Public school trustees are being encouraged to fund division-supported pre-kindergarten classes through a multi-year program instead of every year to increase predictability for parents and staff.
Division administration with Prairie South School Division (PSSD) suggested the change during the recent board of education meeting during a discussion about early learning.
PSSD is funding nine pre-kindergarten classes this year while the Ministry of Education is funding eight classes, explained Amanda Olson, superintendent of learning. The division normally supports a 10th program in Rouleau but decided to cancel the class this year due to low turnout.
Pre-kindergarten supports the development of three- and four-year-olds using appropriate educational programming based on early childhood research and practice. The ministry determines where a funded program will be established based on census data and access to other high-quality programs in the area.
In Moose Jaw, the ministry supports pre-kindergarten programs at Empire School, King George, Prince Arthur, Westmount and William Grayson. The number of pre-k students at these schools is 10, 26, nine, 30, and 15, respectively.
Meanwhile, PSSD supports programs at Lindale School (11 students), Palliser Heights French immersion (16 students), Palliser Heights English stream (17 students), and Sunningdale School (18 students).
According to Olson’s report, PSSD received $529,938 in grants to run the pre-kindergarten programs, while expenses — most salaries and benefits — were $965,471, leaving a deficit of $435,533.
The division also has eight spaces for students who need early learning intensive supports (ELIS), with four spots at Westmount, two are at Palliser Heights and two at Sunningdale, Olson said. This is a federally funded program that enables children to attend pre-kindergarten with their peers while receiving support.
Children are selected through an application process. Once accepted, the division provides them with access to therapy supports so they can attend safely and successfully, she continued. PSSD received $50,000 in ELIS funding last year, while it received $100,000 this year.
Board of education discussion
It’s positive to discuss funding pre-kindergarten on a multi-year basis because this needs to happen, trustee Lew Young said. Many people wonder when they can register their children, but the board can’t even provide direction to division administration when it’s always preparing for the next school year.
“We have addressed this over the years, but it just keeps coming up and up and up,” he added. “So hopefully, this board will be able to make it as a strategic plan that we’re going to be able to do that.”
Tony Baldwin, director of education, explained that division administration waits every year for the board to approve the budget because trustees can’t guide the long-term viability of PSSD-supported pre-kindergarten programs until that happens. The division is also hesitant to register students because it doesn’t want to turn them away if the money is not available.
Pre-k registration for 2021-22 will not happen until after the board approves the staffing budget, likely in early May, Baldwin added.
Kindergarten development
Kindergarten teachers are responsible for administering the Early Years Evaluation Teacher Assessment (EYE-TA) each fall, with select students reassessed in the spring, said Olson. The division assessed 444 kindergarten students between Oct. 19 and Nov. 30, 2020, with the results showing:
- Awareness of self and environment: 357 students have appropriate development, 77 are experiencing some difficulties, and eight are having significant difficulty
- Social skills and approaches to learning: 342 students have appropriate development, 88 are having some troubles and 14 are having significant difficulty
- Cognitive skills: 285 students have appropriate development, 126 are having some difficulty and 30 are facing significant problems
- Language and communication: 370 youths have appropriate development, 59 are facing some difficulty and 13 are having significant problems
- Fine motor physical development: 333 students have appropriate development, 92 are having some difficulty and 19 are facing significant problems
- Gross motor physical development: 349 have appropriate development, 83 face some issues and 12 are having major difficulty
Schools receive each student’s results and then put together appropriate learning plans to address the students’ needs, Olson added.
The next PSSD board of education meeting is Tuesday, April 6.
