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 paid co-ordinator 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 last Wednesday, 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 businesses had reacted to a Feb. 20 Salmon Arm Observer story by making donations to the alliance – one to the tune of $1,000.
Those hopes were dashed Monday morning with Findlay’s receipt of an email from Jaqueline van Dyk, director of the Ministry of Education’s Libraries and Literacy Branch, who threw the ball back in Decoda’s court.
The letter reiterated the position that tough economic times have resulted in cuts to literacy funding from the ministry, cuts Decoda has chosen to deal with by withdrawing co-ordinator funding from 55 B.C. community groups.
“This year, Decoda is making tough decisions based on the funding available, and has opted to maintain community literacy co-ordination in some communities and not others,” reads van Dyk’s email. “If you have concerns about the continuation of co-ordinator services in your area, please contact Decoda Literacy Solutions directly.”
Yesterday, the roller coaster took another uphill climb with the news that Abbott continues to push – hard – for a satisfactory outcome.
Referring to van Dyk’s email as a form letter, Abbott said he had further conversation with the education minister the same day Findlay received the email.
“I spoke to him again yesterday and am still cautiously optimistic to get an appropriate resolution,” Abbott said, reiterating his support for literacy an noting that notwithstanding “all manner of pressure” on government dollars, he remains hopeful funding will be found to retain Findlay’s co-ordinator position.
Meanwhile, Findlay was thrilled by the community’s reaction to the funding cuts last week.
“We basically sent out a plea for help to let Decoda and the ministry know what good literacy things are happening in our community,” she said Thursday. “The response has been overwhelming and we know that wouldn’t have happened in every community.”