#whatifpei had a way to brainstorm ideas to
improve our province?
Tag your idea with
#whatifpei on Facebook or Twitter
and we will!
From Sandra Skeffington: What If PEI? When planning the new Sherwood school, there was enough foresight in thinking of the design and configuration to make changes. Designing a building that had spaces for 21st century learning...adaptable and flexible. What if PEI chose to change the configuration from a K-6 to a K-8 pulling students from Stonepark. Then Stonepark could shift to a 9-12 school helping with the overcrowding at the present 2 Charlottetown schools. Changing school configurations so that all are either K-8 (middle school philosophy that was recommended in a standing committee report years ago) or 9-12 across the Island, might start to deal with some of the challenges in education. Structures often dictate growth or stagnation...perhaps with the opportunity of building a new school it is time to think differently?
#whatifPEI used the money budgeted for the Achievement and Accountability section of the Dept. of Education (responsible for the Provincial Assessments Program) and re-allocated it to the schools for in-school professional learning at the elbow of the teacher, and full time guidance counselors to actually support and raise the level of students who struggle? Schools know who are underachieving, why not trust the classroom and school assessments instead of one moment in time costly Provincial Assessments?
Sometimes things come along in my feed that cause me to speak out and I apologize for any that are offended by my rant...but...Our education system has continued to cut supports and trim/reallocate staff for a number of years. This leaves school administrators, especially in rural areas, forced to make decisions that often have library positions being cut first, as the staff member is needed in classrooms. How then does a system create literate, critical thinkers and readers if the value of these positions are not protected and supported by our government? #WhatIfPEI finally looked at a staffing model in our schools that actually matched the progression of our system and not one that is decades old and only useful to the bureaucracy and bean counters of government? Why do schools have positions like guidance counselors, librarians, administrators and specialty teachers, all necessary for our kids quality education, count when figuring out how many actual classroom teachers are needed? This just skews the ratio leaving classrooms unbalanced in composition and overcrowded. Numerical formulas applied to school systems are counterproductive and illogical to our present educational reality. Perhaps it is finally time to review and change the staffing model to one that meets our present philosophy and needs in education. Despite being a recommendation of several studies and reports over the years, it continues to sit on the shelves of numerous governments collecting dust.
#whatifpei gave Islanders the opportunity to do a "test you small business" opportunity to allow Islanders who have always wanted to start their own business an opportunity to have a Free pop-up shop location. Something along the lines of the Farmers Market but for small businesses. #BuyLocal Shopping
#whatifpei stopped wasting money heating vacant buildings?
Fox questions government paying bills on vacant Prince Edward Home
cbc.ca
The P.E.I. government is still paying the bills on the old Prince Edward Home that has been vacant now for over a year, and Opposition leader Jamie Fox calls it a waste of taxpayer's money.#whatifpei prioritized buying locally produced food for government institutions? bradtrivers.com/2016/06/government-tender-prefers-off-island-suppliers/
Government Tender Prefers off-Island Suppliers - Brad Trivers - Agriculture, Blog, Economic...
bradtrivers.com
When buying meat for 17 provincial institutions the “Provincial Protein Tender” specifies a preference for off-Island brands from large multi-national companies: “Preference shall be given to brand name specified on the “Request for Pricing Form” but brand name equivalents may be considered at the d...#whatifpei had an energy strategy that prioritized local production of power? Just imagine the money that would stay on the Island instead of being used to pay for imported energy (heating oil, gas, electricity, etc.). www.peiec.ca/provide-input1.html
peiec.ca
03 June 2016 This past week, the PEI Energy Corporation held scheduled public consultations across the Island. The Energy Corporation has listened to input from the public at these meetings about...#whatifpei financed more of our debt on-Island and paid the interest to Islanders? This would keep the money in our Island economy instead of sending it away. This latest loan is going to cost Island taxpayers $34 million in interest.www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-cable-loan-power-electricity-1.3476000
Province approves $80M loan for electric cable project
www.cbc.ca
The P.E.I. government has approved a loan from the Toronto-Dominion Bank of up to $80-million to help finance new transmission cables to New Brunswick.#whatifpei had a child advocate?
Province in need of Child Advocate: Aylward
peipc.ca
STRATFORD – PEI’s Opposition Health Critic is calling on government to hire a Child Advocate to represent the needs of Island children in high-risk family situations.