Starting in September 2010 the new Early Learning Kindergarten Program ( ELP ) and its extended before and after care components, will be introduced to 16 schools within the SCDSB. The program will roll out over the next four years under the Ministry of Education’s direction.
The before and after care component includes care from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 to 6:00 p.m.. A report was brought forth at the April 10, 2010 Finance meeting on the cost to parents who will be utilizing this service. The SCDSB pricing has been set on a cost recovery basis and there is no profit built into the model. At $23.50 a day the new before and after care for full-day Kindergarten is not going to come cheap to parents. Pricing is set county-wide and is comparable to private daycare rates that run from $16 – 23, with the upper price range in the south of the county in the Bradford area.
This can be as much as 40% higher than current rates parents are paying currently.
The before and after care program has a number of other issues of concern, including a closure period for the summer months, and a $52.00 extended day full-day fee on PD days and holidays such as March Break.
For full details read the staff report SCDSB ELP Finance Report April 10, 2010 below.
Background Material:
SCDSB ELP Finance Report April 10 2010 pdf
News :
Wages, falling enrolment add up to budget trouble
SIMCOE COUNTY – Higher-than-provincial-average Kindergarten pay and above-average absenteeism could spell budget troubles, according to Simcoe County District School Board’s finance superintendent.
In her briefing at a pre-budget session, associate director Carol McAulay warned trustees the budget could be the toughest yet. For the fifth consecutive year, enrolment is declining – and that translates to less in provincial grants as school boards receive per-pupil grants for regular programs and special education.
Last year’s budget rang in at $474.4 million. (continued on Simcoe.com)
