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The Canadian Champion, Friday, May 10, 2002-27 Board superintendent will meet with groups tram SCHOOL on page 4 board dOfice[il Bus lîngion. The board funding of the Drug Awareness Resistance Education (DARE) prograrn îhat's in jeopardy arnounted to $80,000 this year. The board has had an ongoing relation- ship with the Halton Regional Police Service, which implements DARE by having officers go int elementary class- rooms and giving anti-drug and peer pressure talks to grade 6 students. Celebrating Literacy and Food For Thought was a two-year commitment from the board that saw il give $90000 this year to the Halton Social Planning Council to help it administer reading and snack and breakfast programs. The idea of losing the three programs doesn't sit well with some trustees. "I'm quite concerned we may be com- promising (disadvantaged) kids' futures (and learning ability) by nos ensuring their stomachs are full," said Burlington Trustee Peggy Russell. She also noted ber grown son took the DARE program and believes he benefited from it. Despite the doorn and gloorn nature of rnuch of the talk around the conference room during the budget presentation, Education Director Dusty Papke remind- ed people nos to draw definitive conclu- sions. "It does nos mean we won't have food programns in our sehools," he said. "It was nos an easy decision (but) our backs are againt the wall." Milton Trustee Erica Andrew said, "l'rn confident the programs will continue." Board Superintendent of Education Gary Sadler said Halton police and the Thought will carry on in the schools in for the school-based prograrns that don't 10101 îîîd about a moniî a,,1 01 . igu e Cpro- posed budget cuts affecting their pro- grams. Mr. Sadler said there's stili tome hope, and even some expectation, that DARE, Celebrating Literacy and Food For O ÏC o~iHLduai sciioi commuue~s have the support of local sponsors like grocery stores and companies that give (money or) services in kind," he noted. Mr. Sadler said board staff have tnied to corne up with altemate forms of funding He said he will meet soon with the DARE reps and the Halton Social Planning Council. "That's why we wilI have meetings with these groups, to see what ideas we cao corne up with." [ 2 'Y . Wrat 1 ATYEFSM ODL..EX4YI OE SABRE SoId exclusively by your John Deere Dealer 143OGS Sabre@ Lawn Tractor 1.5hp engne *tsînch mowing deck *5-speed shift-on-the-go tansmsion ONLY $1,949* or $5419 a month wwwJohnOeere.com 1438HS Sabre@ Lawn Tractor - 14.5-hp engins *3-inchmoee.ngdeck - Hydrostatic transmission ONLY $2,299* or $6363 a montlî M ILON HALTON TURF & TRACTOR 1589 STEELES AVENUE a 905-878-8121 G ot a hot scoop? Please ujs wth your story ideas. [ 30-Yr. Warranty 1 r-1 5-Yr. warranty 1 [ 30-Yr. Warranty ] No Payments, No Interest For 90 Days