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IFoxr2,19 ~O ire was not a big issue, says retiring trustee By BRAD REAUME The Champion School board divisions and school clo- sures dominated Tim Kingsbury's term as Halton Board of Education trustee. He is quitting school politics, to be- replaced by Frics Andrew, who will be Milton's only representative on the scaled- back Halton board. The controversy surrounding teaching the novel Foxfire at Milton District High School would flot rank among the 50 most important things that occurred during his tenure with the school board, lie said. "Mhe lime spent by the board on Foxtire was minimal," he explained. "However, with Foxfire, the system did work. Now, if a parent disagrees with an appmoved book for whatever reason there will be alterna- The rural Milton trustee said there is a certain joy in taking a position 10 the board with which he totally disagrees, to insure the minority opinion is heard. He explained that wildly differing views provide a point of reference for any discus- sion. "The Frank (3ue's of the world give you an opposing view which you can then deal with," he said, in reference 10 the outspo- ken president of the Taxpayer's Coalition, Burlington. Mr. Gue is a longtirne board watchdog. A member of bis organization filed suit againat several trustees for conflict of interest. The suit was later dropped. Perhaps the most hours he expended were on the achool closure issue. Several schools were slated 10 be closed for a vari- ety of reasons, including low enrolments and poor building conditions. Percy Merry School in rural Milton was one, but determined work of a parents' committee convinced board members 10 change their minds. Mr. Kingsbury remains proud of bis efforts 10 help create a procesa to evaluate the viability of schools. He says il is in use throughout the province. "Percy Merry was a classic marginal case," said Mr. Kingsbury. "At the end of the day the people there form a better comn- munity for what they went tbrougli." Mr. Kingsbury pointed 10 finance meet- ings with constituents as turning points in board policies. He said a particular meeting in Brookville may have generated ideas that saved the board $500,000. One ides alonte on computer maintenance cut board costs by $65,000. 'The ideas don't cost you anything," lie said. 111I take 10,000 ideas that can al gave even $500." He considered running for another termn 4-&e"erv e4ic1qq-ý De« 44 LcOa Iooý% Pi're~ ff, UMA IflLffi (WÇTUIÇI as a trustc. However, lic explaincd the changes to trustee duties contained in recent legialation drained away his intereat. He said changes would tum the trustee's job into that of a complaint taker. Given also that lie would be responsible for some 80 schools, lie did flot feel he could contin- ue with the samne level of commitment that he had pmovided in the past. 'It's been a wonderful experience," lie said. "I leamed a number of skiIls." He will continue in his role until December 31, when newly elected school board trustees are slated to begin their new tefin. The biggest problem with the Halton public board was its divided nature. Mr. Kingsbury said their was a definite 10-8 split on most important issues. He noted escli faction wanted to achieve the samne ends, however the amaller one was perhaps more radical in its approach. "Mhe biggest failing of any organization is when its members fail to liccome part of -a teant..We were one of the most divisive boards in Ontario."_ However, lie admitted having diverse opinions often creates the best policy. Mr. Kingsbury was chair of the finance commiîtee. He said if government mandat- ed programa instituted since 1985 were removed from the education mix, taxes would have been reduced 14 per cent from that time, rather than increased more than 100 per cent. * 0e KINGSBU RY on page 18 "The time spent by the board on Foxfire - ,was ndIma* However, ith- Foxfire, the system did work."1 ......... . ....... 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