From today's Guardian

The long-awaited report detailing how government should implement
kindergarten in the P.E.I. school system will finally be released next
week.

On Monday, Premier Robert Ghiz and Education and Early Childhood
Development Minister Gerard Greenan will host a news conference in
Summerside to release Kindergarten Commissioner Pat Mella’s final
kindergarten report, government announced Thursday.

Mella’s final recommendations of how best to roll out kindergarten in
Island schools were presented to the premier in June and Mella briefed
cabinet on her findings last Tuesday.

At that time Ghiz told reporters cabinet wanted a week to digest the report before letting the public see it.
That drew some criticism from parents whose children will be affected
by the move of kindergarten into the school system in 2010.

April Ennis, a parent and co-director of the non-profit group Parents
for Choice and Quality, believes government has been stalling the
release of its kindergarten plan due to the controversy surrounding the
province’s recent decision to close 11 small rural schools.

“I’m disappointed they are prolonging this release but I think they’re
doing it on purpose to give them a little more time to get over the
school closures,” Ennis

told The Guardian earlier this week.

She is one of many parents, early childhood educators and school
administrators who will be paying close attention to Mella’s findings
when they are released.

Cabinet approves Eastern School District decision on school closure

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE, June 2, 2009 — Premier Robert Ghiz advised today that  Cabinet has approved the school board’s decision to close eight schools at the end of this school year.
       “This was an extremely difficult process for everyone including students, parents, school staff and community members,” said Premier Ghiz.  “The last few months have been particularly challenging
for the Eastern School District trustees and they all deserve the thanks and support of Islanders for their outstanding efforts and the tremendous amount of public input that was gathered.”
       Premier Ghiz said that Cabinet wanted to make a decision as quickly as possible, given that the school year is nearing completion.
       “We are satisfied that the process followed by the board and the information they provided for our consideration and approval is in compliance with the School Act.  We are confident that the board’s
decision will result in greater access to programming by all students, a better balance in school populations, and a greater proportion of expenditures going to the program needs of students,” he said.
       According to the School Closure Regulations, the closures must take effect at the start of the school year immediately following the decision.
       Education and Early Childhood Development Minster Gerard Greenan advised that the school board has done some preliminary planning knowing that the closures were possible. “They will now turn their attention to more detailing planning in areas such as staffing, reorganization of bus routes, facility modifications and the sharing of information with staff, students and parents,” said the minister.
       There are now 43 schools and 13,000 students in the Eastern School District. A total of 421 students attend the eight schools scheduled for closure, which are: Tracadie Cross Consolidated, 74; Dundas Consolidated, 69; St Peter’s Consolidated, 59; Eastern Kings Consolidated, 55; Fortune Consolidated, 53; St Teresa’s Consolidated,47; Rollo Bay Consolidated, 34; Grand Tracadie Elementary, 30.

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For information contact:
Erin Mitchell
Office of the Premier
902 368 4400