Jeannette Cawston, local co-ordinator of the “Best Start” program, gave a presentation to Emo council last Tuesday (May 23) regarding the feasibility of starting a nursery school program there.
When the new Conservative government in Ottawa offered just one year of funding for the “Best Start” program, the local school boards decided against instituting it. Yet some funds are still available.
Cawston suggested a nursery school program would be possible in Emo, especially given its proximity to the Ainsworth OSB mill in Barwick.
“We looked at where [the] need is for early learning and one of those areas was Emo,” she noted.
“There are start-up funds available for toys and materials,” Cawston added, noting the current Emo Toy Library and Ontario Early Years Centre (located in the basement of the Emo Public Library) would be the best site.
“It’s a great location,” she remarked. “Sometimes they are run out of church basements.”
She proposed a two-hour program in the morning or afternoon for 12-16 youngsters, perhaps three times a week.
“Our idea was to have a trial program for maybe two years to see if there is lots of enrolment,” Cawston noted.
“It’s a great opportunity for Emo,” she stressed, noting the nursery school program possibly could open up part-time employment.
“It would help develop early learning skills and socialization,” she added.
But Emo council was hesitant, putting forth their questions. Coun. Ken Fisher, for one, wasn’t sure people would use the program.
“If it’s only for two hours, who is going to take the kids there and pick them up?” he asked. “And how much will it cost?”
Cawston said they are looking at transportation costs for pick-up and drop off in the district. Other similar programs in the province run between $15 and $25.
“Parents who can afford it will use it,” remarked Emo Reeve Russ Fortier. “I’m worried about the ones who can’t. They’ll fall farther behind—between the cracks.”
But he added Emo council is not opposed to anything that will enhance children’s learning.
“There are lots of questions that need to be answered before we get into this,” noted Coun. Gary Judson.
Council requested more information, such as a survey, to indicate how many people in the community would be interested in a nursery school program such as this.
They will provide Cawston with a response once this information is obtained and reviewed.
In other business at last week’s meeting, Emo council:
•scheduled a public meeting on the 2006 operating budget for Thursday, June 22 at the Emo-La Vallee Community Centre;
•agreed to send Gerd O’Sullivan to the Emergency Management of Ontario sector meeting on Thursday, June 8 in Thunder Bay;
•authorized participation in Transport Canada’s Full Cost Investigation program regarding transportation in Canada;
•tabled Tender No. 2006-03 (load, haul, and spread) due to discrepancy in the township’s figures;
•selected Big Timber Ltd. for the brushing tender with a bid of $100 per hour for roughly 200 hours, for a total of $21,400;
•chose Harold McQuaker Enterprises Ltd. for the ditching tender with a bid of $76.93 per hour for a total of $16,463.02 (the same company was selected for the ditching maintenance tender over a three-year period with a bid of $90.87 per hour);
•opened résumés for the temporary Public Works superintendent position; and
•approved a request to establish a location for Contact North in Emo (in return, Contact North will provide all of the necessary distance education equipment, computer workstations, telephone lines, and appropriate local staff to support the learners).
Emo council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 19 at 7 p.m. at the municipal office.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
