Feature Article August 29, 2001
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Letter to the editorRe: "Limestone Board pulls programs with no consultation" (August 1) and "The Limestone Board does it again" (August 8).We, at the Limestone School of Community Education, were shocked and dismayed by the comments and information as reported by Mr. David Brison in The Frontenac News concerning the delivery of adult education programs in the Sharbot Lake/North Frontenac area ("Limestone Board pulls programs with no consultation," August 1 and "The Limestone Board does it again," August 8). The purpose of this letter is to set the record straight and to responsibly share information with our community members. Clearly there has been a misrepresentation of the facts. It seems that the reporter jumped to conclusions and inadvertently reported information that was still in the dialogue stage. With respect to literacy services, the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and our Board are continuing to negotiate the delivery of services arrangement for this area. Everyone involved in this process is committed to ensuring that Sharbot Lake services are maintained and strengthened. Of course, the Limestone School of Community Education (LSCE) is playing a key role in working towards this positive goal. As far back as last April, the executive director of the North Frontenac Literacy Centre was notified by the Limestone School of Community Education that a review of its literacy and basic skills programming would take place. The LSCE delivers literacy programs at many different sites located throughout the region. At that point, it was recognized by the North Frontenac Learning Centre that changes would probably be required, due to an alteration in Ministry funding. There has been an ongoing dialogue between these three organizations for over five months. The adult education credit program has been a successful, viable program that has been offered by the Board for many years. It is the intention of the Board to continue to operate this programming in Sharbot Lake. In closing, we can proudly say that we have always taken the approach of wanting to support the North and to increase, whenever possible, our presence and services.Yours sincerely,Dale Midwood, Principal Limestone School of Community Education Erin Pincivero, Assistant Vice-Principal Limestone School of Community Education Laurie Preston, Special Projects Manager Limestone School of Community Education
David Brison (the editor and reporter) replies:
The authors of the above letter assert that I have clearly misrepresented facts, jumped to conclusions, and inadvertently reported information that was still in the dialogue stage, but fail to give concrete examples of how I have done this.
What I would like to do is to respond to what they say they have done.
In regard to closing the school boards adult literacy program, the letter states that there has been ongoing dialogue for over five months. Clearly the Board of the North Frontenac Literacy Program and its director Joyce Bigelow dont think there has been. Further, the third partner in the areas literacy services, The Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities said in an official (and unsolicited) statement that they had not given approval in advance to close that program, and were surprised at the Limestone Boards decision to close it. That doesnt sound to me like they were involved in ongoing dialogue for five months. Further, my investigation, which included interviews with a number of people in the community, doesnt support their contention.
Midwood, Pincivero, and Preston dont say much in their letter about the decision to move the credit program from the Adult Learning Centre a decision that was not conveyed to the centre until July 19.
In previous commentaries and reports in The News, I have documented how the process of moving the credit program from the North Frontenac Literacy program was done without consultation. It is now less than a week before students have to start working towards their credits. The letter says that the Board is going to continue that programming in Sharbot Lake, but nobody in our community knows where in Sharbot Lake it will be located.
One final word: they say, the reporter inadvertently reported information that was still in the dialogue stage. Could this mean, you found out what we intended to do and blew our cover before we could make a decision you couldnt change?
What is undeniable is that the Board intended to move the credit program to Ontario Works at the North Frontenac Community Services building. At a time when they wouldnt talk with their long-time partners at the Adult Learning Centre, they were discussing this possibility with other people in the community.
The letter from the Limestone School of Community Education adds insult to injury. Central Frontenac is a vibrant community that insists on being part of important decisions influencing that community.
