Parents in Surrey, B.C., are concerned that an early learning program is at risk of being cancelled.
Not having enough funds could result in StrongStart being reduced or stopped, affecting a lot of kids.
StrongStart helps kids under five adjust to kindergarten.
The school board mentioned that the program has not received more money from the province since 2008, and they have to either stop it or seriously reduce it.
In the district, there are 23 StrongStart programs, where over 3,000 children are enrolled.
Laurie Larsen, a school board trustee, said, “With the salaries and the manager … it’s a deficit of around $260,000 this year. It has come to a point where we just cannot sustain it anymore.”
StrongStart is a free program often used by new Canadians and families who can't afford preschool.
Anne Whitmore, Surrey DPAC’s president, said, “Parents who have used StrongStart are shocked and deeply saddened, realizing that the program may not be available for other kids.”
Closing down StrongStart would also mean that 34 staff members who manage the programs would lose their jobs.
The Ministry of Education and Child Care stated that, “While the ministry remains supportive of Surrey continuing their StrongStart B.C. programs with the benefits this program brings to school communities, it will ultimately be up to the board to make a final decision on its budget after consulting with and hearing feedback from, their local community.”
The school board has requested an urgent meeting with the ministry to figure out what to do next, which will likely happen after the spring break.
“I’m hoping the minister will listen to us and say, ‘OK, this is an important program and we need to fund it,’” Larsen said.
