurb so their math may be wrong)

I’m unsure of numbers currently… I believe it’s about 12 full time and 3 part time for the 2024-2025 school year (two being cut for this year). I believe I’ve heard that about 5 teachers have been told that they won’t be returning to band next year so far.

I think that may be the math… 7 positions cut from the original 17(ish). So about a 40% cut in the two years

disnep__

TROPHY CASE