PEEL DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD TO CONTINUE YNN USE
By Adnews Staff
Montreal-based Athena Educational Partners Inc. is getting ready for the back-to-school season following the announcement that the Peel District School Board will negotiate a new contract to continue using Athena's Youth New Network in its secondary schools this September. Last week, the board voted to continue its partnership with Athena for its YNN program. The new contract will feature changes YNN previously announced including the replacement of 2 1/2 minutes of commercials with social advocacy messages and the removal of mandatory viewing requirements. YNN is a 12 1/2 minute, daily education program that is designed to increase student's awareness of new and current events. The program is currently being broadcast in 14 schools in Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. If a new contract is agreed upon, the school board said it would extend the availability of YNN to all secondary schools in the district. A pilot phase that ran from January to June 2000 saw the program run only in Meadowvale Secondary School. Public relations for Athena Educational Partners is handled by GPC Canada of Toronto.