ALGOMA DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD NEWS RELEASES
********************* ADSB receives learning opportunities grant
At its Board meeting on January 11, the Algoma District School Board announced that it has received $560,000 from the Ministry of Education to improve programs and supports for disadvantaged pupils.
Schools will use the funds to implement independent study programs at most secondary schools which will benefit students with learning gaps, whose education has been interrupted and who have unique educational needs by providing:
- smaller class sizes - self-paced work setting - greater teacher interactions - literacy and numeracy remediation - independent study mode - e-learning opportunities - flexible starting date
Some schools have also developed specialized programs and support for second semester to meet the needs of their school population.
For example:
- Alexander Henry High School will offer a Retention and Re-engagement class in second semester where students are integrated positively with the school through literacy, numeracy, and social skills components.
- White Pines C & V.S. will offer a hands-on, project-driven course for 'at risk' Grade 9 students who are not motivated by classroom learning. This course will provide students with experiences in a variety of skilled trades and occupations. Students complete four modules focusing on Construction, Manufacturing, Transportation, and Communication technologies.
- W.C. Eaket in Blind River will offer a credit accumulation program where students can finish modules to complete courses they are struggling in.
This funding has allowed the Board to increase program offerings and assign five additional teachers to deliver these programs during second semester.
********************* Northern school boards focus on success for northern students
Chairpersons representing all 17 public and Catholic School Boards in Northern Ontario are urging the Minister of Education and the Ontario government to ensure that the unique needs of Northern Ontario students and school boards are addressed in the development of the new student focused funding formula.
This new funding formula for Ontario Schools is to be released in the coming weeks.
The Chairs discussed the common issues facing Northern Ontario schools and proposed common solutions.
"It is important for the Minister of Education to understand that the funding needs for schools in communities such as Kenora, Thunder Bay, Timmins or Sault Ste. Marie are completely different than in Toronto or other locations in central Ontario," says Gerald Beerkens, Chair of the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board.
Northern Ontario School Boards have successfully worked with the Minister and Ministry of Education staff to ensure that northern and remote issues are recognized.
Recently, the government introduced the Good Places to Learn Grant and the Remote and Rural Grant.
These initiatives have both had a positive impact on the educational programs and services offered to students in Northern Ontario.
However, these initiatives do not address the specific capital needs of schools in Northern Ontario.
All boards in Northern Ontario are faced with significant increases in demands on maintenance, facility renewal and capital budgets.
The increased demands are primarily the result of the following three issues:
- the age and size of the school facilities
- the cost of renewal/construction in Northern Ontario
- the changing demographic and economic environment in our part of the province
These issues coupled with a funding formula that is primarily designed for boards enjoying growth and stability have put Northern Ontario Boards in quite difficult positions.
School boards are facing increased expectations for access to science and technology labs, appropriate physical education spaces, libraries, and classes for students with special needs.
It is difficult to provide infrastructure for Information Technology in schools which are an average age of 50 to 75 years old.
New programs such as Native as a Second Language, English as a Second Language and other specialized learning opportunities have received funding, but Northern Ontario schools are facing the problem of converting space that is not suitable into classrooms or to find space in schools which are too small to meet the additional requirements.
Northern Ontario Schools also serve populations less than the typical provincial school sizes for elementary and secondary schools in Ontario.
The figures of 500 students for elementary schools and 1,400 students for secondary schools are used as the capital benchmarks in the current funding formula.
Northern Ontario schools faced with significant administrative, operating and capital needs often must redirect funding from other budget areas to address capital needs.
When renovation or construction is considered for Northern Boards, the costs are much higher than in the southern regions of the province.
Research conducted by the Kenora Catholic District School Board indicates that the construction cost per square foot in Southern Ontario is $110, while it is $180 in Northern Ontario cities and higher yet in rural communities. Adjustments in the funding formula will allow boards in the North to renovate and possibly build new facilities.
Not only will this help to meet the needs of our students, it will also help to rejuvenate the economies of our communities.
Numerous recommendations to address the issues in Northern Ontario were proposed by the participating Chairpersons. These recommendations include:
- revising operations funding by removing size as a "benchmark" and recognizing costs associated with running small schools
- developing short term capital solutions and making capital funding more flexible
- engaging in long term capital reinvestments to replace aging facilities and recognize increased construction costs in Northern Ontario
- lifting the closure moratorium to allow flexibility for boards with declining enrolment
"Our students deserve the best education possible to ensure not only their success, but also the revitalization and renewal of our entire region," says Wanda McQueen, Chair of the Algoma District School Board.
"We are urging the government to ensure that when a new funding model is released, that it recognizes the unique needs of our students and our communities."
Northern Ontario School Boards represented in this initiative include the: - Algoma District - Huron-Superior Catholic District - Keewatin-Patricia District - Kenora Catholic District - Lakehead District - Near North District - Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District - Northeastern Catholic District - Northern School Resource Alliance - The Northwest Catholic District - District School Board Ontario North East - Rainbow District - Rainy River District - Sudbury Catholic District - Superior North Catholic District - Superior-Greenstone District - Thunder Bay Catholic District
********************