Trustees want district staff to investigate the potential for putting childcare facilities in secondary schools across the city.
The issue came up at a committee meeting last month when Amy Collum from Little Ferns Early Learning Centre gave a presentation to the board on the program, which operates out of a building next to John Barsby Secondary School. The facility, built about six years ago using a $500,000 grant from the province, houses one of 39 young parent programs in B.C., which provides childcare services, parenting education and support to young parents who want to complete secondary school.
Jamie Brennan, school board chairman, said he hears anecdotally that it is hard to find quality childcare services in the city and there may be an opportunity to house programs in other secondary schools.
“If we have surplus space, let’s use it,” he said.
