ST. PAUL - St. Paul Education is continuing to move forward with taking over operations of the St. Paul playschool program, which operates out of the St. Paul Elementary School.
The St. Paul Friends of Playschool Society has operated the playschool program for a number of years, using space within St. Paul Education facilities to do so. In recent years, the school division has opened a playschool program in Mallaig and assumed responsibility for a program in Two Hills, in a bid to get more students through the schools' doors.
The playschool society approached St. Paul Education in August, requesting the school division take over management of the program for the 2022/23 school year. At that time, the board felt more information was required regarding fundraising and material resources.
The requested information has now been provided.
"I guess we need to make a decision now," said board chair Heather Starosielski during the Oct. 13 board meeting, which was the last meeting held prior to the Oct. 18 school board elections.
Starosielski noted that operating playschools seems to be a direction the school division has been heading in.
It was also noted that the St. Paul program is a well-established and well-attended program. Fundraising efforts by parents do help support the existing program, but fundraising is also happening in Two Hills and Mallaig to help with those programs.
Starosielski said her only concern was that the St. Paul program operates with an extra educational assistant.
Secretary-Treasurer Jean Champagne stated the expectation is to break-even financially, and the program shouldn't cost the division anything.
If an extra assistant is needed, either fees would be adjusted or more fundraising would take place, heard the board.
Trustee Dwight Wiebe spoke in favour of the playschool, stating it was a wonderful program and he would support taking it over for the next school year. A motion to proceed with taking over the St. Paul playschool was approved.
