News Release

Councillor Stresses "No Decision" Made on Supplementary Education Funding

(Friday, June 28/2002)-- District 16 Councillor Diana Whalen urged the public today not to be mislead by recent statements attributed to some members of Council regarding the future of Supplementary Education Funding.

Councillor Whalen stressed that any decision on whether Supplementary Education Funding will continue or be phased out by the municipality in the next number of years must be made by Halifax Regional Council.

The Councillor said "Only Council, not individuals, can decide this issue. There has been no recommendation brought forward and until there is, and Council makes its final decision, it's very dangerous for some to be leaving the impression in the minds of the public that the phase-out is a 'fait accompli."

"Council hasn't even discussed this issue yet, and certainly no decision has been made. Yet, comments attributed to a few Councillors in the last few days in media reports leave many with the impression that Supplementary Funding is on the way out. It's bad enough that the School Board has already sent out some lay-off notices to teachers because Council hasn't decided on this year's Funding level, but for parents and teachers to read in the newspapers that Council does not support Supplementary Funding is completely misleading," she said.

HRM contributes approximately $64 million in Mandatory Education Funding to the Province. In addition, $20 million in Supplementary Education Funding is given directly to the Halifax Regional School Board for enriched learning programs.

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Councillor Diana Whalen
(902) 476-4116