Feature Article August 8, 2001
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Limestone Board pulls programs without consultationby David Brison The Limestone Board of Education has decided to remove two programs, a literacy-to-credit program and a high school credit program, from the North Frontenac Learning Centre in Sharbot Lake. They plan to close the literacy-to-credit program, and relocate the high school credit program. The decisions, taken without community consultation, could have a significant impact on learning opportunities for area adults.Joyce Bigelow, executive director of the North Frontenac Literacy Program (NFLP), says that the move was made without adequate consultation. She said the lack of consultation was especially disappointing-considering that the programs are run in partnership, and have been operating side by side for 15 years. During that time, they have provided much needed services for area residents.
The NFLP is located in the Snell Building on Hwy. 7 in Sharbot Lake. According to NFLP board estimates, the loss of the two programs will mean a loss to the community of about $25,000 in revenues, mostly in the form of salaries and rent. Investigation by The News confirms that the Board of Education did not consult the NFLP in any meaningful way. We also found that they failed to consult NFLP on an extremely critical point, namely, where they intended to put the high school credit program. The Limestone Board has operated the two programs at the Learning Centre until now. The literacy-to-credit program is geared to mature students who want to resume their high school studies. It offers instruction in basic skills like math, reading and writing, and helps prepare students for a return to high school studies. The second program, the high school credit program, offers high school courses to mature students who are working towards a high school diploma. Both of these half-time programs have been taught by one full-time teacher, Susan Wing. (Carol Pepper filled in last semester when Susan was on leave - Susan has now returned.) Students who progress from the literacy-to-credit program to the credit program have had the benefit of continuing to work with the same teacher. The NFLP also runs a basic literacy program, independent of the Limestone Board. This program is for students who simply need better literacy and numeracy skills. Depending on the need, the program may help a person become more independent, search for a job, help with job- readiness, or help qualify them for employment programs as a stepping-stone to future employment. The Limestone Board's literacy-to-credit and high school credit programs are administered by the Limestone School of Community Education. This school has a principal, Dale Midwood, a vice- principal, Erin Pincivero, and other administrative officers. Dale has administrative responsibility for both programs. Erin manages the credit programs, and Laurie Preston, a program officer, oversees the literacy-to-credit programs. On June 19, 2001, a meeting about literacy-to- credit programs was held in Kingston. At that meeting, Laurie Preston informed the group that the literacy-to-credit program at the Sharbot Lake Learning Centre was going to be closed. Although representatives of the Limestone credit program were not at that meeting, it was implied that the credit program was going to be relocated to another facility. Sharbot Lake NFLP Executive Director Joyce Bigelow was told that she should keep these possible moves confidential. She replied that she had to talk with her board, and did so almost immediately. She also tried to follow up with the Limestone Board on the suggestion that the credit program was going to be moved. Principal Dale Midwood did not return her phone calls. Without any further discussion or chance to discuss the literacy-to-credit closure, Joyce received a letter on June 28 from Laurie Preston notifying her that the program was cancelled. She had to wait until July 19 to find out by phone that the credit program was being relocated. Joyce and her board still don't know why the programs have been pulled. They have been told that the literacy-to-credit program has been closed because changes were needed, but what these changes were has not been explained. The reason given for relocating the credit program is supposedly financial - the board can't afford to pay the rent any longer. I had difficulty getting in contact with the representatives from the School of Community Education. The first person that I did talk to was Vice-Principal Erin Pincivero. She said that the reason the literacy-to-credit program was being closed was that "not one student had been registered in it [the program] in the entire academic year." This statement is simply false. Laurie Preston, who is responsible for the literacy-to-credit program, subsequently said it wasn't true. Laurie is quoted in the minutes of an April, 2001 meeting in Sharbot Lake, as saying that the program was expected to reach 62% of its allotted hours. In regard to the credit program, Erin said initially that it was cancelled for financial reasons. She then said, "Concerns about the Sharbot Lake location were expressed by a number of people." When asked what these concerns were, Erin said that she would not discuss the reasons. When asked who expressed these concerns, she said, "I have a lot of people who work for me," the implication being that many employees had concerns. Joyce Bigelow says that some health and safety concerns had been raised. They related to poor maintenance of the building and bad water, but she thought they had been settled. She can only guess at what other concerns might be. Joyce and her board are adamant on one point - if there were concerns, there should have been an attempt to resolve them before the programs were withdrawn. After several days of trying to reach Dale Midwood, he finally returned a phone call just 20 minutes before he was going on vacation. I was not in, so Sara Carpenter, who has been assisting on this story, talked with him. Dale said that literacy-to- credit hours had fallen below desired levels, and that this issue had been discussed in the June 19 meeting (he did not suggest there had been no contact hours, as his vice-principal, Erin Pincivero had said). He further told Sara that consultation with the Frontenac Management Board had taken place at their May meeting. The minutes of that meeting make no reference to any consultation, and neither Bill MacDonald, Mayor of Central Frontenac nor Heather Fox, Clerk/Administrator, can recall any reference to learning programs being closed or moved. Dale referred The News to Laurie Preston, who he assured us would be our lead contact, able to answer all our questions. He gave us her home phone number, explaining that even though she was on vacation, she would be checking in for messages. When I left a message at her home, she promptly returned my call, but was disturbed that I was asking her all these questions on her vacation. She had not been informed by her school board that she was the designated contact person on these issues. Laurie did say when questioned that the Limestone School of Community Education had talked with the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities (the funder of her board's literacy-to- credit program) about their plans for closing. She said that the Ministry was in agreement that the Limestone Board not operate the literacy-to-credit program in Sharbot Lake. Laurie's statement was however directly contradicted by an official spokesperson for the Ministry. Dave Ross told The News, "We did not give approval in advance [to close the program] and were surprised by the Limestone Board's decision to do this. Should they withdraw, we will work with the community to ensure that appropriate service levels are maintained. We will, if necessary, find another service provider." Not only did the Limestone Board fail to consult with the community, it failed even to consult its own funder. The Limestone Board plans to move the credit program to the Ontario Works office in the North Frontenac Community Services building. There has again been very little consultation on this move. There are some outstanding questions: Will there be enough space? or will they have to rent additional space? Is there enough parking? Will the teacher who formerly taught both programs be reduced to half-time? If the credit program only runs half days, what will the students do for the other half of the day? And most important, is the busy environment of an Ontario Works office an appropriate setting for an adult education program? The News covered the most recent graduation of the high school credit program. There were 11 graduates and they praised not only their teachers but also the North Frontenac Learning Centre. In the course of this investigation, The News has talked with a number of local people. Most of them feel that the Learning Centre is the first place adult students go, and that once there, they are matched up with the right program. They know the setting as a good one for our rural area and feel that a decision has been made to radically change two successful learning programs without any real consultation with the community.
