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16 - The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, July 6, 1999 Tool for talking • from REPORT on page 4 The HSPC report is more of a snapshot than a detailed fact sheet, he said. The idea is to track the trends in the community so that signifi- cant issues can be identified and tackled. "One of the main purposes is to monitor change," he said. "I see it as a tool for community dialogue." The report marks the second time the HSPC has used the indi- cators to measure Halton's quality of life. Kids will be 'grandfathered' There should be some happy parents and school children in Halton. Trustees with the Halton District School Board passed a resolution at a recent board meeting allowing for the 'grandfathering' (exempting) of younger siblings in relation to optional attendance. A brother or sister born on or before December 31, 1998 can now or eventually attend the same school that their older siblings currently attend through optional attendance. Optional attendance is a practice which refers to stu- dents choosing to attend schools outside their home area. As well, the board agreed to let younger siblings attend kindergarten at a school under optional attendance if the stu- dent intends to enrol in the French Immersion program there starting in grade I and an older sibling is already at the same school for French Immersion. Gary Sadler, the board staff member who investigated the possible impact of grandfather- ing younger siblings, told trustees there are a number of siblings in line for optional attendance and administration needed a decision by for staffing purposes. Mr. Sadler also told the board his findings showed, in the large majority of cases, the impact of grandfathering appears to be minimal for the 1999-2000 school year. "It needs to be noted, howev- er, there will be some ongoing compounding effects (over sev- eral years) ... that may, some- time in the future, cause the use of additional portables," he said in his report. Burlington Trustee Sheila Flook had forwarded the motion asking for the grandfa- thering of siblings. This came after it appeared likely optional attendance would be closed at many Halton schools in response to board directives aimed at limit- ing the use of portable class- rooms. At a previous board meeting, Ms Flook had told trustees, "My phone has been ringing off the hook about this." Ms Flook noted parents and school councils were not warned about optional atten- dance changes because they are currently administrative proce- dures.