McGuinty government helps open schools to community groups

Source: Canada Newswire

Funding Will Put Non-Profit Community Groups Back Into Schools And Onto Playing Fields

TORONTO, July 9 /CNW/ -- The McGuinty government is building stronger communities by giving school boards the support they need to open up schools to non-profit community groups, Education Minister Gerard Kennedy and Tourism and Recreation Minister Jim Bradley announced today.

"Our mission this summer is to give schools back to their communities for after-hours recreation and community activities year-round," said Kennedy.

The voluntary program will provide schools with up to $20 million to cover the incremental costs of community use of facilities. In order to access the funds, Ontario's 72 school boards must sign Community Recreation and Use Agreements and roll back excessive charges for use of space caused by the education policies of the previous government.

Once an agreement is in place, community groups as diverse as Girl Guides, seniors' life-long learning programs and basketball leagues will be able to access school facilities after hours and on weekends at nominal cost.

The first agreement in principle was signed today by the Toronto Catholic District School Board. The board, which has 210 schools, will receive an additional $800,000. It's expected that many boards will sign agreements and be open to non-profit community groups by this September.

"Education cutbacks caused school boards to price their grounds and facilities out of reach of community groups - it's high time this was fixed," said Kennedy. "Our new program will be great for students, who are some of the primary beneficiaries, and for the community at large which has already paid for local schools."

"With our six per cent general increase to schools this year, and today's offer of a grant to help pay for non-profit groups to use their facilities, we want to help schools return to their rightful, traditional role as community hubs," said Kennedy.

"We are putting a key piece of the sports and physical activity puzzle into place today," said Bradley. "The McGuinty government is helping schools re-open, inside and out. The basketball courts, soccer fields, baseball diamonds and other athletic and recreational facilities in our neighbourhood schools will be active again," he said.

"Removing barriers to community use of school space is an important step in making Ontario a better place to live," said Frances Lankin, President and CEO of the United Way of Greater Toronto and an advocate of opening up our schools.

"This new government investment is exactly what boards need to unlock our public schools and let the community back in," said Oliver Carroll, Chair of the Toronto Catholic District School Board.

"Active Ontarians are healthy Ontarians," said Bradley. "Reconnecting our school gyms and fields to neighbourhood non-profit groups is another step in making our communities more vital places, where people can enjoy a healthier, higher quality of life."

Backgrounder
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COMMUNITY USE OF SCHOOLS INITIATIVE

Schools as Community Hubs The McGuinty government believes that Ontario's schools should be true community hubs where people can gather to learn, participate in community- based organizations and stay active. By ensuring school space is affordable and accessible to the communities that schools serve, the government is supporting healthy, active lifestyles, encouraging citizen engagement in community activities and fostering safe and vital communities.

Rising user fees
Fees charged for the use of school facilities are on the rise, and evidence suggests they are having a detrimental impact on communities across Ontario. Ontario school boards collected over $29 million in rental fees in 2002-03, representing a 138 per cent increase over fees collected in 1998-99 ($12.2 million). In Toronto, the introduction of user fees has increased dramatically since 1998 when the education funding formula was changed. In 1997-98, 67 per cent of Toronto schools offered community groups free use of school space. By 2000-01, only nine per cent of the schools provided community access free of charge.

Community groups have handled these increased costs by raising registration fees. This has resulted in significant new barriers to participation in community programs.

Making School Space Affordable for Community Groups
The government is providing $20 million in new funding to help school boards with the costs associated with operating schools after hours for community use. This will allow boards to lower or eliminate the fees they charge to community groups for use of school space, making programs and services more accessible and affordable. The funding will flow to boards after agreements with each district school board have been signed.

Safe, Vital Communities
The affordable use of school facilities by non-profit organizations also supports the government priority of fostering safe and vital communities that offer a high quality of life. Access to schools by community groups plays a vital part in building strong communities by removing the barriers that exist to full participation in sport and recreation activities and providing non-profit organizations with a place to deliver important community programs and services.

Policy statement
The Provincial Policy Statement on Community Use of Schools outlines the provincial position, and provides a framework to guide the development of new community use policies that encourage co-operation between school boards and community stakeholders (such as community groups and municipalities) regarding the use of school space.

The government's vision is to have every school in Ontario recognized as a centre for community activity.

Consultations
The Ministry of Tourism and Recreation will work with school boards to sign Community Use Agreements to help make publicly funded schools accessible and affordable to community groups across Ontario. The government will also be consulting with provincial sport and recreation stakeholders as well as the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) to seek further input.

The Ontario government has made a commitment to work closely with school boards, municipalities and community groups to help reduce the financial barriers that exist to Ontarians of all ages and improve their quality of life.

Disponible en français

www.tourism.gov.on.ca
www.edu.gov.on.ca

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For further information: David Oved, Minister's Office, Ministry of Tourism and Recreation, (416) 314-1400; Amanda Alvaro, Minister's Office, Ministry of Education, (416) 325-2632; Jim McPeak, Ministry of Tourism and Recreation, (416) 314-3497; Wilma Davis, Ministry of Education, (416) 325-6730

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