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-Trustees take dloser look at $409 million school plan The Cantadian ChIamrpion. Tueaday, April 11, 2M0- We'd love ta hear your stop,' ideas, We rely on the çommunily to help us By DENNIS SMITH Special to The Champion Trustees did somne soul search- ing about public school accom-m modation Wednesday and quietly agreed something must be done. Halton District School Board members were cxamining the reasoning bebinti ihe C.N. Watson $409 million capital stratcglc plan ait this wcck's meeting. A consultant's representative recapped the baaia for the plan'a proposais, which include building 41 new schools and clos- ing 15 others over 20 years. Trustecs will conaider approving the plan Apsil 19 and were aaked Wednesday to outline goals for achool accommodation. 'Let's try andi deternaine what our mia- sion is andi have a unique statement of pur- pose," said Education Director Dusty Papke. "The plan has achieveti its four objectives but, in the final form, the plan may not be what we want." Trustees came up with aeveral cooe val- ues they don't want compromiàsed. Thbis lis included providing quality pro- grains, student safety, building schoola in eAch ccsmmunitv whr tdnaand nnnui- lation warrant obtaining community input and propcrly maintaining buildings. Secondary values were alan estsblishcd, which mean desired situations that cannot be achieveti cvery time. Somte of these included providing trans- portation within the funding envelope, minintizing construction, minimizing use of portables, having sufficient administra- tion and staff for ail achools and equitable accesÏto programa. Mhe board is considering Uic capital plan to accommodate growth in north Burlington and Oakvillc, plus Milton and Halton Hfis. However, it muast elimainate an accommodation surplus of approxi- mately 4,200 spacea to trigger Provincial fuindincr for ne'» %ehnla. "ýCan wc do nothing in the given situa- tion? la the status quo acceptable?" Mr. Papke aaked. "The statua quo would mean waiting until enrolîment growth eliminates thc surplus." There was consensus among thc seven trustees present that sometbing had to bc donc about school accommodation. Truatees alan agreed to examine several inidividual situations. Most will be dis- cusseti at thc boani's next meeting slatcd for tomonvow at 7 p.m. ast M.M. Robinson High School in Burlington. Trustees wondcred about the impact of 850 spaces being removcd recently fromt thc board's accommodation surplus. Education Miniatry officiais removed (de-rated) E.C. Drury's 759 pupil places because it leases space. A few clcmentary classrooma were alan rcmoved. Changes could bring cash flow and Provincial grants to Uic board carlier, but Mr. Papke said an analysis would have to be made to determine Uic exact impact. Oakville truaste Debbie Marklew wasn't pleaaed some communities have achools and others don't. "Every community deserves a school. Every ares of growth has become a commussity." 3% CashBack. That's what w'e givre you* when you givre us your mortgage business.* Clear. And to the point. Thac's theU message behind our 3% CashBack Mortgage. Oct a new 5-ycarU residential mortgage with a competitive interest rate from either TD Bank or Canada Trust. VISIT A TD BANI< BRANCH( www.tdbank.ca lm BANK *Same conitions; çplyr AsIs for dutails. Offar *Then we'l1 give you an amount equal to 3% of your mortgage principal, in cash, up front. On a$150,000 morogage, thats $4,500 wU useC ILwever you wIILU 150ocm wide, potyaata'Macoa blende. Sobre Stock of Special Selaction there's no upper limit. Our Reg. 12.98 m N@W 44 m Includea packaged and by the m 50cmn wide. casag SpeRa CANADAon TRUS 30% OF u RAIurRg 59 )RM CH1161CK11 111111111UTp"Slcinl SeilS ýo wwwude Ignlotro, PcominlPits IRD A INsuo" ALO MlC nda rs '. Ou e.1.82.8m OrRg0.0-.035-.0m 10m-2qi .asw haW ehana or» wihdaw aI arts lim useos Pïa Ou Main St.8 RESRV eO 5 IA E 1 i 11 9 e2 To e19 1