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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, July 9, 2010 · 12 Public school board hiring more special education staff By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The Halton District School Board is dipping into its reserve funds in order to hire more special education staff for the upcoming school year. The board's trustees approved a $490 million operating budget for the 2010/11 school year, Wednesday night including the use of $386,000 from its 2010/11 contingency budget for the hiring of 4.5 special education resource teachers. The 2010/11 budget includes enhance- ments, funded by the province, such as new teachers, principals and other faculty and staff to accommodate the growing school board. However, the board made further educational enhancements that are not funded by the province after receiving a number of recommendations from its Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) to improve the state of special education at its schools. The board approved six elementary and three secondary school special education resource teachers, though only three are funded as a result of growth. The board is also adding three social workers, one psycho-educational consultant, one speech and language pathologist, 5.5 educational assistants (EAs), 11 early learning program EAs, one Braille transcriber, one contract occupational therapist, and two more related positions. The 22.5 new special education positions total $1.7 million in the upcoming budget, of which 19.5 positions, or $1.1 million, is funded due to growth, with the rest coming from the board's existing funding. This, however, is below the 30 positions that SEAC had requested. To help offset the costs of the new positions, the board is dipping into the reserve funds. Despite the allocation of funding for the new positions, not all trustees were satisfied that it was enough. SEAC had asked for two speech and language pathologists and received one in the budget. The board currently had 10.5 pathologist positions. "Speech and language is important for every child," said Burlington trustee Peggy Russell. "If they don't get it, it will be difficult for them to receive the curriculum and get an education." Later on she added, "I'm not comfortable that all the kids who need help are getting the help they need." The director of education, Wayne Joudrie, said, "You can never have enough (positions). However, we have made significant strides this year." The board recently approved the oneyear contract to hire a environmental sustainability officer at a cost of $100,000. Some trustees argued this money would be better spent hiring a speech pathologist. However, after a vote by trustees the budget was approved including the environmental sustainability position. In another note in the budget, the board approved to reopen Howard Wrigglesworth School in Halton Hills as a site to be used to support Gary Allan High School programs. Gary Allan offers adult high school credit and night school programs on New Street in Burlington. The Wrigglesworth building has already been in use for Gary Allan programs, but by designating it as a school again, the board will receive an additional $247,000 per year in grants from the province, according to staff. According to superintendent of facility services Gerry Cullen, the structure is drafty and leaky and it has capital needs. However, he added, "The grant is more than adequate for the costs." For more information on the school board budget, visit www.hdsb.ca. Family Doctors Accepting New Patients HealthSense Medical is proud to welcome Dr. Ana Bahmutan to our Family Health Group. Call 905-825-DOCS to book your appointment today. Short wait times! 905-825-DOCS 2983 Westoak Trails Blvd South of Dundas, at Bronte Rd HOURS Mon - Fri 9am to 8pm Saturday 10am to 2pm info@healthsensemedical.ca www.healthsensemedical.ca Walk-In Clinic Chiropractic Family Doctors Travel Clinic DRUGSTORE