The Northwest Catholic District School Board, like most boards across the province, is putting the “Best Start” program on hold until it receives more information from the federal government regarding funding.
Last month’s federal election brought to power a Conservative minority government which does not support the Liberals’ child care plan.
As a result, $1.1 billion in funding that had been promised over three years likely will be dramatically reduced, though school boards have no information yet as to what money will be available.
The goal of the “Best Start” program is to provide day care spaces in elementary schools to help children be ready to learn by the time they begin Grade 1.
The program also would provide screening services to identify any learning disabilities or disorders early so they can be treated early.
Both the local Catholic school board and the Rainy River District School Board were set to receive money for capital improvements in order to accommodate the day care spaces.
“The new government feels it is not schools’ responsibility to be offering day care,” Education Director Mary-Catherine Kelly said at Tuesday night’s Catholic board meeting here.
The government is giving the impression it is prepared to honour the funding for the first year of the project, and possibly for the second. Kelly said they do not appear prepared to fund the third year, but nothing has been confirmed in writing.
In the months before the election, school boards across the province had been rushing to put their proposals together for approval in time for funding deadlines.
“We were all highly-pressured to produce these plans quickly,” Kelly said. “Because there has been a transition of the government . . . the playing field has changed.
“That sense of urgency has seemed to diminish,” she noted.
The Catholic board had been planning to supplement the government funding, which was to be distributed through local District Social Services Administration Boards, with some of its own working capital.
“At this point, we should have been putting out tenders, and we’ve decided not to do that until we get more information,” Kelly added.
“As an administration team, we’ve lost some sleep over this one,” she admitted. “We’re not alone. Across the province, many of the school boards are in the same position.”
“It’s a very uncertain environment out there right now,” echoed Superintendent of Business Christ Howarth.
“I do not believe we should be using anything from our working capital to support this initiative,” said Dryden trustee John Borst.
He suggested the board instead look into rental accommodation for the day care spaces “as close to the schools as possible,” or the purchase or rental of a portable unit.
“I believe anything else would be financially irresponsible,” Borst argued.
“We will eventually face declining enrolment. We need to factor that into our thinking,” he added, pointing out the declining population of Northwestern Ontario and the already dropping enrolments at the region’s public boards.
Fort Frances trustee Harold Huntley suggested that since the French school board, the Conseil scolaire de district catholique des Aurores boréales, likely would be closing its school here in the coming months, the Catholic board could make use of the classroom at St. Francis they had been using.
Borst put forward a motion to give administration the latitude to “investigate alternatives to a construction model to meet the requirements of the ‘Best Start’ program,” which was carried.
Kelly said it was unclear when school boards would receive further information regarding the funding.
Also at Tuesday night’s regular monthly meeting, the Catholic board:
•heard an update on the water system at Our Lady of the Way School in Stratton;
•passed a motion allowing trustees to apply for a $30 per diem for their host when they choose to stay with family or friends in lieu of hotel accommodations when on trips regarding board business; and,
•heard a report from Kelly regarding her first month on the job as the new education director.
The board will hold its next regular meeting Saturday, March 25 in Dryden.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
