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LDSB_Credit_Program_Aug22

Feature Article August 22

Feature Article August 22, 2001

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Future of literacy programs still uncertainby David BrisonAnn Murphy from Arden had planned to enrol in a credit program this fall at the North Frontenac Literacy Centre. She wants to work towards credits in order to get a better job to replace the number of part-time jobs she has had to hold to support herself and her three young children. I need to get a proper education, and I need the supports that I had at the Literacy Centre. I had planned on a program at the Literacy Centre, and I dont know what is happening now.

Ann also needs a minimum of 24 hours instruction to draw unemployment insurance. Less than two weeks before she is scheduled to start classes, Ann doesnt know where the classes will be held, or whether the minimum of 24 hours will be offered. She only knows that the Literacy Centre has been told by the Limestone School Board that the programs will not be offered at their site.

This decision was made by the Limestone officials without consultation with their partners of more than 15 years.

Ann has also heard that the Board is considering relocating to Ontario Works at the North Frontenac Community Services in Sharbot Lake. The News has learned that officials with the board have indeed approached Ontario Works with that idea in mind.

Ann has reservations about the NFCSC site, as do others in the community. The NFCSC building is not set up for students. There are limited toilet facilities, inadequate parking, no place to hang out (take a break, get a drink, and rest for a minute). The presence of a large number of students would be problematic, and it is unlikely that the NFCSC would approve the move.

There are other students in the same situation as Ann, and they have similar reservations. They want to know where they will be attending in the fall. They were planning on going to the Literacy Centre and were not pleased when they learned that the program was going to be moved. The staff at North Frontenac Literacy regularly refer an average of 15 students to the credit program each year, and none of these students know where they will be going.

The only word from Limestone Board officials since the News reported on the communitys concerns came indirectly through Trustee Ann Goodfellow. In a call to the News last week, Ann said that she had been assured by senior officials that the situation was in hand that no decisions had been made on the future of the credit program other than it would remain in the area. She said that the residents in this area had nothing to worry about.

The News has reported that some decisions have indeed been made the literacy to credit program has been cancelled, and the Literacy Centre has been notified that the credit program will no longer be in their building. Further, these decisions have been made without consultation with the community; no one has yet said that the News investigative reporting is inaccurate.

Damage has already been done and to say that the community has nothing to worry about only ignores the problems that have already occurred, and the uncertainty created in incoming students minds.The outstanding question is: when will Board officials learn that community education involves consultation with the community; i.e. meeting with community representatives to discuss problems and get advice?

With the participation of the Government of Canada