Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Feb 10/99) - Thanks to healthy funding, Weledeh Catholic School's Four Plus program has flourished.

But the program, which assists children with disabilities to integrate smoothly into the school system, recently found out it must do so with $92,000 less in operating funds.

Program coordinator and student support counsellor Liz Baile said the Department of Education decision promises to hobble Four Plus's robust growth.

"This program demonstrates vision, but currently I see no demonstratable support from the Department of Education to maintain it and keep it viable," Baile said.

"We're not going to give up. We're going to keep trying to provide this opportunity to young children."

Healthy Children's Initiative, a territorial government fund, awarded Four Plus a two year grant of $134,000 in 1995.

In 1997/98, they gave $137,000 to the growing program -- which currently has 50 pre-school aged children enroled.

Four Plus submitted a proposal for 1999/2000 and were shocked to find they would receive a mere $45,000.

"I know there's people committed to early childhood development in the Department of Education. What we're asking for is permanent funding to invest into children at an early age," Baile said.

"We thought there would be no way they could decrease our funding because they were familiar with the program and knew what we were accomplishing."

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Charles Dent, said one of the problems was that the Healthy Children's Initiative received more applications this year than in the past.

"The decision for less (Four Plus) funding was not because the program wasn't doing a good job. We know every dollar we put into early intervention programming represents an investment down the road," Dent said.

"But it would have taken twice the money we have for the fund to handle all the applications."

He said they are working with their partners to find more money and are hopeful they'll be successful.

Parent Onalee Randell's son, Ky, is in Four Plus. She said he's learned to cooperate, share and interact with other children. She, along with many other parents, are dismayed by the decision.

"Four Plus has given Ky the opportunity to be excited about starting school instead of being fearful," Randell said.

"My child won't suffer because he'll have gone through it, but I'd like to see it continue for the future benefit of all kids."

Cheryl Moses also has a son in the program.

"I understand there's only so much money to go around but this program is of the highest calibre and it's working," Moses said.

"If they're going to pull the plug on something that works, then what's the point?"