4 ~ North Shore News -— Friday, November 17. 2000

Study service squeezed |:

NV fees for space skyrocket

Katharine Hamer

News Reporter
khamer@nsnews.com

SHEILA Keighron has
spent the last three years
helping kids with their
homework.

Her non-protit, organiza:
tien, HELP (Homework
Education Learning Program)
operated afier school hours,
first at Carson Graham and
Windsor schools, and then in
the library at Balmoral sec-
ondary.

But Keighron savs the pro-
gram is now in jeopardy after
the North Vancouver school
district, rental. office told) her
they want to charge her $5,000
a year tor using, the space.

Up to now, Keighron, who
works full-time and is raising
four kids on her own, has paid
the school board $60 a year.
“All of a sudden they want to
make me into a profit-making
enterprise,” she said. “When I
heard from the school board
that I was turning a profit, I
kind of laughed. They n
saw my bank records, thes
never saw where the money
goes. Some students pay only a
nominal fee. | have advertising
costs, stationary costs, I operate
a phone fine there

Keighron‘s tutors all
volunteer university student:
She charges $10 for a three
hour service. “If f have 10 stu-
dents, I'm lucky if wo or thre

d out invoices.
The program isn’t there to
make money, it’s there to help
students do better in school.”

North Vancouver resident

Shahida Lotti-jad’s son ts i
He attended HELP sessions tor
ito vears, and now hopes to
volunteer with the program
hiaiself. “1 am somewhat per-
plered why the school hoard
wants to charge §

says Loni jad. This is a nie n-
profit organization, All they're
doing is helping out chiklren.
The a fot of time volun:
teered by voung people and by
Sheila. Why ask tor rent It's
not as if the school is so packed
that people are uipping over
each other to rent the space.”

North Vancouver school
district. secretary-treasurer Phil
Turin said he could not discuss
rental contracts in the press. He
said it was school district policy
to work from a set of renral
rates depending on the nature
of the organization (profit: or
non-profit) renting a space.
Turin deeciined to confirm the
amounts of the district
ous rental rates.

He did noe know the details
of HELP specitically, but. said
of Keighron: “I assume the fea-
tures of the program are such
that she’s paying the appropri-
ate rates. T guess if there's
concern, she should send a let-
ter stating what the issues are.
That would be the proper way
to do it.”

Keighron says students
trom Deep Cove to West
Vancouver attended HELP ses-
sions,

“If kids are prepared to trav-
el to get help, there’s a need
there,” she said. “Kids are still
calling me ro ask when the pro-
gram is happening, young
Grade 10 and 1) students,
what can I say to them?”

NEWS photo Mike Wakefield

SHEILA Keighron wants to keep HELP going, but
can’t afford to pay the rental fees.

Keighron says the HELP
students have always had a
great’ rapport) with their
instructors. She said the pro-
gram also provided a reassuring,
outlet for kids to ask questions
they might feel insecure asking,
in class.

“The Balmoral library h
tables and chairs big cnoug
for the tutors. It’s carpeted, it's
got lots of window space .
lovely atmosphere. The s
dents loved it.”

HELP has had no benefit
for Keighron’s own. children,
who attend the privately run St.
Thomas Aquinas school. But,
she said, “I always taught my
kids to volunteer —~ to give
back what they've received in
life.

“Pm not making any
money (from HELP). It gives
me some pleasure to see [can
give back to society. [ believe in
this program, I believe it makes
a fitde bit of difference.”

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