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The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, September 29, 1998 -3 RC board head annoyed with both sides in dispute - trom BLASTING on page 1 Mr. Pece counters that the teachers have offcred four proposais to deai with seven of ight ciass tirne issues. Ail, he said, have been rejected by the board. The iatest proposai invoivcd a rotating timetabie, which wouid have seen teachers stili oniy teach three classes daiiy, but wouid accornrodate reduced instruction in ail four ot the students' scheduied class- es. Can't afford more teachers Mr. Pece said ail the union's proposais have satis- ied Bill 160's dernands for 1,250 minutes of instruc- tionai time rom teachers. But Mr. Sheriock said ail these proposais fail to take into account Bill 160's other stipulation of reduced average class sizes (a 22 pupil average). Mr. Sheriock said the oniy way to meet this require- ment and the extra class tirne stipulation without hir- ing more teachers, is by having teachers teach seven of eight classes. The board cannot afford to hire any additionai teachers, he said. Mr. Sherlock iears the dispute is threatening the school year. Cumulatively, students in Hatons five Catholic secondary schoois have lost approxirnately 47,097 hours in total instructionai time for credit courses that have flot been taught as a resuit of teachers' job sanc- tions. Mr. Pece contends the Halton board is jumping the gun in asking the province to intervene. "In my opin- ion going to the govemment and asking for back-to- work legisiation is irresponsibie on their part," said "Don't you think that our students have been r punished enough by 4your pathetic, poitical power struggle?" 1j - jm SHMRLOCK Mr. Pece. "In the past, back-to-work legisiation has flot corne about until five to six weeks into the dis- pute.", Questions for Mike Harris In a press release, Mr. Sherlock asked Premier Mike Harris the following questions: - The OECTA president is continuing to defy you, our school boards and Bill 160. When are you going to do something about the situation? - Mr. Harris, can you please explain why both presidents of secondary teachers' unions have the power flot only to disrupt the academic year, but also to cancel extra-curricular activities for every sec- ondary student in Ontario at their whim? - How can this impasse be solved at the bargaining table as long as a teachers' union is allowed to defy the Iaw? - Your ads, Mr. Harris, teil us what a wonderful year this wiii be for students in Ontario. WiiI you please inform our parents when this wonderfut year wiil start? Cross country season on hold Halton's publiceiementary schooi system has iost, for the time being, one of its most popuiar sports. The cross-country running season for eight to 13- year-oids, scheduied to begin September 29, has been postponed after a vast majority of schoois reported they would flot be sending a tearn. The person who first received the bad news, and who mnade the decision to postpone the season, was Sue Amos, instructionai leader of heaith and physicai education for the Halton District School Board. "The reports of 'no' were overwhelming," Ms Amos said of the response from schools. "In my 30 years, this has been neyer happened before. It's very disappointing. I could hear it in the teachers' voices that they are disappointed, too." The decision means nearly 4,000 youths, who account for neariy 5,800 running positions, won't be scurrying over grass and trails over the next two weeks. The September 29 cross-country meets for junior and senior runners in Burlington, the September 30 esee THREATENED on page 10 SARGENT FARMS RETAIL OUTLET Frr il 13-15 LB. AVG. r1EY y NLY CALL TODAY TO$ ODER VOUR FRESH THANKSGIVING AVAILABLE TiiURKEY OCT. 6.11,98 LB.IM BONELESS, SINLESS BREASTS 10 LB $329B 1lUITLB QUARTERS 1LB490B LIMITLB WHOLE FRYERS 313R B UEW ~~w. r««merv frIMto t IMSquanhit POUJA1Y e FÀ38SBUTER GARDEN z HOIJRS:E moey o 181 MILL ST., MILTON LN WeOdY 104 Corner of Mill St. and Garden Lane- Thur"" 97 at the entrance to Rotary Park MILL ST. 0-7 r~ Sn» 1"878-4401 MAIN ST kmýcD 1 L