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2-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, October 14,1997 310 à~ You can lone a lot more ihan your licence drinking and driving. the r ri~o -he Outspoken Deoni says he has more work to do By STEVE LeBLANC Special ta The Champion Amid the uncertainty cast over Ontario's education systern, Joe Deoni remains a constant. The outspoken 58-year-old Miltonian isn't sure just what new responsibilities he may assume - only that his work as a Roman Catholic School Board trustee is flot yet complete. "I've been wrestling with this for two weeks and finally put my papers in Wednesday (Oct. 8)," said Mr. Deoni, who had been encouraged to mun for municipal council. "I came to the deciston white dniving home frm a (school) board meeting the previaus evening. 1 drove by Holy Rosary (school) and realized 1 haven't finished the job yet." Maintaining his board seat could prove to be a cakewalk for Mr. Deoni. His was the only name on the candidates list for either separate or public school trustees two days before Friday's 5 p.m. deadline. Once a Ward 1 and 3 trustee, he will now represent ail of Milton if acclaimed. "This isn't surprising, due to reductions in the number a1 trustees in Halton (from 14 to 8) and the salary decrease ($12,00 Joe eonlto $5,000)," he explained. Joe eonl"The provincial government hasn't really said what new *, responsibilities will be placed on trustees, but I rather suspect they'll assume more of a business oriented rote and spend far iess * time in the achools." * In the wake of the teachers' battle with the Harris govemnment over Bill 160, Mr. Deoni said he'll take whatever steps necessary -however unpleasant - to protect students' education. NI RepuT White he doesn't expect an illegal walkout to last more than a 0 few weeks, he is prepared to "suspend, demnote or even terminale' those teachers who adhere ta a lengthy strike. protcct students but their own financial interesta. "The clans size issue is a poker chip that teachers have becs playing for years. A year-and-a-half ago the high school teachers settled for a 1.5 per cent psy increase with the understanding that the difference would be offset by increasing clans size, whichi -The teachers got their increase but now their tighting against * the govemment dictating clans sizes. That's somewhat hypocriti- cal," he said. Quoting a Statistica Canada report that described average Ontario high school students as borderline illiterates compared to other provinces, Mr. Deoni blasted teachers for singing the prais- es of their education systemn. "Prior govemrments have spent top dollars on education and oui kids are illiterate. (Mike) Harrs and (John) Snobelen are taking a 25 different avenue and moving in the right direction." ~IU ' iOn the eve of his fourth terru as local trustee, Mr. Deoni issit about to sing bis own praises. In fact, if you ask himi what his past Oflm E successes an the job have been, belIl answer with an adamant "nothing Sm "It would be facetious to say t did this or t did that. Sure I've mAIon pushed for renovatians at Holy Rosary and other schools, but se SET $49O have others and it's the entire huard that appraves or rejecis, 79 DUBLE 359SET 569pln. T519 1 UEEN ....429 SET 659 5SET97 Fun for the kids during child week The Week of the Child will be ,elebrated locally througb a van *ety of famiiy activities starting Monday Oc. 20. The special week October 18 ta 25 will be ieatured with 'Story- Telling Made Easy' at CHERISH Family Resource Centre tram 7 ta 9 pin. Cali 875-INFO ta register. The Milton Children and Youth Centre will tocus on the theme 'I am Speciai'. Cali 876-1244 for information. * The week will wrap up Saturday, Oct. 25 at Milton Mail w ti performances by the Milton Chîidren's Chorus at Il asnd 11:30 n.-Wd. 1.Op.. ~arn ,s.-Fd. 104 p* - The mail event wiii aiso leature crafts, children's art and coin- Wday 9 p.nLmunity group dispiays, colouring contents and prizes. i., ~ uSig * October 18 ta 25 was proclaimed the Week of the ChilId by illc 9 Association ai' Eariy Childhood Educators of Ontaria's (AECEO) * Flalton branch and the Town of Milton. 'MTe celebration originated foliowing the Intemnational Ycar ci1 the Child, proclaimed by the United Nations in 1979. * e * *The AECEO designed the week as a time for communities e T focus on the needs, rights adinterents of children, and ta height- en public awareness of the value of qualîty early childhood cdu j cation...................