Full day kindergarten funds fall short: teachers
Nanaimo News Bulletin
By Jenn McGarrigle
October 07, 2010

Some Nanaimo kindergarten students in the new full-day program have dollhouses to play with, but no dolls, and sandboxes but no sand because funding provided by the province to buy supplies is inadequate, say teachers.

“Kindergarten classrooms are some of the most expensive classrooms to resource because a lot of their curriculum is very hands-on, play-based,” said Derek DeGear, president of the Nanaimo District Teachers’ Association.

“But what’s been made available isn’t adequate for the classroom. It’s shortchanging the learning experience for kids in kindergarten.”

Four teachers in the new full-day program were so concerned they brought the matter up with DeGear, but he believes it is impacting all kindergarten classrooms.

He said teachers attended training seminars in the summer to prepare them to deliver the new curriculum. At the meeting, they were told by Education Ministry representatives each new classroom receives $15,000 to buy classroom materials.

But only $6,000 of the $15,000 was directly spent on resources, said DeGear.

Teachers also reported that inadequate shelving and storage is also a problem….

Assistant superintendent Chris Southwick said the district has been given $15,000 per classroom for 14 classrooms, for both converting the space so it is suitable for five-year-olds – lowering the sinks and cubby holes, etc. – and for supplies.

But staff expect to open 21 new classrooms for full-day kindergarten – 12 were opened this year and nine more next fall.

“We’re talking with the ministry about the shortfall,” said Southwick.

About $6,000 went to each classroom so that the district has enough money to supply and convert next year’s classrooms.

“We’re trying to stretch the dollars further,” she said….