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What's in store for Mfilton's downtown core Province-wide testmng begs questions Voted #1 ~fr Cîtabir C~imp for Besi Breakfdst 40 Chishom Dr. 878-841 A Metroland Commnunity Newspaper Vol. 141 No. 80 Tuesday, December 19, 2000 40 Pages $1 .00 (GST included) Photo by GRAHAM PAINE vHere cornes Santa Clauis Snow flurries and smiiing faces show Old Saint Nlck la on the way at Campbeiiviiie's annu- ai Santa Ciaus parade. Bundied Up crowds Iined the main etreet to take In Sunday's avant. Se. more photos on page 14. Suspect charged in stabbing A bsil hearing is expected to be held today as the Steeles Avenue courthouse for John Wray, 20, of Wilson Drive on charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault. Mr. Wray remained in custody as Maplehurst Detention Centre over the past week, afler tuming himself in to police in connection with a stabbing outside an Oakville bar. According to Halton Regional Police Det. Rod Wilson, witnesses report that the stabbing victims were inside their vehicle, along with their girlfriends, when a man started swinging at them with a baseball bat, at 2:45 a.m. November 29. The two men got out of the car and chased 'the man, who was accompanied by a group of men. A brawl ensued, and a knife was pulled. One victim received cuts to his face and head, whîle the other was stabbed in the liver. Both have since been released fromt hospital. Teachers stage job action in ongoing contract dispute By IRENE GENTLE The Champion After two weeks of intensive contract negotiations broke off, Halton public secondary school teachers launched legal job action Friday. Bargaining is set to resumne Thursday, with compensation being fingered as the main issue, said Halton District School Board Director of Education Dusty Papke. The time away front bargaining will be spent oesearching tabled proposais. "I'm very hopeful we'll reach an agree- ment," said Mr. Papke. "I think the negoti- ations; are progoessing." Schools wîll remain open despite the job action by Ontario Secondary School Teacher's Federation District 20, and teachers will continue to instruct ail assigned classes. But they won't attend board or school committees or fi11 in for absent colleagues. "We'll be stopping coverages for staff that are away and there will be no hall and lunchroom monitoring," said teachers' union leader L.any Chud of the campaign which has been dubbed 'Let Teachers Teach'. But how teachers tackle the issue of extracumrculars will be up to each individ- ual. "There are no plans to escaîste job actions," he said. At its worst, the job action could lead to classes being lefi unattended in the event a severe supply teacher shortage short-cir- cuits attempts to bring in replacements, ssid Mr. Papke. "But we're hopeful that won't be the case," he said. "I think everyone will be working bard to have that not happen." He said safety is the board's main prior- ity, and schools will be carefully moni- tored to ensure students are adequately supervised. At the heart. of the negotiations is the teacher's union's desire for a significant raise and the board' s inability to supply it under the current funding formula, said Mr. Papke. He described the negotiations as tense but amicable, and said the two sides are looking at creative ways to reach an agreement. -We're going back Thursday with the intent of reaching a deal and 1 think shey are, too," said Mr. Papke. That was echoed by Mr. Chud. "People on both aides stili want a deal," he said. If a settiement hasn't been reached before the end of the week, negotiations wilI Iikely resume in the new year. The talks affect 1,000 teachers and 16 secondary schools across Halton. Comment......... 6 Datolns ........ 15 Classified... 25-27 IMmmL à?%AI