Native school wants school board funding

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Keeping the Plains Indian Cultural Survival School open to students over the age of 19 requires a seven-per-cent solution, said the school's principal.

Jerry Arshinoff believes the Calgary Public School Board could cover the costs

of non-funded students by earmarking seven per cent of its $3.5 million adult education budget for the Native school.

"We have approximately seven to eight per cent of all the adult students in the whole school board system, on a full-time equivalent basis. We have asked for the same percentage to be allocated toward the education of our students, which I think is more fair," Arshinoff said.

The urban high school faces having to refuse an education to almost three-quarters of its student population next year when new public school cost-saving measures kick in. Calgary trustees voted to cut funding in 1993 for all over-age students not covered by adult education grants in efforts to keep educational expenses in check.

Without the funding, the school will be forced to cut four teachers from its staff. Although PICSS could remain a viable high school, it would be severely limited in the courses offered to remaining students.

Both provincial and federal governments have to be aware of the social impact

of closing PICSS doors to adult students, said Arshinoff.

"The Ministry of Education as well as our school board have made commitments to Native education, but to make a commitment to Native education and not allow adult students is ludicrous. At some point, some level of government has to take responsibility of the people who are over 19. There are so many the need is astronomically high," said Arshinoff.

Since the announcement of the cut-backs, PICSS society members have begun lobbying provincial and federal agencies for funding, as well as looking for corporate sponsors. While Arshinoff acknowledged PICSS would be taking money from the Calgary adult education program under his suggested program, the alternative would be

to take away what some Natives see as their educational hope, he said.

Student Charlene Cranebear believes she wouldn't be in school at all if PICSS wasn't available. The 31-year-old mother of two tried taking courses at Calgary's adult vocational centre and through outreach programs with little success.

"They seem to be so strict there. I find it OK here. I feel comfortable, I don't feel too old or too young," Cranebear laughed.

Another advantage in attending the school is the Native day-care centre, she said. Her four-year-old son is being exposed to his culture for the first time, making him aware and proud of his heritage.

While trustees acknowledge PICSS' unique role in fomenting Native education, they say Calgary ratepayers shouldn't be the only ones to shoulder the financial burden of sustaining the program. Calgary taxpayers pay approximately $5,423 per unfunded adult student, reaching a total of $1.35 million last year. And those taxpayers are fed up, said one public school trustee.

"We can no longer afford the cost of educating students that we don't get grants for. We feel the local Calgary taxpayer is saying 'Enough is enough. Stick to what you're responsible for'," said trustee Brenda Gladstone.

Gladstone believes the provincial and federal governments are responsible for adult Native education. They have the revenue to approve educational opportunities that the cash-strapped school board does not," she said.

And cutting any monies from the adult education fund for one particular group is out of the question, said Calgary school board chairperson Margaret Lounds.

"The issue is we had to turn away over 2,000 adult students from the program last year. Every student pays a fee for continuing education except those at PICSS. If we protect any part of the grant for a specific group, how many other groups would expect that protection?" asked Lounds. "We have to address the needs of all Calgarians equally."