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14 - The Canadian Champion. Fniday February 26, 1999 Board to probe another Money matters option in closing debate at local council JAMAIC LOME YOU TOURiSMTOJAMAICAgotaboost recently when thse JAMAICAN GOVERNMENT made a major decision to send troops to tourist resorts - a big step to eliminating crime and thse harassment of visitors. A $1 billion dollar industry for them -a 3% increase in '97 (1.5 million tourists!) - it's tinie they took control of this problem, which we witnessed again on a recent trip tIsere ..CANADIANS TRAVEL CANADA MORE - Canadians are travelling within our own country. There were 58.5 million trips of one or more nights in Canada during the first nine months of 1998, a 13.8% increase over the saine period in 1997... MORE ELECTRONIC TICKETING - AIR CANADA bas launched electronic ticketing on its flights to Bermuda, adding to its e-ticket service to virtually ail of North America and London Heathrow. (For the uninitiated, this means 'ticketless travel' - wben you make your booking AT YOUR TRAVELAGENCY, ail you will need to know wben you arrive at thse airpoit is your namne and fligbt number, to receive a boarding pass for your fligbt!).. WINDSTAR CRUISES bas thse former CLUB MED 1, a 5-miasted sail cruise ship, renamied thse WIND SURF, added to their fleet of sailing vessels - thse WIND STAR, WIND SPIRIT and WIND SONG - any of thse four are a 'MUST-DO' for s real sailing/cruise adventure! Thse original tbree are only 440 feet long, wbile thse newest is tbree times that size. WIND SURF camres anme 312 passengers, and will ply thse waters of the MEDrIERRANEAN this summer. Thse smaller and therefore more intimate ships carry 144 passengers. (StilI one of our favourite memiories - a 10 day New Year's sail on thse Windstar out of Barbados!) ... HOLLAND AMERICA LUNES bas secured 23 additional peak-season permits to enter ALASKA'S GLACIER BAY - a treat, ask anyone who's been there ... A CRUISE ON THE MED THIS SUMMAER, OR TO ALASKA -?? TRAVEL TIP OF THE WEEK: Don't be embarrassed by baving ton large a carry-on for your flight, and having to check it at the last minute at the plane entrance because it just won't fit - plan accordingly - we witnessed quite a 'debate' over Ibis once more on a fligbt recentiy! 16, *4 7&0. ~ iravel 878-2886 16 Martin St. (4o wntown) "aol tili111, OakvNe MW Clarrion www.brucehood.com By DENNIS SMITH Special to The Champion After months of looking at scbonl dlo- sures, the Halton District ScIsonI Board will now consider tIse flip side of tise coin. Recently thse board called for a detiled staff report outlining the positive and nega- tive effecta of not closing schools at tIse current time. The board sought tIse report after also approvîng a recommendation package to continue tIse school closure review process. In suggesting tIse 'no close' report, Burlington Trustee Sheila Flonk indicated staff have just been following orders an far by recommending sehool closures. "They Isaven't been asked to cover the effecta of not closing schools;, tIsere are two aides to this," she said. "Personally, 1 don't see how anyone can vote to close schonîs without considering this motion." The recommendation, whicb was passed unanimously, calîs for a report by Masth 3. However, education director Dusty Papke said it could be flnished earlier. The latest suggested deadlines for dlo- sure decisions are April for elementary schools and December for secondary schools. TIse board is considering closures because il must eliminate excess capacity to start receiving provincial funding for new schonls. Surpluses are estimated at 1,800 pupil places in elementary and 3,200 in secondary scbonîs. Oakville Trustee Lynn Roberts urged removing a minimum 3,200 space reduc- tion target suggested for the new sec- ondary schonl accommodation subcom- mittee. "I'm concernied witb these minimum expectations for this committee," she said. Burfington Tnustee Michael Ellis agreed. "A number of trustees still believe we don't have to close scbonîs. There are still altemnatives out there." But others said the 3,200 spaces must be reduced to gain funding for badly-needed new schonls. "We have a major problem at the secondasy level, we have to get to that figure," said Burlington Trustee David Bird. "How we do it depends on how cre- ative we can be." Trustees narrowly approved having the sub-committee consider a minimum reduc- tion of 3,200 spaces, with recommenda- tions due by November. The sub-committee will consist of trustees, staff and representatives of both school and student councils. They will look ait possible secondary schonl closures in southern portions of Burlington and Oakville. The board also approved the following schonl accommodation recommendations: * Establishment of an accommodation management committee, comprised of al trustees and senior administration; * Referral of a recent staff report to the accommodation management committee for discussion and recommendations. The report suggested closing thiree ele- mentary schools - Champlain and Fairfield in Burlington and Oakwood in Oakville. u~L Corne & elebrate our GRAND OPENING Music LessonsSPCL Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Drums... FREE SIGN Up FOR 8 LESSONS AND- ONLY PAY FOR 6! LESSONS CO*cic OUT OUR SmEC77ON OF MUSICAL INSTRUMWENS & AESORIES Dean Markley. Emie Bai, Fender, Jasmine, Hohner, Casio, Zîldjian, Rlemo, Sieko, Jim Dunlop, Takamine, and many more. 164 Man St.Mon. - Thurs. 4:00 pmn- 9:00 Pmn 164 ainSt.Fr. -4:00 pm.- 8:00 pm (905),876-2219 Sat. 9:30 arn - 3:00 pm 111-Horsedrawn wagon rides, pancake house, gift store, candy shanty, syrup trail, maple sugar demnonstrations, costumned interpreters and tours of the turn-of-the-century farmhouse. During the week, education programrs are available. Please cali to reserve a program. Located between Oakville and Burlington, m 24<.fvye(tJ m vpo vfIOA(VXl I>PQ 'Q e from PAY on page 1 tbe committee is?" hie asked. "Maybe we should also distance ourselves from the selection process." Mr. Malboeuf, wbo is not a member of the administration coin- mittee and therefore unable to vote at that level, suggested that the oesponsibility be passed to Milton's new Chief Administrative Officer, Mario Belvedere. The suggestion was turned into an officiai amendment by Councillor Ron Furik, who in the end was the only one to vote in its favour. Hunter supports it Despite this, the motion received some support (rom committee Chair Wally Hunter. "My sentiment is we should try to keep politics out of it as much as possible," hie said. "There's certainly some validity to the motion." Appomnting the members of a committee is not tantamount to political influence, argued Councillor John Challinor, who had originaliy raised the issue of the stipend review ait a recent coun- cil meeting. The review was triggered by a potential move from the province to strip local counicillors of the right to one third of their pay tax free. "The beginning and end of council's involvement would be the selection process," said Mr. Challinor. "I don't think you'l see any political interference." To say that politics neyer intrudes in committee selections would be naive, countered Mr. Malboeuf. 1I can see politics playing gaines," hie said. 'This is a politically touchy thing. Let's keep away (rom it." Unfair, says Penman Seeing a new CAO tackle thse politically sticky subject would be juat as hard for people to swallow, said Mayor Gord Krantz. "The perception would be juat as badl with somebody new hav- ing to select thse committee," hie said. Asking tise CAO to navigate that particular political minefleld is juat unfair, agoeed Councillor Bian Penman. "I think if this motion is defeated, (Mr. Belvedere) will heave a sigh of relief," hie said. "I vote to get him off thse hook." Councillor Barry Lee came out firmly against changing thse sua- tus quo when it comes to committee appointments. "We have a process in place. I'm not in favour of passing the buck and handing it over to staff," hie said. 'To take it any further is ridiculous." TIse issue will go before council for final approval. Starting a Smali Business? Attend the Entrepreneur Workshops HoSted by thie Hlton Business Development Centre March 8 What's an entrepreneur & Small Business Panel? $25.00 March 10 Plan your way to, profits $35.00 March 29 Market your way to sales $ 35.00 March 31 Taxtfips $35.00 Time: 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Location: Halton Regional Centre 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville Registration fee: $125 for ail 4 Sessions To register: Cali 905-825-6300 Acton 519-853-0501 * I Georgetown 905-878-8113 aaWcmAldershot 905-639-4540) ww.Wobsfl.o Streetsville 905-823-6720