Kindergarten classes not guaranteed - Lyndwood School Cover-up - Mississauga News

Peel District School Board officials warn some full-day kindergarten classes might not open in 2011, despite approval from Queen's Park.
Yesterday, Ontario’s Liberal government announced approval of an additional 204 all-day kindergarten classes across Ontario for the 2011/12 school year.

This fall, the government’s Early Learning Program (ELP) will begin in 600 Ontario schools, including 20 Peel Board and 16 Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board schools.

Queen’s Park is phasing in implementation of the program for four- and five-year-olds. Its goal is to have the program fully implemented in all schools by fall 2015.

However, school boards, including those in Peel, insist the government is not providing enough funding to create the classes expected each year. The Peel Board has given the government and parents notice that after September’s initial implementation it will create only as many classes as funding allows.
“The program may not be offered at all of the sites approved by the (Education) ministry,” Peel Board chair Janet McDougald said. “Unless the funding situation changes, we will have to make difficult decisions about which of the sites, approved by the Province, will host the program in 2011/12."
Sherwood Mills, Silver Creek, Clifton, Willow Glen and Credit View public schools are listed, along with a new school, Hartsdale Public School, as phase two sites in Mississauga. The Catholic Board received phase two approval at Mississauga’s St. Charles Garnier, St. Francis of Assisi, St. John of the Cross, St. Raphael and St. Thomas elementary schools.

Officials at both boards have acknowledged the program’s value and expressed support for its intent to give young students the best opportunity at long-term success.

But public school officials estimate they need $1.8 million more than the government is providing to begin the program next September.
Some of the money provided for classrooms in the second year of implementation will likely be used to cover cost overruns from the first year, McDougald has said. Remaining cash will be used to create as many additional all-day kindergarten classes as possible in phase two, she said.

Catholic Board administrators and trustees also expressed concerns over funding for the program. Staff has told trustees funding is insufficient to cover actual operating costs.

Board members are cringing at the prospect of having to cut spending in other areas to manage the full-day kindergarten shortfall.
“We have to cover those costs to the detriment of every child in this system,” Mississauga trustee Mario Pascucci said at a recent Board meeting.
Education director John Kostoff told trustees he would have to wait until phase one implementation is underway to get a firm grasp of the exact funding shortfall.

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