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A Metroland Community Newspaper Vol. 143 No. 72 Friday, November 22, 2002 36 Pages ý-Percy W. Merry School to close BY TIM WHITNELL Special ta The Champion Martin Street School has been given a reprieve from closure but Percy W. Menry has been slated to close its doors, promptmng one local resident to threaten the Halton District Sehool Board with possible legal action. Milton resident David McCann said a two-page letter froni a lawyer was given to tbe board the moming of Wedncsday nigbt's meeting, wberc trustees voted 7-2 to close Percy Merry. 'Me junior kindergarten to grade 6 scbool on Britannia Road East is slated to close by June 2003. Mr. McCann told trustees be and otber parents believe the boards administration bas discriniinat- cd against rural students wbo attend the scbool and that tbere's a rural-urban student dicbotomy sup- ported by the board. "The Halton board bas intentionally taigeted Percy W. Merry and creatcd a low-enrolment sta- tus tbrougb discriniinatory and inconsistent poli- cies, bhe said. He cbaigcd that scbool/pupil boundaries for fortbcoming urban expansion lands baven't included Percy Merrys catcbment area. He deemed tbe boaid's actions prejudicial and sald tbey were done to ensure the eventual closure of Percy Merry. "The board sbould review its (closure) decision,' Mr. McCann said thne next day. I1 dont know if legal action will be launcbed. It bas to be rcviewed by tbe scbool council and parents at Percy Merry as to wbetber tbey want to proceed because of the expense." Mr. McCann said be was told by tbe Ontario Human Rigbts Commission that a judicial review of the boards decision would have to bc requested in an Ontario civil court. The Halton board had little to say at Wednesdays meeting about possible legal action against it, but wben Mr. McCann insisted that a planner employed by the board bad used the ternis urban and rural students in a report, facilities supermntendent Genry Cullen responded to the accusation. "Its not about cbangmng (school area) boundaries to reduce enrolment at a scbool.' He said planning is always done to acconimo- date future long-terni growth in any aiea. Education Director Dusty Papke said the board doesn't discniminate and that the boundary matter isn't an issue. 'It is not the Halton boards practice to designate students urban or rural. We could f611 up any school we want to if you want to move boundaries. At the end (of the shuffle) you'll still bave 20 cmpty e'se. MARTIN on page 22 $1.00 (GST included) Speciallzlflg Un insurance claims.e ME . ... êe . u~ rnHawlclns Animal Hospital Dir. Debbie Hawkins 530 Outalo SM. S., Uit 5A (Ocated lanaRtPaa Comment........ 6 NS Report .......8 A&E........... 12 Datelinfe....... 24 Sports ...... 25-26 a*Tm FI.U M MM Tm &Cu la iNb *Fend sIns'* 8mb C"audm onaon uaqe *Caa inm* UNFdk * Atan Cordon Ma«o' " Hyundla Gcira s' Z* Regfnml ' * 0BOun. " Bell Synipaticoe Ramai Mon Spuingi'Sr* Uai Future Sirop'*0 Radin Siaci' *Selecled armas anly 1