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IlThe Canadian Champion, Fniday, March il, 2005-3 Halton Catholic board getting least amount of cash k- pe square foot for sehool repairs ami construction By KIM ARNOTT Special ta The Champion Are the Halton Catholic board's school buildings the best in the province? A recent provincial funding announcement seems to suggest that's the case, said board superintendent Giacomo Corbacio. The "Good Places to Learn" initiative, rolled out by the provin- cial government in mid-February. announced $280 million in annual funding for school repairs aud nesv school construction. That money is ta be used by boards to debenture funds of up bo $4 billion for school repairs and replacements across the province. While the Halton public school board will receive about $1 .46 million in 2005, the Catholic board will only get $113.280. lu fact, that allocation is the least per square foot given 10 any school board in Ontario, Mr. Corbacio told trustees Tuesday night. "We got less than a nickel per square foot," he added, noting that it currently costs about $150 per square foot ta build a new school. But while somte trustees were bemoaning the lack of funding the board received, Mr. Corbacio noted that the provincial cash was allocated to deal with urgent school facility problems such as leaky roofs and ineffective ventilation systemns. Since the Catholic board was given the least amount of money per square foot, as well as per student, MIr. Corbacio assumes the board bas the fewest urgent school problems in the province. "T7herefore, one could conclude that the hoard bas the best schools in Ontario," he added. "We've taken very good care of our facilities." Funding isn't enough: Corbacio StilI. Mr. Corbacio said the $1.5 milion that the board's funding will debenture isn't nearly enough ta address maintenance aud upgrade tssues throughout the board. Director of Education Lou Piovesan said the Halton Catholîc board is being penalized for tts pasi prudence. "This is a very seriaus coucern," he saîd. "We took care of our scbools and now, with thîs new funding formula. boards that didut do that are being rewarded ansd we're being punished." Throughout the 1 990s, the Catbolic board ret ovated anid upgraded ail of its older schools to bring them up to the standards of its newest facilities. And Mr. Piovesan said the board had 10 take money from "'here. there and everywhere" to make that bappen. As a result of that, wben expert assessors visited every school in the province to look at building conditions, there were fesv major concerrus ta be addressed at Haltan's Catholic schools. The assessment deemed 120 scbools in the province to be "pro- hibitive ta repair" and money is being provided ta replace those facilities, although the Catholic board won'î see any of that either. Oakville Trustee Alice Anne LeMay questioned why St. Thomas Aquinas dîdn't faîl into that category. "To me, the building's probably going to faîl down," she said. "When is a sehool beyond help?" But Mr. Corbacio said he ratsed the issue of that school with the assessors and was told that even the board's worst schools were better than the besi schools at some ather boards. After urgent problerus have been addressed, the "Good Places ta Learn" initiative will pravide cash ta help boards create enougb elementary classrooms ta allow junsior kindergarten ta grade 3 classes ta be capped at 20 students. Money will 5tlso be directed toward accomadating 16- sud 17- year old students who can no longer legally drap oui of high school, ensuring schools are accessible ta disabled students, and providing early educatian space. CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR TAXES? *t TAXVJD a .& t FAST TAX REFUND D1 5 LOCOTIORS TO SuIYOU I -866-TAXWIDE Milton Mail 905-875-3726 OFEN4 SE YEN DAYS RE 'A SO0N ABL E RA T E S Alnd It's backl 400 Steeles Avenue 905 875-1700I h i www. miltontoyota.com - i Services on-site Toyota's Biggest Sales Event of the Year. It's Big@ It's Red. $5.00 OFF WITH THIIS COUPON lI MILTON_