Approval for all-day kindergarten but money worries still abound
Terrace Standard
September 08, 2009

THE ANNOUNCEMENT of all-day kindergarten come September 2010 has been met with some approval here….

In response to this announcement Deb Thame, president of the local teachers’ union, says that the teachers here always support more education.

“The teachers in Terrace support all-day kindergarten because it gives kids more opportunities to learn and prepare for Grade 1 and 2,” says Thame.

She also adds that it will assist with literacy and will get children to work on their reading skills for higher grade levels. Although all-day kindergarten brings some educational benefits, Thame says that she still has two causes for concern.

“There’s two big ones, one, being whether or not they (government) can actually fund it,” says Thame.

Thame worries that the costs might be dropped into the district’s hands, where money is already tight considering the move back to a regular five-day week this school year, as well as dwindling enrollment.

The government had also already promised all-day kindergarten last year, but didn’t follow through due to high costs. Thame’s second concern is connected to the low student enrolment and the district’s plans for school closures and consolidations.

“[I’m] wondering if we would have the space,” says Thame.

Brent Speidel, director of human resources for the district says that space would not be an issue, but money will….