For Immediate Release                                                                        December 13, 2002

The York Education Alliance calls
on the government to immediately implement the Rozanski Report

York Region parents are watching.

Toronto - York Region parents, students and concerned citizens are calling on the government to immediately implement the recommendations found in the much-anticipated Rozanski Report of the Education Equality Task Force. " We are here, we've been waiting and we are watching - we need to do this now, our kids have already paid the price for the cuts to education" says Christine Spencer, mother of one with the York Region Public School Board.

For years concerned parents have been calling on the Conservative government to urgently deal with the funding crisis it created and now Rozanski's Report adds further evidence to that demand. "The Tory government cut 2 billion dollars out of the system 5 years ago and now the report says it has to be put back. The funding formula is severely flawed. The report even points to the failure of the funding formula to keep pace with cost increases. We want this money put back now. It has to be addressed in the current budget not in 2 or 3 years, which would be after the next election" says parent Bill Yerex of Holland Landing.

York Region has very particular needs and concerns: it has faced a phenomenal population growth in the last few years, particularly by different ethnic communities. It is geographically, a vast area with both rural and urban needs. The York Education Alliance (YEA) a local coalition of concerned parents, students, residents, education advocates and community groups has thus far organized 3 public community forums on education, in different areas of York region. "Every time we have organized a community meeting --more and more new people have come out. People are really angry. We hear the same message from these parents and students, says Costanza Allevato, mother of 2 children with the York Region Public School Board. "They want more services such as special education, textbooks, ESL programs and improvements in overall cleanliness and health and safety in their schools."

The next YEA meeting is scheduled for January 15th., 2003, 7:00 pm, 20 Renfrew Dr., Markham.

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