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Extra funding would pay for 260 student assessmentsContinued from page 1dents has not yet had an effect onTrustees asked Director of Boag said there are several agen-for the student until the assess-plete. The consultants are the same the entire wait list, because theEducation David Euale for a report cies that have expressed interest in ment is made.staff, who completes the assess-assessments have not yet begun.on how to significantly reduce wait the work.Board chair and Oakville trusteements for students who are strug-The gifted program screening takestimes. In anticipation of this At an estimated cost of $1,300 Don Vrooman said there are specialgling in the classrooms to identify place through February and March,request, the director already had a per assessment, the board can education funding pressures. Thelearning strategies for them, such and the board is just finishing upshort-term response report ready complete 260 assessments through gifted program falls under the spe-as those needing special education on the Grade 4 screening and isfor trustees.the extra funding.cial education umbrella.assistance. These assessments take about to begin the SK and Grade 1In the report, trustees learned The report will also go to the Boag echoed that statement,about 20 hours, according to David students.the $340,000 in extra funding boards Special Education Advisory saying most boards in the prov-Boag, superintendent of education.We dont track the list thatcomes from several areas: unspent Committee for consultation and a ince, not just Halton public, spendAt the school board meeting closely but typically we have notsalaries in the student services long-term report will also be pro-more on special education than isWednesday night, board vice-chair increased or decreased our wait listdepartment, unspent contractual vided to outline a sustainability allotted to them for the purposeand Oakville trustee Kelly Amos over the last few years, he said.services, and surplus funds as a method for the wait list. Previously, through the Ministry of said the long wait times are not as Weve had a large number, in andresult of the boards continued Boag told trustees a wait list of six Education.a result of the extra assessments around 650 and 750. The impactgrowth.months was an ideal goal. Currently, Vrooman said the board was notfor the primary gifted program.from this new program, we wontBoag told trustees there are the average wait time is 15 months. trying to pit one group of studentsThe wait times have been there really know until next year so wereseveral ways the money could be Depending on the priority of the against another and that all stu-for a number of years, she said.hoping that with the additionalspent to help reduce the 700-stu-student, it can reach as long as two dents requiring assessments shouldThe day after the meeting Boag assessment work that we made adent waiting list. The money could years.receive them at a young age.told the Beaver that the screening commitment to last night, werebe contracted out to board staff Boag told the trustees that when I look forward to a model thatprocess for the primary gifted stu-going to mitigate that.over March Break and the summer a struggling student is on a wait the board looks at every child andholiday. It can also be used to con-list, adjustments are made in the addresses every childs needs, hetract the work to area agencies. classroom to make things easier said.Full Delivery: Smart SourcePartial Delivery: Special Education Plan meeting March 31InsideHome Hardware, Hakim Optical.Mr. Sub, Day Advcertising,The Halton District School Board is inviting students,needs.Opinion............................................6K.Lee Accounting, The Brick,parents and community members to attend a publicThe Oakville consultation session will take place on Living.............................................12City Parent, Mississauga Booster,meeting where they will be able to review its SpecialThursday, March 31 at Abbey Park High School, located Int. Woman's Day..........................21Goemans Appliance, Sears, Rogers,Education Plan.at 1455 Glen Abbey Gate. It starts at 7 p.m. There will Artscene.........................................29Michael's of CanadaThe event is hosted by the Special Education Advisoryalso be a similar session in Burlington and Georgetown.Worship..........................................34For home delivery & customer service call (905) 845-9742Committee and the boards student services departmentPeople requiring special assistance or accommoda-Sports.............................................35Mon., Tues. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed., Thu., and Fri. 9 a.m.-7 p.m.staff. People will be able to provide input into programstions are asked to contact Pam Cooley at 905-631-6120, Rea(open for calls only after 5 p.m.) Closed Sat. and Sun.l Estate.....................................40NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS call (905) 845-9742 or subscribe online and services offered by the board to students with specialext. 323.Classified.......................................44@ www.oakvillebeaver.comTabasumAkseerBA,PoliticalScience.MEdcandidate,Education.Humanitarian,musician,painter.Goals:Educatechildren.Enlightensociety.Thinkingaboutuniversity?DontmissourOpenHouse.Wereoneofthefastest-growinguniversitiesinCanada.Andwedlikeyoutobepartoftheexcitement.JoinusforourMarchOpenHouse,andfindoutforyourselfwhyenrollingatBrockwillhelpyoudiscoverbothsidesofyourbrain.CheckusoutonSunday,March6,2011from12:30to4p.m.Visitbrocku.catoregister.500GlenridgeAve.,St.Catharines,OntarioT9056885550x4293Eliaison@brocku.cawww.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, March 4, 2011 2