DESPITE MONEY, BOOST PROGRAM STILL IN LIMBO

School Board Must Now Decide Whether It Will Run Addiction Counselling
Program For Students

The co-ordinator of the Rainbow District School Board's Boost Program
appears to have jumped the gun.

In a story that appeared in Tuesday's The Sudbury Star, Gordon Payne
said the Ministry of Education had decided not to fund the program,
which helps students struggling with drug addiction.

Payne, who could not be reached for comment Thursday, said the
ministry cut funding because of low enrolment in the program.

But Bruce Skeaff, a senior spokesman for the ministry, said funding
has been made available to the program for the 2002-2003 school year.

The $80,252 in funding is the same amount given to the program in the
current school year, he said.

However, Payne may have made his hasty comments as a result of delayed
confirmation of funding on the part of the ministry.

Low Numbers a Problem

Rainbow superintendent Jean Hanson said Thursday the school board only
received affirmation of the funding on Monday, and that the board had
"put everyone on notice" that the ministry was concerned about low
enrolment in the program.

Skeaff said the confirmation of funding was delayed - as many other
government services were - by the recent Ontario Public Service
Employees Union strike.

"What happened was, because of the civil service strike, a lot of
government business was delayed, including announcement confirming
grants. But it was not at all accurate to say the funding was cancelled."

It is now up to the school board to decide whether the Boost Program
is viable, Skeaff said.

Hanson said the ministry raised concerns about low enrolment in the
program a year ago and has since encouraged the board to carry out a
feasibility study. That is currently in progress, Hanson said.

"We are in the process of a comprehensive review, gathering data and
looking at the viability of the program," she said. "We are asking
staff for input and meeting with Pinegate (Pinegate Addiction Service).

"We are taking the time to pause, as we do with all our special
programs - and take a good look at it."

On a monthly basis, Hanson added, there are anywhere from zero to
eight students in the program. One condition for participation is that
a student cannot be using substance when in the program.

Numbers fluctuate, she said, because some students "fall off the
tracks" and cannot stay off substances. When that is the case, they
must leave the program.