School boards livid

Liberals put promised $100M special-education funding on hold

LUISA D'AMATO

MATHEW McCARTHY, RECORD STAFF Alyssa Clelland, who is blind, plays tag with her twin brother Ryan at their Kitchener home yesterday. The McGuinty government is cutting millions out of special-education funding, a move that could leave Alyssa without the education assistant that helps her understand lessons.

WATERLOO REGION (Jun 3, 2004)

School board administrators are furious about a sudden decision by the Ontario government to hold back $100 million in approved special-education funding, including $7.6 million that Waterloo Region schools expected.

Unless Education Minister Gerard Kennedy changes his mind, it will mean deep cuts in special education programs as boards prepare their budgets for 2004-05.

"Catholic and public school boards across this province are just livid," said Roger Lawler, education director for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, which is owed nearly $600,000. The board spends $21 million in total on special education.

"We have provided programs to kids this year and that money is supposed to pay for it. We're going to take a serious look at cutting programs" next year.

"They're hurting the most vulnerable kids in this society."

At the Waterloo Region District School Board, superintendent Dawn Paxton has already heard from worried parents.

She can't understand why a government that says it cares about education, and gives more money for literacy and math, would hold back $7 million in special-education funding for her board, especially when that payment was approved and audited in December.

The public board alone spends $46 million each year to help 9,000 students with learning problems, she said.

Paxton said she e-mailed Kennedy after she learned what was happening. But although he has acknowledged her concerns, "I'm not sure he understands our process."

If pre-approved money is yanked back now, the board can't plan to spend it. And with less than a month to go before boards have to submit their budgets, Paxton fears cuts to teachers, educational assistants, equipment and special classes for students with learning disabilities.

The board had great success with those classes, Paxton said, and planned to offer more next year.

But now, if trustees don't believe the money will be there, "we're very worried" they may be cancelled, Paxton said.

Kitchener Centre Liberal MPP John Milloy confirmed the money is being held back temporarily, and he isn't sure for how long.

Kennedy plans a review of the entire process next year.

"Everyone should be calm," Milloy said. "No board is going to be out any money."

Costs for special education have ballooned, he said, and Kennedy ordered a hold on further payments while ministry staff meet with each board to make sure the money is being used properly.

Boards already submit a special-ed application for each student, documenting that he or she needs extra teacher time or certain adaptive equipment. Applications are audited individually by ministry staff before a board gets the money.

There have been complaints that the paperwork takes too much teacher time and that while it recognizes some learning problems, it refuses to pay for the needs of others.

Kennedy's decision to sideline some special-ed funds makes parents anxious.

Six-year-old Alyssa Clelland, who is blind, needs the full-time help of a teacher or assistant so she can read braille, colour a picture in which the outlines are slightly raised or feel a map of Canada that's made of fabric, with each province a different texture.

Alyssa is doing outstanding work in her kindergarten class at Sheppard Public School in Kitchener, her mother, Dawn Clelland, said. She has lots of friends there and "thinks it's fine to be blind."

"It's the most touching thing, and inspiring to watch" how well her daughter does when her needs are met.

But without full-time adult help, Alyssa would be failing, her mother said.

If special-ed services are cut, "somebody's children are not going to get their needs met," Clelland said. "Whose child is going to do without?"

ldamato@therecord.com