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Cana atan Campo ILI A Metroland Community Newspaper Vol. 138 No. 71 Tuesday, October 28, 1997 40 Pages 750 (GST included) Plcketlng oulside North Halton MPP Ted Chudleigh's office was a favourile spot for teachers on the tirai day of the sirike Monday. Sea tiory ai rIghl.j ~sNUrPSsry "el Iuiirhlssr A local nursery sohool aima 10 raise money for special projecîs, ouiings and children's equipment on Salurday, Nov. 8. The Milton Communiiy Nursery Sohool wiIl hosi the Christmas Bazaar ai St. Paul's Workng Hrde United Church, 123 Main St. E., from 9 ar. tostay#1 lop.m. Te sale wiIl fealure children's enleriainer Deborah Dunleavy as well as a raffle, suc- lion, draw, craft and bake sale, fish pond, lea room and privale vendors. No talk, the teachers walk By KAREN SMITH The Champion Milton classrooms were empty Monday morning after teachers across the province made good on their threat to walk out over Bill 160. The town's Il public schools - except E.C. Drury High School - remained open, but the separate school board closed ail of ils schools, including Milton's three elementary and one high school. Classes were out for more than 43,000 Halton stu- dents as members of Halton teachers' federations set up picket lines, quietly detaining anyone trying 10 enter facilities. Few Milton students attended school, said the Halton Board of Education's Director of Education Dusty Papke. "It's (the strike) a tragedy," he said. 1I teared it would happen, but I hoped il wouldn't. It could last a while. We'll have to see what transpires." Public school principals and vice-principals crossed picket lines even though they have uniformly expressed support for the teachers. Principals and vice-principals felt it was their best choice due to their responsibility under the Education Act 10 ensure the safety of students, said Bryn Davies, president of the Halton Secondary Principals' Association. "It's very clear. It's our job," he said. "There are di f- ferent ways 10 express support." The school heads were also afraid of personal liabil- ity in case of an accident under their supervision and were threatened with disciplinary action by the board if they joined the strike, Mr. Davies said. The Halton Board of Education decided it had an obligation under the Education Act to keep sehools open 10 students and statf, and would only close if unsafe conditions developed. Mr. Papke said the board shut down E.C. Drury High School shortly after il opened Monday due 10 the size of the campus. "We couldn'l keep it a secure building. Il's 100 spread out." i I Teachera ai Bishop Redlng Secondary School braved the cold for a cause lhey believe is worih il. At press lime, public schools were 10 close down for the day at 4 p.m., Mr. Papke said. Unlike at separate schools, where they were 10 open at night for groups like Brownies, the public board ordered thal ail schools must close at 4 p.m. daily. Oulside the sehool, students broughl teachers baked god tteypcee in the coîd after taîks between Some options for theMik Harisgovernment and the Ontario d r Teachers' Fecleration broke down. f n i gc r the things that are the moat damaging," said Steve Gayfer, Halton vice-president of the Ontario Parents having trouble tinding someone 10 watc Secondary Sehool Teachers' Federation. the kids during the teachers' sîrike have some optione He maintained that Bill 160, the Education Quality The Town of Milton's leisure services department Improvement Act, would remove teachers' conîract referring callers 10 the Halton Child Care Registrj limita on clasa size and preparation lime and bring which provides inýformation on where daycare i about the hiring of unqualified people in areas such as available in the region. computera and science. The YMCA of Greater Toronto is another place t Teachers also slaged a proteat oulaide Halton North caîl, she said. The Town of Milton has also expande MPP Ted Chudleigh's office. Meanwhile, Mr. ils skating and awimming programa, said Jennift Chudleigh was meeting with representatives of the Reynolds, leisure services director, and made ils taci elementaty school teachers' tederations. ities available for rentaI by groups in need of space ft 1 told them I thought îhey had received poor infor- child care. mation (about Bill 160) from their unions. I don'l The child care registry can be reached by calling îhink îhey believed what I was saying. 800-665-0256, or caîl thé YMCA of Greater Toront Some teachera, custodial staff and secretaries report- aI 1-800-661-0242. For more information on Town edly crossed picket lines and were in the sehools. Milton programa, caîl 878-7211. h S. :0