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"A Family Tradition for 128 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, February 22,1994 - 13 Yo by Bobbie Drew In Educa ion It seems that the Toronto Sun thinks it has some inside knowl- edge about the recent Durham Board of Education decision on "All day every other day kinder- garten." In actual fact, the schedule for kindergarten is still very much in the review process. Our staff is consulting with principals, teachers, com- munity people and parents for their ideas and input. While the schedule described in The Sun 1s one of the most successful in those boards that provide such a program (Group A - Monday, Wednesday and alternate Fri- days; Group B - Tuesday, Thursday and alternate Fri- days) the decision has yet to be finalized for Durham. The Design Centres, which will be replacing the present Family Studies and Design Technology, is quite exciting. The present program has been a part of the Durham curriculum, for a number of years, however there is a number of reasons why we must take a look at this method of delivery and the bud- getisjustone of them. There are 19 sites delivering the current program. Transpor- tation costs of moving students to these sites once every 12 day cycle are high. Some of the equipment in our older sites is outdated, and specialized teachers are in place in each of the 19 sites. The budget deci- sion made two weeks ago was to have six design centre located throughout the Durham Board area where students will be transported for 10 half day vis- its. This will reduce staffing and the number of trips. The centres remove the dis- tinction between Family Stud- ies and Design and Technology and promote learning outcomes which lead to an integrated, co- ordinated program based on problem solving and design. Each centre would have stu- dents rotate through technolog- ically up-to-date activity based modules. The advantages to this con- cept are: - Integration to promote crea- tive problem solving, thinking skills and independent learn- ing. - new and innovative pro- gramming that will give all stu- dents the opportunity to learn up-to-date skills. - meets the outcomes in "The Common Curriculum." The guideline from the Ministry of Education and Training from which all boards of education must design their curriculum and program. - more efficient use of equip- ment. - requires fewer staff to ad- minister program. -less busing required. - frees up to 28 classrooms in the system. - promotes group dynamics, decision-making, computer lit- eracy, cross-curricular applica- tions, technological reading, writing and math, and hands- on applications. All at a considerable savings tofhe taxpayers. The Durham Board of Educa- tion considers this a win/win situation. We have taken ad- vantage of the opportunity to look at the way we are providing education to our students of all ages and have found a better way at less cost to the taxpayer. Other budget highlights are: - Reduction of two switch- board operators/receptionists. - Employee Relations Dept. reduced by one. - Superintendent compliment reduced by one. - Delete subsidy to provide a secretary for the Art Camp. - Business Division reduced by five people. - Custodial and Secondary School Secretarial Staffing staying static despite the open- ing of Sinclair Secondary School. - Opening a gifted program in Whitby - overall saves $91,600 this year and $229,000 annual- ly for transportation. - Administrative Secretary reduced by one. - Delete Education Week funding. - Delete funding for Prologue for the Performing Arts. - Partial reduction for fund- Corl those Winter BINS av. Hair Expressions 176 Perry St., Port Perry 0% perms February 22 to March 1 cv 9B5-2532 lo make aw affeolntment wilh Kim, Carolyn, Carol, Candy or Lisa ing of Regional Science Fair. - Program Services Dept. re- duced by two people. - The Social Workers and Stu- dent Based Services staff were kept status quo. Trustees. are waiting for the report on the Royal Commission on learning, looking for recommendations on who will be funding this ser- vice in future. - French Immersion - Grade 1 entry rather than kindergart- en. Transportation was main- tained for Outdoor Education, French Immersion and the gift- ed program. - Funding had been reduced dramatically in the two previ- ous budget years for extra cur- ricular sports but the remain- "ing funds have been maintained for this budget year. - Supply coverage for Profes- sional Development had been reduced by 75 per cent in the two previous years and has been further reduced by 15 per centin this budget year. - Courier services has been re- tained at every day. - Speech Pathologists and Psychometrists compliment has been maintained. - Instrumental Music has been retained for Grade 7 and 8. - The Outdoor Education pro- gram has been retained. The next regular finance meeting is March 9. There is an additional budget meeting ten- tatively scheduled for March 1. Meetings are open to the public at 555 Rossland Rd. West in the Board Room at 7 p.m. If you have any questions or concerns please call me at 985-7183. 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