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Peel's public board warns it won't open all 45 full-day kindergarten classes in 2011, as announced Tuesday by the education ministry, unless they are fully funded.
"Unless the funding situation changes, we will have to make difficult decisions about which of the sites approved by the province will host the program in 2011-12," said board chair Janet McDougald, adding money provided by the government for staff - teachers and early childhood educators - professional development, lunchroom supervision and administration is inadequate.
"We just cannot afford to fund this without the province fully funding it," she said.
The Peel board is anticipating a $1.8 million shortfall for the first phase of all-day kindergarten as the program is launched this fall in 105 of its classrooms. Trustees voted in April to use 2011 funds to cover any deficit from 2010.
It's unclear whether the board will be allowed to do this.
On Tuesday, while announcing the 2011 full-day schools across the province, Education Minister Leona Dombrowsky wouldn't commit more money for struggling boards but did say there's some "flexibility" for those wanting to add classes this fall because of overwhelming demand.
Dombrowsky said boards can switch some of the funds meant to start up classes in the fall of 2011 to this fall where enrolment has been high, something the Toronto District School Board has said it will do at several locations.
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- reprinted from the Toronto Star