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The Canadian Champion Fndsy Februaty il 2000 - il Things looking up for public sehool board ~ Giant surplus means more books, staff By DENNIS SMITH Special to The Champion Classroom supplies and staff budgets wilI get a big lift at the Halton District School Board thanks to a healthy financial out- Iook. Last week, the board unanimously approved targeting reserves plus $4.3 mil- lion in surplus to several areas. "I think that's good news for our clsss- rooms and our syatem," said chair Ethel Gardiner following the vote. The surplus and reserves will be spent on the following areas: * $127 million for classroom supply spending to be determined by individual achools; * $400.000 for instructional assistants; * Nearly $2.4 million from cwTent funda to psy off the addition for Abbey Lane Public School in Oakville; * The board's reserve for working funds will receive $142 million; * $500.000 will be spent on elemensaiy textbooks and learning maserials; * Another $200.000 will be earmarked for instrumental music equipinent. The board's business services superin- Consultant 's 20-year plan fuli of detail * from CONSULTANTS on pageS School to a grade 7 to 12 school. Maplehurat, currensly a grade 6 to 8 achool, would be converted to a kindergar- ent to grade 6 school. Demolish and reconssruct Lakeshore Public School. Convers Lord Elgin High School to a vocational and arts facility (2000). Build a secondary achool in northeast Burlingson's Orchard community (2007). * Construct Georgetown South S.S. on site H3 (2009). * Build a secondary school in Milton's urban expansion area (2007) and another in2Oll. * Build 33 new public elementar.y achools over two decades. Start construc- tion durtng the next five years on elemen- taiy achools in the Milton urban expansion aeea. Ma Gardiner said she was surprised at the capital plan's detail. "It's a total package and we have to con- aider il very seriously in lighs of our very serîous accommodation problema," she said. "A lot of this is catching up in terms of past decisions this board and previous boards have made." The board muat submit a long-terni plan to the Education Ministry by mid-Octobcr. Ms Gardiner said she believes the C.N. Watson plan would commit the board to action if approved. "I think we have to look as the whole plan in its totality and nos say We dont like this, SO wc'rc nos going to do is." she said. The chair, who represensa Halton Hilîs, admitted disappointruens soush Georgetown was nos a priority for new schools. "But iii every communisy shere are very serlous questions. We have to look as it overaîl and aay what's bess" tendent said savings b administration and transportation plus heas, lighs and power accounted for the extra funda from 1998- 99. "The surplus comes fmm underexpendi- sures in the non-classroom area," said superintendens Wayne McNally. He noted the board no longer sets milI rates to determine its budgets. so surpluses and deliejîs go toward the following year's budget. The superintendent said aurpluaea muas go inso reserve funda "if there's no place forissogo." The spending recommendasions were made once the board's audited financial statemensa for 1999 were completed, said Mr. McNally. Spending on Abbcy Lane was recom- mended to avoid requnring debentures for the achool addition, he said. Superintendent Kit Rankin was among shose pleased with the spending recom- mendasions. "I'm SO delighted tIse board acted on this prompsly. We're aiming to have science textbooks purchased and deliveoed so achools as soon as poasible." - -. .-~ .....~. ..............~..*..y ~y......*, ~ .re, uns. .iailuary ~uu1. WnOii OiiieO. any unpaid ponton OS your Sears secouni balance relit atirset erodît chargea, eommenctng (ho followtng montS. "Dont Puy' offer: Dont psy until February 2(101. Both oSerai On approved cred5, wtth your Sears Card. Minimum $200 purchase. $35 deterral tee asd ati applicable tases anti charges are payable ai lime oS purchase Exelude tomais aur Uqutdattonioutles stores and Catalogue purchases Otters enti Saturday, February 25, 2000. Ask for detatîs. Seara reg. 599.99. 28' Cord. 020600 060622 Sears reg. 699.99. Seara reg 49999 419.99 30999 Blaek aiea avallable baga or dischsrges installatuon kit. clippîngs. 036515. Automatic. esosas 075830 Seara reg. ~9*99 Seara reg. 319999 SearS reg. 1599.99. ~.90 .99.99 Please