HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-11-04, Page 27Copyright changes cot school boards
Stew Slater
special to the signal -star
Following an extensive period of
legal wrangling and negotiations,
school boards in Ontario have learned
the specifics about the financial hit
they'll take as a result of changed
copyright rules for student research
materials.
"For some boards, it's into the mil-
lions of dollars," claimed Huron -
Perth Catholic District School Board
business superintendent Gerry
Thuss.
Since 1988 in Canada, a not-for-
profit organization called Access
Copyright - governed by representa-
tives from the publishing industry -
has administered the billing of copy-
right fees from school boards and
other public agencies. School boards,
in general, have been charged on a
per -pupil basis.
In June, 2009, the Copyright Board
of Canada sided with Access
Copyright in a long -pinning fight by
school boards to prevent fee increas-
es. As a result, school boards in
Ontario were charged retroactively to
cover the fees from the time that
Access Copyright actually imple-
mented them. In all, that represents
an approximate total of $20 million
that suddenly became due for pay-
ment from school boards across the
province.
Thankfully for school boards, the
Education Ministry announced last
week that it will issue one-time pay-
ments to cover these retroactive bills.
A memorandum from the
Ministry, outlining a series of
payments that fall outside this
year's "Grants for Student
Needs" funding envelope,
reveals the Avon Maitland
District School Board will
receive $183,259, while the
Huron -Perth Catholic District
School Board will receive
$50,008.
Thuss cautioned, however,
that this is a one-time govern-
ment grant. From here for-
ward, boards will be respon-
sible for paying the higher
copyright fees. And they'll
have to find room in their
All -day kindergarten to
start in new school year
Stew Slater
special to the signal -star
After much anticipation and
some concern that deficit woes
might dampen the McGuinty
government's enthusiasm for its
stated goal of introducing all -
day, every -day Kindergarten,
school boards across Ontario
received word last week that
funding will be made available
for a phased -in introduction
next September.
"The Ministry officials at the
announcement talked about it
being a red letter day, an incred-
ible investment, and a great
adventure. And I agree," said
Avon Maitland District School
Board education superintendent
Pat Stanley, during a regular
board meeting 'Illesday, Sept.
27.
Earlier in the day, Premier
Dalton McGuinty had been on
hand to help announce the $500
million, two-year commitment
at Bruce Junior Public School in
Toronto, a facility which was
once slated for closure but found
new life as the host school for a
pilot project housing integrated
daycare and Kindergarten pro-
gramming under one roof. It's
this model of service that the
ruling Liberals hope to see rec-
reated across the province
beginning in September, 2010.
Next year's initial funding
will see all -day, every -day pro-
gramming made available to
approximately 15 per cent of
Ontario's Junior Kindergarten
and Senior Kindergarten stu-
dents - approximately 35,000
children. Average class size
would be about 25 students,
with one full-time teacher and
one full-time Early Childhood
Educator providing instruction.
According to Stanley, the
2010 funding commitment will
allow for the introduction of
programs in 10 Avon Maitland
elementary schools, and approx-
imately three schools in the
Huron -Perth Catholic District
School Board.
Stanley said that bringing in
the programming could demand
the hiring of an additional 3,000
Kindergarten teachers across
the province, and as many as
9,500 Early Childhood
Educators.
And if the full program is
eventually put in place within
five years - as McGuinty con-
tinues to predict - then the
annual province -wide cost is
estimated at $1.5 billion.
•
existing budgets to cover those costs.
A report from CKNX Radio
Wmgham, citing business superinten-
dent Janet Baird -Jackson, suggested
the Avon Maitland board will be on
the hook for an additional $90,000
per year as a result of the increased
fees. In the same report, Baird -
Jackson added that Access Copyright
continues to hint at plans to increase
the fees even more.
Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, November 4, 2009 - Page 27
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