To: School Divisions No. 9, 19, 32, 35 and 46
Chairpersons, Boards of Trustees, Superintendents; Chief Executive Officer, Athena Educational Partners (AEP), Inc.
I am writing in response to a proposal regarding Youth News Network (YNN) recently submitted to the Minister, Honourable Drew Caldwell, by Mr. Dan Reagan on behalf of School Divisions No. 9, 19, 32, 35 and 46. In this proposal, the school divisions referenced request the permission of Manitoba Education and Training to proceed with their agreements with Athena, on the understanding that YNN broadcasts would be held outside of instructional time.
Please be advised that Education and Training is not prepared to grant such permission. Government is of the view that YNN represents a level of commercialization of education and of our schools that is not acceptable to the public. Consequently, YNN and any similar venture will not receive authorization irrespective of how it might be constituted. Therefore, I am now confirming for you the Department's expectation that each of School Divisions No. 9,19, 32, 35 and 46 will terminate its respective agreement with Athena Educational Partners at the earliest lawful opportunity. In any event, that opportunity shall not exceed the serving of notice to terminate the agreement during the 30-day period immediately following the 180-day initial trial period.
Should Athena proceed to wire, equip and/or broadcast in any of the schools for which an agreement presently exists during the 180-day initial trial, Athena does so in full knowledge of the limited tenure of YNN in this province. The responsibility for any actions it might take, henceforward, rests fully with Athena.
Frankly, in this light, it does not seem logical or prudent for Athena and school boards to invest time or money in a project for which there is no future in Manitoba. Thus, it is with the best of intentions that I respectfully suggest that the five school divisions and Athena mutually determine an acceptable means of extricating the parties from their agreements, rather than delay the inevitable.
Last, I want to comment on the rationale being put forward as to why schools should be allowed to participate in YNN. The argument is one of Manitoba students being in some way technologically disadvantaged and YNN being a ready solution to the "problem".
It should be remembered that Manitoba's public school system is among the best resourced in Canada on a computers per school basis, according to a recent national survey. While all of us in education would understandably wish to have even more technology assets, access to additional personal< computers does not, in government's estimation, warrant the selling of our students and our schools.
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Ben Levin;Deputy Minister
Education and Training