Ministry looks for all-day K locations
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Updated: September 10, 2009 10:08 AM
By Melissa Lampman
Staff reporter
melissa@kamloopsthisweek.com
Beginning in September 2010, about half of B.C.’s kindergarteners will get to start school full-time — with all children getting the option of full-time kindergarten the following year.
The new Liberal budget sets aside $151 million — $44 million in 2010 and $107 million in 2011 — to introduce the program provincewide.
But which school districts will get the money and how much cash will be doled out to each is yet to be determined.
Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid said the ministry is in its planning and consultation phase to determine which districts have the space available to accommodate full-day kindergarten.
“We want to find out which schools in which districts can handle it and which other schools will have to redevelop space,” MacDiarmid said, adding there needs to be a full teaching complement as well.
“Additionally, those children who are more vulnerable, we will focus our resources in those areas.
“In some schools it will be available and some it won’t — and we’re working to find out which ones it will be.”
In last year’s throne speech, it was announced the provincial government would look at the feasibility of full-day kindergarten for three-, four- and five-year-olds.
If approved, the optional program for five-year-olds would have been launched in September.
However, that plan was postponed in February’s throne speech.
Although it hasn’t received any indication it would be chosen for the first round of all-day kindergarten programs, space isn’t an issue for the Kamloops-Thompson district.
With more than 55 district buildings, there’s enough room for 18,000 students.
This year, there are 500 fewer students expected to enrol, dropping the total number to below 14,000 — and the decline is projected to continue for another five years.
The major obstacle, however, will be the amount of funding the district gets if picked to launch the program, estimated to cost about $3 million to get off the ground.
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