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The Canadien Champion, Tuesday, June 12, 2001-7 Funding doesn 't cut it, say public sehool officiais By DENNIS SMITH Special to The Champion The budget dlock is ticking and some Halton District School Board officiais are alarmed at the provincial grant numbers theyre seeing. "They're robbing Peter to pay Paul," said Buriington trustee Debbie Downs. "A number of thingo that have been given are being taken back." The Province has increased the Halton board's funding by an estimated $4.8 million for the upcoming school year. But public achool officiais, who must linalize their budget by the end of June, say increases amount to $100 per pupil spread over several areas. "We wiil not be able to fulill our obligations to students," said Ms Downs. "We will not even have enough to psy for ail our needs." The trustee said it's unclear how much new provincial funding is coming in. Ms Downs noted a recent provincial subsidy to heip with rising fuel costs hasn't been included ina 2001-02 grants. Another concemn is high school curriculum funding. There will be $325,000 for the new grade Il timetable, haif of what was pro- vided earlier when new grade 9 and 10 courses were intmoduced. 'lheoe'll be no funding for textbooks when the new year is introduced," said Ms Downs. "It's a difficuit pili to swallow. There's no clear funding for them." The trustee said some grants weren't announced until mid-May, making it difficuit to obtain public input before the budget is approved. "That's a poetty fast tumaround." The board's business services superintendent Caria Kisko also expressed concern about provincial funding levels. "It's going to be awfully hard to set a budget with so much rid- ing on the $100 per pupil," Ms Kisko said. "It is difficuit to bal- ance a budget of that kind." She said additional pupil funding represents a 1.6 per cent hike, haif the increase of the Consumer Price Index. 0f the $360 million extra the Province is providing to schooi boards, $120 million will address enrolment growth, she noted. The superintendent was stili awaiting regulations for spending of increased funding on local programs like remedial help. Burlington MPP Cam Jackson noted the combined funding increase for Halton's public and Catholic boards is $ 12.3 million. "The govemment is keeping its promise to invest in quality edu- cation," he said. "Education continues to be a priority and weve increased funding yet again to help Halton ochools ensure our chul- dren receive the education they need to succeed." He noted the Province bas increased spending each year since introducing student-focused funding in 1998. Lat year, Haltons public school board received an extra $ 10.9 million, while the Cathoiic school board rcceived an additional $1 1.8 million. This years province-wide increase represents a 2.8 per cent hike over iast year's education spending, said Mr. Jackson. The MPP also cited $50 million announced recently for boards to address local priorities. He said this will provide greater flexi- bility and resources, providing students with better access to sup- port programo, such as remedial help. "We continue to move forward with improvements to the edu- cation system, including a rigorous curriculum, clear and under- standable report cards, standardized testing and an emphasis on performance-based accountabiiity." what do you expeot from your car this summer? 2001 Taurus SE Sedan Standard éatures Includo: a 3.OL Dl-I V6 Engine a Automoatic Power Ariustobte Pariais e Air Conditioning * Power Drivers » ~Seat W7th Lumbar Support e AMFM wittt CD Plyer.* ABS eDuo) Stage Front Air Bogo e Crash Severity Sentons 48 month purch040 fiflanciflO on ALL oew in-stock 2001 0 M 9Taurus SSedan. 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