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NEWS SPORTS ARTS &%0 ENTERTAINMENT~- on Fourth Line for CPGA champîonship in perfect harmony Page 4 Pâge »Pge1 PIIARMACY ~do' naedent Pharmac 0 10% Sud=s Dc=Ën e AIDan Pâm Accepted IUnDmg kto.Avahb. 170 min St. E. 875-2424 47afFW2 A MTRLAO OMUNTYNESPPE VL 45NO34 FRIDAY JULY 9, 2004 $1..0000(GST nincluded 6r PAGES "USing Communication to Build Better Conununities" 71 r 7<. School closure decision postponed By JASON MISNER Special ta The Champion Ontarios education minister has post- poned any decision the public sehool board was to make on sehool closures in Milton and south Halton. As a result parents, Halton District School Board trustees and bureaucrats are crossing their fingers such drastic action wili neyer have Io be taken. Education Director Dusty Papke announced at a special school board meeting last week that a deadhine of December 3 1, by which the board %vas to have suhmitted recommended schools for dlo- sure and/or consolidation, bas been deiayed - likely until next spring. Mr. Papke sent a letter to Education Minister Gerard Kennedy June 7 for an extension. No set timeline was given by Mr. Kennedy to submit sehools for ciosure. The board would have had 10 startlite process 10 r'eviess 'clsures and consolidation areas in eariy January. At the special meeting. trustees were to have voted on a process to begin studying school lo- sures and consolidation review areas. Mr. Papke said it wasnt until around 6 p.m. that day word finally came from the ministry that the December deadjîne would bc extcnded. "This is a good niove at this point." Mr. Papke told trustees. On the ist of potential closure/consolidation dis- cussion is Martin Street School. The board decided iast fal bte delay the issues of closures and consolidation aller the Liberal gov- emment took power. At thaitime the board cited election promises made by Ontarios new goveru- ment to revîse the education funding formula as the rationale to hait ciosure/consolidation studies invoiving 13 ciementary sehools. The dilemma tor some of Ontarios public ami Catholic schooi boards since the funding formula svas introduced int1996 is that ail surplus pupil capactty bas to bc eliîminated in older communities in order 10 qualiiy for provincial funds 10 buiid new scboois in growing areas. Also, the delay allo\Ns boards the opponiuniîy 10 irinpiemenî the Liberals promise to cap classes ai 201 stu(ients in the primary grades. mcaning more space and teachers will be needed for the extra classes created. This means sebools that are cur- renîly undcnîiiiLed may need their open space in the near future. Mr. Papke said the Province's commitment Io review education funding will likely be the key in ultiniately detennining future school closures/con- esee DELAY on page 15 1f Crin and bear it Surroundsd by hun- dreds of donated stuffedi toys, Kati. Boyle of milton acde ber donation to the àr" growlng mnd Wy..- terday momlng at Milton Mail. It was part of theê shopping centre'a annual col- lection for Good Bears of the World Canada, whlch dis- tilbutes teddy beers to comfort chlldren &round the world. The drive ends Sunday. Phoo y SGRAHAM PAINE *-idie Comment.. -........5-7 Dateline .......20-21 Real Estate ........ 21 Classified ......29-32 FRIDAY, JULY 9. * o b* u S« * Nm * 'SELECTED AREAS ONLY www.miltontoyota*o Al CLASSIC j Wàr- :*"**, lu