Saving John McGivney's special needs preschool program could set a precedent, ultimately costing taxpayers "millions and millions of dollars."
About 1,500 children across Windsor-Essex have special needs. "Will those families also be looking for subsidies to offset their costs," asks Windsor Commissioner of Community Development and Health Jelena Payne.
In order to maintain government funds for all child care services in the area, the city must follow a strict funding model set out by the provincial government. "To change it for John McGivney would mean to change it for every child care centre across the province and that's a pretty big ask," says Payne.
Ultimately, the final decision rests in the hands of Windsor City Council. If council decides to subsidize the special needs program, Payne says that opens the door for all parents who have children with special needs to ask for the same.
One of the reasons John McGivney decided to close its special needs program in August, she says, is because only two children will be enrolling, down from 27 right now. Those 25 students are transitioning into JK and SK.
