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Decis ion time for schools: Gardiner, Bv DENNIS SMfTH Special ta The Champion Halton's public school chair agrees with a provincial report urging the board to resolve its 'school accommodation situation. "As long as there is excess student space, there will be ho funding for new schools," said Ethel Gin ei.i araso Gin eii r.a of Halton has been extensive and we Ethel Gardiner need to make tough decisions on accommodation issues." An Education Improvement Commission oeview bsas; urged the Halton District School Board to move quickly ta address the student accommodation issue. The board's schools have about 5,000 excess student spaces, which must be eliminated before receiving funding for new facilities. After months of meetings and debate, motions to close three elemen- taoy achools were defeated last April on a tie vote. 'Mme Halton board faces a major chal- lenge in ternis of student accommoda- tion," said Ann Vanstone, chair of the ETC review team. "'Ne feel this issue is almost paralysing the board sud its community sud is poeventing the board from moving forward in many aras of its operations." Ms Gardiner said accommodation has been an ongoing issue for the board, which has considered closing sehools twice during die has few yenrs. The board's policy for considering sehool accommodation issues has been frozen until next lune. However, su interim policy was ta bie proposed fôr theOctober 6 board meeting. Bu rlington trustee Davidi Abbott made tie recommendation in an effort ta close Fairfield Public School in Aldershot by next June. He said maintaining good programming la difficuit ait ie school, because it lus 68 students spread over Grades 1 ta 5, wïth two grades sharing each c1masn Fairfield supporters have maintained the closure threats have huit the achool, sud its enrolment will increase when new housing developments in the area comes- on stream. Aldxough it urged the board to get mov- ing on its accommodation situation, the review commission praised it for making good progress in restructuring its orgsui- zation. *Mhe students we met with were proud of their board and they felt ittie impact in the classroom from the restructuring process, ' said Ms Vsustone. Other ETC recommendations for the board include: a Trustees should move toward a new role emphasizing policy govemsunce. * Explore cost savings for new facilities. * Consider having su integrated trsus- portation departmnent with the Halton Catholie District School Board. - Involve ail groups in board planning and decisiofrnulmlg processes. M s RANID on page la Ffaroe 1 FMMu » moda H Mnd IM SdM SE Eng-n 2.OL SPIt SOHO 1-4 1.6L SOHO 1-4 E HOrSepfflar 110 106 Torque (IL ft.) 125 103 Autontatic Transmissonl IndudKed Indluded Air ConditOing .Standard Standard * Remote Keyleffl Entry Standard Standard Power Door LoCkS Standard Standard 60/40 Split Folding Rear Seata Standard Standard Daah Mounted Tmun( Release Standard Not Avaiable * Drivera Seat Height Adjust Standard Not Avaiable Anti-Theft Engine Immobilizer Standard Not Available Stainiesa Steel Exhauat Standard Nat Available E AcUustable Steering Column Optional Standard Cargo Volume MLt 365 338 Legroom (front/rear-mm) 1095/955 1085/865 This chat le at>y a sample of the teatures available for eactr vehhte. Pleane aee respectave manufactureras brochure for a complet e Natof featurea. ~229Lpe 36 month lease rot $2,195 down paymeflt plus $700 freight and $275 securfty deposit 20009 focun se dean paysan or seccaity freelt ou o maathy paymttot equraost traS deoesit an sgteta $229 $2,195 *275 *700 "3»0 $266 $995 $325 $700 $2,286 à $297 $0 $350 $700 $1,347 -O ..Z NI 1 AaZ. Im mas FORD a D IAIT.s nuoaoicei aa a.olgt $1,4391$10,5711$10.692. Dealer m«a teae for oass. tomne conditions appty. Offers may change seithoat notice. Limitori time effets. Sme dealer for detaits. Thse sesen organizing publicatios of thse Eurapoan 'Car af the Vear 1999 award are: ai biligero. am,. autocar, l'automobile magazine. autopista. stern. autavisie. tRear seat up; te lamer windase. Camparisan baseti ona 2000 Honda Chmc SE _MW Ji17,900, including autamatic transmission) using manufacturer publistadifrain(rcue.OtraFA.P.Ba20.Dbte nas O 0 mnorý the new fordfocus se sedan European Car Of The Year -1999 t the standards have just been raised