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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-03-08, Page 11News Despite federal threat, school board goes ahead with new daycare program Stew Slater The Avon Maitland District School Board is going ahead with school-based daycare plans, even though the feder- ally -funded program could be eliminated by the recently - elected Conservative govern- ment. - Federal money has already flowed. through Ontario's provincial government and on to municipalities,' aimed at implementing a national day- care program. That money will fund Stage 1 of the Best Start program and administrators of Huron: and Perth Counties' Best Start initiative are forging ahead with plans for school- based childcare. But, the new government's threats to replace the pro- gram puts a plan to establish childcare "hubs" in various communities in jeopardy. Education director Geoff Williams serves on the Best Start committee and provided trustees with an update at a regular board meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 14. He explained Stage 1 fund- ing is guaranteed until March, 2007, and is being put mainly towards creating new licensed daycare spaces, par- ticularly for part-time Junior and Senior Kindergarten stu- dents. He said the Huron -Perth Catholic • District School Board, which is also involved with Best Start, has more spaces available in its ele- mentary schools than the Avon Maitland board, for such programming. However, within the Avon Maitland board, the Best Start committee has chosen to make renovations at St. Marys\Central Public School, Avon Public School in Stratford, Mitchell Public School, and Victoria Public School in Goderich. Although arrangements with the existing daycare providers have not yet been finalized, Williams said pro- gramming is expected to begin in September, 2006. He was much less opti- mistic, however, about Stage 2 of Best Start. This would have seen childcare "hubs" established in various com- munities, with contributions from a diversity of service providers ranging from school boards to medical clinics to health units and community groups. The mood among the people who would like to see Stage 2 go ahead would have to be described as glum," he said, referring to the Conservative Party's campaign pledge to replace the national daycare funding. "I'm not sure we'll see much activity after March,. 2007." Trustees supported a reso- lution, brought forward by Stratford representative Doug Pratley, to send a letter to the federal government urging it to reconsider its plan to eliminate national daycare funding. The Huron Expositor • March 8, 2006 Page 11 Seaforth children in line to benefit from new Best Start program -Susan Hunder'trixark While Seaforth Public School will not be receiving any additional funding, a Best Start program will create a closer affiliation between the school and the Seaforth Cooperative Children's Centre. "There will probably be additional learning pro- grams and a sharing of resources," says Steve Howe, communications manager with the Avon Maitland District School Board. Howe says the purpose of the program is to make the transition easier between daycare and school and is expected to begin in September. "There's a good relationship between the school and the daycare already and it might possibly mean no difference at all," he says. Sandra Jansen, director of. the Seaforth Cooperative Children's Centre, says the Best Start program is in very preliminary stages . so far and she does not know if additional daycare spaces will be made available through the program. "We're already back and forth everyday. But, it will certainly enhance what we have," she says. Howe agrees that specific details about how Best Start will affect the Seaforth community are not yet available. Another Great corm -Am ON LEGEND BUILDING MODELS Limited time offer, Call for more detailis. The Ultimate Building Solution Driving Shed Congratulations to Wise Acres Ltd. -Don Wise- Owner of a 40' x 84' Equipment Storage Cover -All - "Keeping clean, well maintained equipment under cover will always return a higher trade-in value down the road. The Cover -All building from the Lucknow supplier provides this as an economical alternative." Don Wise Dairy Facility Hay Storage Beef Facility Cover -All Building Systems of Ontario 800.268.3768 519.528.2922 www.coverallsnet � m AUTHORIZED DEALER COVflI-ILLY ANS aswr ANS & COWIN