SHOULD TAX DOLLARS BE USED TO DISRUPT DORVAL COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER-RUN, NON-PROFIT PRE-SCHOOLS?

On December 15th the Council of Commissioners of the Lester B Pearson School Board (LBPSB) has voted to open a new kindergarten program for 4 year olds (K4) program at Bishop Whelan School in Dorval. This new K4 program offering, in 2009-2010, will be in direct competition with Dorval's volunteer driven Dorval Co-Op Preschool and Dorval Elementary School Pre-Kindergarten. Both these fine non-profit organizations have been serving the needs of West Island's community for a combined 65 years. Council's decision will seriously disrupt the current pre-school market balance in Dorval and adversely raises risk levels for the survival of these organizations. The LBPSB, funded in majority by public tax dollars, does not receive any special funding from the government for this K4 program, and will have to draw down from existing budgets and programs to finance its operation.


We the undersigned would like the Council of Commissioners of the LBPSB to amend the resolution as to the location of the K4 program. We feel that in these tough economic times a more prudent usage of public tax dollars is needed and that LBPSB should concentrate its efforts in communities where needs are not being met.