SERBY ANNOUNCES MORE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

Education Minister Clay Serby today announced, as a follow up to the

1999-2000 Provincial Budget, five new community schools with

prekindergarten programs will be designated in Regina, Saskatoon, and

Prince Albert. This will bring the total number of community schools

in southern Saskatchewan to 31.



Community schools focus on drawing parents and community resources

such as social workers, nutrition workers and family literacy support

into the school. Because many children of Indian and Metis

backgrounds attend community schools, all children in the school learn

about the traditions, values and cultures of Aboriginal peoples.



"The role of the school has changed," Serby said. "With the community

school designation comes extra support to provide programs which help

at-risk children, youth and families achieve success. So much has

been done through our national award-winning community schools like

Kitchener Community School here in Regina. I am pleased to be able to

expand this good work to other schools."



"In this year's budget we promised to help children and families in

need. We are delivering on that promise by providing an additional

$850,000 to school divisions in these communities to help implement

the new community schools and prekindergarten programs."



"We recognize that providing at-risk preschool children with the

opportunity to attend prekindergarten can have significant

positive long-term effects on the child's success in school and

in life. That is why we started the prekindergartens in our

community schools, and why we are expanding this program to five

more locations this year," said Serby.



In 1999-2000, the province provided a total of close to

$4 million dollars to support community schools which will serve

approximately 10,000 students. Once the new prekindergartens are

in operation, about 500 preschool children will be enrolled in

prekindergartens around the province.



School divisions and Saskatchewan Education officials are meeting

to discuss which schools will be designated as community schools.

It is anticipated these discussions will be completed in the next

few weeks.

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For more information contact:



Rosanne Glass

Saskatchewan Education

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-3897