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The Canadian Champion, Friday, February 25, 2005-3 School funding formula changes expected soon B3y JASON MISNER Special to The Champion The Halton District Schîsui Board is getting nesv money to lis schools. but staff* antd sonte tr ustees are stil au aitirng mtore iiilor niation about v. at îliey t'ee is tbe mnosi important detail -how mioney \i iii ibi to build mnuch needed schools. The Muîistry of Educatioti annouttced lasi îveek iunding ot $281) million toi school boards tîi leverage $4 billion in loans to repair. expaîtd aîtd build flt5 schools. The Halton public board bias been earmnarked $1.46 milliotn to help finance about $210 million ssorth of' work, said a gratef'ul Director of Education Dusty Papke. He added the boar-d îîeeds 10 fle a plan by October. îvbich will detail svhat schools -where somne maintenance work bas been deferred for years due 10 lack of funds -will get repaired and refurbished. While not identifying any specific schools that will get repair money, Mr. Papke said, "Older schools are likely 10 get most of the dollars." He noted Burlington's Central High School is 100 years old and Georgetown High Sehool is 115 years old. "They're the ones that are going 10 need the work." But the part of the announeement that bas the director and at least one trustee perplexed is how the board will psy 10 build new schools. "The announcement does help us with renewal, but does not deal with our needs for new schools. 'Mat is stili a problemn for us that we don't have answers yeî." The muinistry said it will introduce funding formula changes, but hasn't given a timeline for when that wull happen. What has been made clear is Ontario boards will no longer have 10 close schools to free up pupil spaces 10 build new ones. Trustees have been critical of the education funding formula introduced by the previons Tory governent in 1996. It sîipulaîed ail surplus pupil eapaciîy had 10 be eliminated in older communi- îles 10, qualify for provincial funds 10 build new schools in grow- ing areas. "There bave beeti a record number ot closures over the pasî sev- eral years, but the curreul guidelines for school closings don't iliee .ill of li îoblieat1o1iiis llai hoiads andfict tuei->iisîce liasc tii students, the cîîîîîîîîuîîîîy andi the overuli system.i" said a reie.ise liirnm lie t iberal gverrumeiit. explatning ils recent inlIOLIincemdtlt. "The îîîîîisîry ili uit lonsger recogiiize clîîsed schools as creat- ing elîgîbiiîy f'or itei school graîts. Alsi. itew ,Luideliites for scîtool ciiisiîtgs n ,iii require boiards iii deselop ruies lakiniig m accîuit te salue iii ie scboiii tii sin dlents, the communiiy. tbe scliool systemn anid lte loical ecîînîîîy. Mv. Papke said the board needs iii kiitîs, as soiil as possible hosv the money ivill tbow so il can begîn the process tif firmly estab- lislîiîg where new schools ivill be built. In particular, neis high schools and elemenîary scbools are desperately needed in Milton and southeast Georgetown wbere the populations are bursting. Oakvîlle Trustee Mary Chapin applauded the move 10 provide money t0 fix up sehools. But il's discoucerting not knowing how the money will flow Io build new schools. important changes the bi.aid lias becit wsaiiiti- ii liei silice lasi lail 'l beliese (the aîînouîîceîîeuî) is giiod tiens genîerally, but tbe des il s in the details." site said. "What ne don't kiiow is exactly btw ive -,et mtiney lii buiid scîtiols ishiere \ise tteed themn. "Il ils ntt ied ii flie uiiizatiîîn iii ctrret buildintgs and ennuil mtet numbers. bosv do we get il?" Locally school citîsures aîtd consolidation bas beeti contentious amoitg public schotil trustees. lu a narrow 6 10 5 vote ianuary 12, trustees decided againsi sludying closing tor coitsolidatiitg fotur elettîenîary schools Gladys Speers. Lorne Skîîce and Sheridant in Oakville, and Ryerson ut Buringîîîn. That bad meant îtew scbools may not be butît for aI leasi a year. At the time. staff said that decision meant studenîs would have 10, swamp already overcrowded schools or be bused 10 schools see STEERING on page 21 9075-70 ww.ilotooa.o R E AL P EO0P LE S EL LIN G G RE AT C AR S'ý ServieonCr-st TruI Sta ;rr FOR MJOÏMEW% Nutrition & Fitness Centers 575 Ontario Street (The corner of Derry Rd.) WATCH FOR... Our Post Ut Note on the Front Page in Tuesday's issue of... gro