The Kenora District Services Board continues to look at options to a lack of child care programming in Sioux Lookout.
The KDSB was scheduled to take over municipal service at the end of March but a transfer agreement was terminated when a deal couldn’t be reach with unionized staff.
Officials say they continue to be open and willing to find the best solution moving forward, vowing to speak with all those involved including staff, affected unions, and families.
The KDSB says it would like to see the programs reopen at Sioux Mountain Public School and Sacred Heart School on April 1.
The Board adds it will continue to work with the Ministry of Education to ensure that all 109 children on the current wait list in Sioux Lookout will have access to high-quality, accessible, and affordable child care by September 1 and this will include the creation of school-age and JK/SK before and after-school programming.
A statement from the agency reads, “The community of Sioux Lookout has long struggled with staffing shortages and long wait lists for parents. There is currently no school-age or JK/SK before and after-school programming available to families. Approximately 39 of the 151 licensed full-day child care spaces are filled under Municipality-operated programs.”
