The Shuswap literacy roller coaster ride continues.
Less than two weeks after receiving a Council of the Federation Literacy Award for outstanding achievement, innovative practice and excellence in literacy from Shuswap MLA George Abbott in late January, the group was told $30,000 in funding for a co-ordinator position is no longer available. The alliance was devastated by the news that not only would they lose co-ordinator Jennifer Findlay, but that several successful literacy programs would lose their driver.
Despair turned to excitement when Shuswap MLA George Abbott went to bat for LASS, taking his concerns directly to Education Minister Don McRae.
“I guess it’s fair to say we’re looking at some possibilities to resolve the issue, principally a discussion between the ministry and Decoda, Abbott said last week. “He (McRae) indicated he wishes to find a satisfactory solution.”
Decoda Literacy Solutions is the provincial organization responsible for delivering Ministry of Education funding to literacy groups across B.C.
The news that Abbott was fighting for the alliance buoyed Findlay’s hopes and drew a rave review for him and his “100 per cent support” for literacy and the alliance.
Findlay also raved about community response, noting supporters had launched an email campaign with the Abbott and Decoda and that two local businesses had reacted to a Feb. 20 Observer story by making donations to the alliance, with Salmon Arm GM pledging $1,000.