Released on May 5, 1999
Education Minister Clay Serby today announced, as a follow up to the1999-2000 Provincial Budget, five new community schools with
prekindergarten programs will be designated in Regina, Saskatoon, and
Prince Albert. This will bring the total number of community schools
in southern Saskatchewan to 31.
Community schools focus on drawing parents and community resources
such as social workers, nutrition workers and family literacy support
into the school. Because many children of Indian and Metis
backgrounds attend community schools, all children in the school learn
about the traditions, values and cultures of Aboriginal peoples.
"The role of the school has changed," Serby said. "With the community
school designation comes extra support to provide programs which help
at-risk children, youth and families achieve success. So much has
been done through our national award-winning community schools like
Kitchener Community School here in Regina. I am pleased to be able to
expand this good work to other schools."
"In this year's budget we promised to help children and families in
need. We are delivering on that promise by providing an additional
$850,000 to school divisions in these communities to help implement
the new community schools and prekindergarten programs."
"We recognize that providing at-risk preschool children with the
opportunity to attend prekindergarten can have significant
positive long-term effects on the child's success in school and
in life. That is why we started the prekindergartens in our
community schools, and why we are expanding this program to five
more locations this year," said Serby.
In 1999-2000, the province provided a total of close to
$4 million dollars to support community schools which will serve
approximately 10,000 students. Once the new prekindergartens are
in operation, about 500 preschool children will be enrolled in
prekindergartens around the province.
School divisions and Saskatchewan Education officials are meeting
to discuss which schools will be designated as community schools.
It is anticipated these discussions will be completed in the next
few weeks.
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For more information contact:
Rosanne Glass
Saskatchewan Education
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-3897