SD22 seeing success with child care programs at schools

Mar 1, 2024 | 5:00 AM

School District 22 (Vernon) is playing a leading role in efforts to provide child care on school grounds in B.C.

The district has been participating, along with two other districts (West Vancouver and Peace River North), in a project that will inform the Ministry of Education on policies, funding, and processes with respect to all levels of child care on school grounds.

A $2.4 million grant was secured to facilitate the project.

SD22 superintendent Christine Perkins said in this current year, the Vernon district has grown from one ministry-funded Seamless Day program and four StrongStart programs in 21/22 and 22/23, to two Seamless Day programs that are filled to capacity and have had to be doubled in terms of licensed spaces and one Just Be 4 (JB4 ) program.

“Under the $2.4M Integrated Inquiry Project grant, School District 22 has opened one after school program at BX Elementary that had to be doubled before it opened in September, four preschool programs, in addition to opening four new child care modulars offering after-school care at our four most vulnerable communities,” Perkins said.

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The superintendent said the district expects to open two more after school programs in two other communities in the upcoming year based on community need and viability.

“We are also in process of securing funding and building two very significant new child care spaces on school grounds that will provide child care spaces for infant toddler and 3-5 year old child care, and will be operated by the School District 22 Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) team,” Perkins stated.

Assistant superintendent Katherine Oviatt said SD22 is leading the way for inclusion as a component of supporting child care on school grounds, particularly in the school age care programs where community and students of diverse needs are prioritized for child care services within the catchment area of the program.

“This is groundbreaking work that is a challenge for families and districts across the province and is currently serving our children and families in SD22,” Oviatt said.

Perkins added the district’s innovative practices have been highlighted at the provincial level.

“In fact, the assistant deputy minister [of education] and members of the ministry team will be touring the district this week [Thursday] to understand what we are doing in early learning and child care as well as Indigenous education.

by Pete McIntyre

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