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2-The Canadiani Champion, Tuesday, September 21, 2004 Necd for L-As miay put boar d budget ini the hole By JASON MISNER Special ta The Champiart A surge in the number af special-needs studenîs has farced the Haitn District Sehool Baard ta rtsk a deficit af nearly $1 miltion by hiring 27 new educationat assistants. Students not being able ta attend a fuît instructianat day due ta a tack of EAs prampted school board trustees ta pass a staff rec- ommendation Wednesday night ta hire 27 EAs -at a cost of around $880,000 - as well as 25 lunch-time supervisars, at a cost of $62,000. Lunch-time supervisars are needed because high-needs students can't be lefI atone. 'Mse hirings came despite a lack of funds ta pay for them. 'Me school board passed a batanced budget of $329 mtllion in tate June, which included spending $44 million on special educa- tion, ta serve about 8,200 students as wett as hire 431 fulI-time uuarunî7eei vvegn LOSS rrogram and proal we can reduce your risk ai heurt disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer! I.,e n me Wh -l EAs. At the time the board had a reserve fund wits speciat-educatian money set aside ta hire new EAs. But in tate Juty thse Ministry af Education, in aninouncîng $ 100 millton in speciat-education fund- ing - thse board received $3 mtttion for last year and another $3 million this year for Intensive Support Allocation (ISA) ctaims also ctawed back hoards'reserves. T'Mat money bas been put ino a cantingency fund in which boards can apply for emergency funding. TIse parumeters of how ta qualify for that fund baven't been established yet by thse min- istry, but Educatian Director Dusty Papke said as soon as tbey are, the board witt submnt a request immediately. If no maney cames forward, then the board will be in a deficit situation. "Under any criteria, thts (EA need) shautd appty and we will be apptying ta this fund as soan as we can," Mr. Papke totd trustees. 5ee how good you could Iook in just 10 minutes with the Visual Fitness Planner! The Visual Fitness Planner.. * is a scientifically based software program that lets you see tht impact of a heaithier lIfestyle right on screen. w ili show you how, wfth enercise and proper natrition, yoa con reduce your risk of heart diseast, stroke, diabetes, canctr and lower your cholesterol. *provides you with diel and meal plan solutions and a journal to log your prttgress. *prodaces a detailed report that pronides a comprehensive lIfestyle program with targets and timelines for you to reach yoar desired results! 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(905> 876-348 (905> 876-3488 409 Main Se., Women On/y 855 Steeles Ave. E., Co-Ed or vîsît us aI www.boodilftfitneus.com GoodLife * FITNES S CLUBS Ill Makes it easy- "Wtthout the funding, these kids need the support." A report ta trustees says despite thse possibitity of a deficit budg- et, "As the schoot year begins, we are experiencing a-emendous pressure for additional EA support ... staff feet that we are unable ta (accommodate) many high-needs studenîs in schoot without the addiîional staff." The report -which dida't identify thse number of new students -cites the need for more EAs due ta a trio of factors, inctudmng new high-rtsk students entering thse school year with needs like "Isevere" behaviourat cancems, detertaraîing heatth and scttedut- ing issues. "At the present lime some of aur students are attending schoat for tess than a futt instructiona day as we are unabte ta provide the schoots with enaugh support ta, provide a safe, heatthy teaming environt." It added the board is working with schootl principals "ta re- assign and adjust support levets ta stretch esîsting EA resaurces as far as possible." Brenda Keamey, superintendent of education, student services, told thse board, "We are experiencing a targe number of pupits ta, thse Halton systemn that we had no knowtedge of' because of fac- tors tike students moving ino the systemn tate. The local board has atso seen an increase in students moving from thse Toronto area. Mr. Papke totd trustees officiais witt continue ta pore over the budget ta ftnd additiona savings, but "this is going ta be nic more difficuit this year." Afler the meeting, Mr. Papke said he suspects other schoot boards - particularly thase in the GTA -are factng a stmitar demand for EAs. Ministry spokesperson Witma Davis said it's not known yet when the Province witt bave thse cantingency funds etigibitity requiremenîs ready. "t know that the whole thing is being %vorle on as we speak." Halton Hilîs Trustee Ethel Gardiner said she doesl have a prob- lem risking gaing into deficit ta help special needs students. "If this puts us ino a deficit situation, I can't think of a better rea son ta do tl. Visît the Milton Chamber of Commerce FARMERS' MARKET open unti October 30th! Saturday mornings in downtown Milton 7:00 arn to 12-00l nntn