We certainly have received a number of e-mails from local citizens who will be affected by this change.  I think the staff of YouLearn.ca has done an outstanding job over the last few years of responding to the needs and requests of graduated adults in the communities of School District No. 53 and they have developed a rich syllabus of interest-based and credit courses.  There are a number of Literacy Foundation and Academic Upgrading courses that will continue to be offered tuition free.  For example, YouLearn will continue to offer Beginning Computer classes which are funded under the list of Literacy Foundation courses.  I know that YouLearn has provided a great service to the community and we will work with staff to continue to provide some non-funded courses at minimal costs.  We have not yet had the discussion at the Board level about what these costs might be.

Meanwhile the staff at YouLearn is busy restructuring their program based on funding changes, areas of growth, and areas of increasing success.  The greatest area of growth has been in the area of Distance Learning.  The online home-school community of learners that was well established for K-7 students has almost doubled from September of this year to next year as families from outside the district have been attracted to the program and spreading the word. With the passing of Bill 36, opportunities for on-line learning are now open to students from K to 9 and we do not know yet what the local impact of that will be.  YouLearn is looking for ways to promote upgrading courses that prepare students for specific careers.  They are also going to utilize the District’s 6 yearnon-completion rate statistics to offer opportunities to meet graduation requirements as we know students who complete graduation have increased opportunities for employment and training.

We hope you will join us for our next Learning Forum which will be on Wednesday, June 6th at 7:00 PM. at the Oliver YouLearn site where Caroline Pennelli, Will Eaton and on-site staff will be providing more information on the funding, programs and structures at YouLearn.ca.

contributed by Bev Young, School Superintendent SD #53 Okanagan Similkameen