Family looking for missing guitar, iPodBoard opts for third-party providersthan at most child care providers.The family of a 17-year-old north Oakville now and remembers leaving his belongings Continued from page 1The costs are not the only thing that haveboy is looking for an electric guitar and iPod in a wooded area, likely south of Dundas, west cially, which so far it has not been doing this been challenging for the board, humanhe lost when he wandered off when he had a of Neyagawa.year.resources have been an issue as has provid-relapse of his mood disorder.His mother found his bass guitar in a Tim Starting next school year, the public ing special education.The youth, who lives in the Dundas Street-Hortons, but is still looking for a red electric school board staff will no longer provide the For students with special needs, meetingNeyagawa Boulevard, area wandered away guitar in a brown hard case that had been program; it will be run by third party provid-those needs has probably been the area of from his home about two weeks ago. He car-purchased for him this year.ers. greatest challenge as the province movesried with him his new bass and electric gui-Hes very much into music, its his out-The full-day kindergarten is operating at forward with the full-day program,tars and an iPod with Bose headphones.let, his mother said.11 schools and will continue to do so.Zonneveld said.He suffers from a bipolar disorder with The teenagers first episode with the mood The decision was largely due to the costs The Province has heard from manypsychosis and walked away from home when disorder was 18 months ago. In case someone associated with running the program.boards and organizations, loud and clear,he experienced a relapse about two weeks finds the belongings his family asks to be We do this with some reluctance on our that there is a lot of concern for special needsago. contacted. People can ask for Ms. Harrison at part, to be quite honest with you. We were students and they have been fairly silent.He has been in hospital nearly two weeks the number 416-464-8635.quite successful with the delivery of the pro-He told trustees the board has been work-gram this year with the exception of that we ing with numerous service providers forwere doing it at a loss, Superintendent of children with special needs to ensure there isEducation Mark Zonneveld told trustees sufficient support service for the students.Wednesday night.However, he said there are currently waitWe cant do that. We must run this pro-times for students with special needs, a lackgram as best we can and break even. At the of service and a lack of funding from the$25 weve been charging parents we have Province.been losing money.He also noted that with the implementa-He added it was the cost of the program tion of the program by third parties as athat forced the decision.partnership with the schools will be differentIn the staff report, it said the program has IMPRESSIONSthan in the past. Previously, the child-carealready come $15,000 over budget by providers were simply tenants at schools andDecember. In order for the program to break We have been providing exceptional, full-day, used areas such as the gymnasium. The neweven, it said the board would have to charge early education programs for decades. program will require that the before andabout $31 per day, which is significantly Come experience our child-friendly, student-centred environment.after school students are in the classroomshigher than the $22 average at Halton child-where they will receive curriculum basedcare centres.JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN AND MONTESSORI TO GRADE 12education.A reason for the high costs at the school The onus is on us now to provide theboard, are due to the higher wages of a www.hsc.on.ca | 905-389-1367 | 299 Fennell Ave. West, Hamiltonappropriate space, Zonneveld said.school boards Early Childhood Educator INLittle Readers AcademyBeyond TutoringAdvantage ProgramHomework Support CWCRAges 3-6 yearsGrades 1-8High School SuccessGrades 1-8LSAEEARDAVEIRBIHNALOGNEHERITAGEUSCS EUE PS A TLifestyle Home FurnishingsSINCE 1977LOE 5 The Best s Come A0%From Understanding Approach the process of learning properly and you wind up creating more thanhard-working students with good marks. 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