All-day kindergarten could be coming to Winnipeg school division
Universal, all-day kindergarten could be coming to schools in Winnipeg’s Louis Riel School Division (LRSD) as its draft budget for the upcoming year includes a plan to expand.
School board officials say it will help parents with child-care and students with learning; however, it does come at a price.
That’s because homeowners in the LRSD could be facing a larger than-normal property tax hike, with part of that going towards expanding to all-day kindergarten.
"We decided to go a little higher to provide something extra for our community," said Chris Sigurdson, vice chair of the LRSD board.
The school board's draft budget includes a 7.5 per cent tax hike or an average annual increase of $150.
This comes after the new NDP government ended a freeze on school tax hikes.
Sigurdson says most of that new money is needed just to maintain the status quo because of a deficit, inflation and enrolment climbing by 900 students.
"That just to break even, and not make any cuts and not lay off any teachers or get rid of any programs that our community depends on, we would need to have 6.5 per cent,” he said.
The other percentage point would be used to extend all-day kindergarten from nine to all 30 schools in the division at a cost of close to $2.6 million.
The division says this will help parents with child-care.
Most other provinces have also gone this route as studies have shown the extra hours provide long-term educational benefits.
"By the time they get to Grade Three, Four and Five, their reading is significantly better, their math is significantly better,” Sigurdson said.
But the Manitoba Child Care Association says these children will still need before and after-school care, not to mention Christmas and summer breaks.
"It’s going to be a very bumpy transition year for families and for child-care programs," said Jodie Kehl with the Manitoba Child Care Association.
The association also says four and five-year-olds may not be ready for a full day, adding child-care centres offer more play-based environments.
"And some of them are still requiring an afternoon nap. So, to be in a full-day classroom from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., is a really long day for little bodies,” Kehl said.
The draft budget says the division will need to hire the equivalent of 22 full-time teachers and 12.5 educational assistants for 21 schools and 42 classrooms.
It’s set to go for a vote on March 12.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
W5 Investigates A 'ticking time bomb': Inside Syria's toughest prison holding accused high-ranking ISIS members
In the last of a three-part investigation, W5's Avery Haines was given rare access to a Syrian prison, where thousands of accused high-ranking ISIS members are being held.
Trudeau Liberals' two-month GST holiday bill passes the House, off to the Senate
The federal government's five-page piece of legislation to enact Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's promised two-month tax break on a range of consumer goods over the holidays passed in the House of Commons late Thursday.
Irregular sleep patterns may raise risk of heart attack and stroke, study suggests
Sleeping and waking up at different times is associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, even for people who get the recommended amount of sleep, according to new research.
California man who went missing for 25 years found after sister sees his picture in the news
It’s a Thanksgiving miracle for one California family after a man who went missing in 1999 was found 25 years later when his sister saw a photo of him in an online article, authorities said.
As Australia bans social media for children, Quebec is paying close attention
As Australia moves to ban social media for children under 16, Quebec is debating whether to follow suit.
Notre Dame Cathedral: Sneak peak ahead of the reopening
After more than five years of frenetic reconstruction work, Notre Dame Cathedral showed its new self to the world Friday, with rebuilt soaring ceilings and creamy good-as-new stonework erasing somber memories of its devastating fire in 2019.
Canada Post temporarily laying off striking workers, union says
The union representing Canada Post workers says the Crown corporation has been laying off striking employees as the labour action by more than 55,000 workers approaches the two-week mark.
Can't resist Black Friday weekend deals? How to shop while staying within your budget
A budgeting expert says there are a number of ways shoppers can avoid getting enveloped by the sales frenzy and resist spending beyond their means.
Montreal shopping mall playing 'Baby Shark' song to prevent unhoused from loitering
A shopping mall and office complex in downtown Montreal is being criticized for using the popular children's song 'Baby Shark' to discourage unhoused people from loitering in its emergency exit stairwells.