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6 - The Canadian Champion, Friday, May 27, 2005 *Commenit *The Canadian Champion Box 248, 875 Maiîn St. E. Milton. Ont, L9T 4N9 (905) 878-2341 Fditorial Fax: 905-878-4943 Advertising Fax: 905-876-2364 Classified: 905-875-3300 Circulation: 905-878-5947 Ian Oliver Publisher Neil Oliver Aoi-,aie Piilîsher Jîli Davis Editor-i-Chsef Karen Smith Managoig Edifor Wendy McNab AdvertLiig Dire(-for Tim Cales Puiducenoxn Manager Charlene Hall D,.orihufiox Mciia,aer Teri Casas 0115t-e Manager The Canadian Champion, published euery Auescay anA Friday ai 875 Main St E >Mltun. Ontl L9I 4N9 (Bnx 248t> s Axe uf The Meinuland Pîiniig PablisAlinA & AistributinA LIA, giup ut suiirban cumpanues whiuui includ0es A1axlPickernî Nevis Advertiser, Ailistun Herald/Couuier, Bairie Aduance Bulinri Eriierprise, Braiuplun Guardi.un BurlinAlun Post, Burlingtun Shonppinig xevis, Cnu Parent, City of York Guidian. CollinAwuudiWasaga Conneclin Fast York Mirror, Frix Aduiunaie,'Counitr Routes Etobinoke Quai liai, iiiibouli Bevexiý Fui uir Youing A Georgetown IiidependenuActun Fiee Press Haltuii Business limues, Auuira Buisiniess lies. Lindsay Tis Weuk, MuaAnAain Ecunisi & Sur Miand/PenetanA- uruhene Mîrur Milton ShoppinA NJews, Mussissaugu Business Times, Mîssi ssiixa News, Napanen Goide NasuaAivnn News, SewiiiarkesAu rota Bera aiiiiu', NoAtunmberlanid Neins, NuitS Anik Mîrrun OAkvuille Beauni, OAkuille Shopping Newus, Ariciines Hnckey Nuws, Aiaiqeuille Bancor Arillia luAay AxliawafuNlibyiClaîîndiun Puîi Peiid Tnis Week, Peterburuugh This Weekç Pîinîîn Cuuniy Guide Richmond HiIIfPSinnillNanghan L1bînal, Suai- buenugh Murna, AioufilleuiIAbridi fiuui Aduertixîng ix acuipted un the condiin batin She eîeni ni a typo- Anaphical eîîu, iSai portiun uf Bhe aduedîxîing space nucupied byithe erre nexous item. togeiAeî wix a neaxunabAe allowance for xigcature, ail nit Bn chai8ed nir, but Bhe balance ufth1e advertixemenivot Bn paA lot ai the appli- cable laie. The pubixxei ieseiuex the rilge lu caiegneize aduetliemeuix or declîne, Edîlunial anA adueriiix content ul The Canadian Champiun ix plrltected Sy copyight, BeauthurizeA use s pluhîbîled111, The MAitn Canadiae Chamepioe in a Recyceasin Product e Public sehool board seems dysfunctional It's up to the people to keepn ".to trunstees, let me sav I have nx'erked vn/tii many different boards over t/ne vearu annd tne 'v're aln/ie n' difeérent. Sonne s/neased great courage annd teenaci- i1 their qiîest te) improve student /earning. Ot/ners Ifeared.floundered becanese theirfecus snandened ta issues tinat were more political and less about the growtn of the students." -Dusrn' Papke. onitgoing director of educarlon for the Ha/ton District Sc/îeol Board, May 18, 2005. lB doesn't take a genius to figure out which type of board the education director was referring tor when he announced his retrement laxt wcek. Dusty Papke and his administration know the road that lies ahcad is going no be rocky thanks tai a group of truxtees who have successfully wrestlcd power away from xtaff. While it may ximply be a case ofntiming, in seems obvious to us why CarIa Kisko. super- intendent of business services for the board, announccd one day after Papke's decision that she, too, is packing her bags and heading toi the Toronto District Sehool Board. Before we conxider why sonne trtustees felt it necessary tor take back the board', you have tai look at somne of the players. The chair of the board, Paul Tate, for some bizarre reason feit bis own safcty was in perdl at last wcek's board meeting. He was so concemned that he dixcussed bis feelings witb a deputy police chief. Both Tate and Vice-Chair Peggy Russell decided toi bring in a court reporter and a lawyer for a May 16 special board meeting. This was the meeting wbere the sensitive issue of policy govemnance was tar be discussed. Tate and Russell solicited the outside help at a cost of $10.000 ta, taxpayers. Keep in mind folks, this is a sehool board, not tht United Nations. This is the samne board wherc twa current trustees -Russell and Jennifer Hlusko accused Debbie Downs of assaulting them. There was a police investigation that cleared Downs of any wrongdoing. The fact that Tate felt it neccssary ta, talk to, the police about bis own safety and bring in a court reporter tai a board meeting should be enough for the Ministry of Education ta step in. It seems wc have a dysfuncnional board. Just a minute, tbough; Tate docsn't like tbe word dysfunctional. He bas alrcady pnb- licly bcratcd tbe Burlington Post - 'Me Champion's sister newspapcr - for using that word suggcsting what tht newspapcr views ax dysfunctional is mcrely dcmocracy at work. We aren't so sure that the trustees who voted againsn the take-back-thc-baard group share Tate's belief that this board ix, indeed, democratic. It's unfortunate the distrust exhibited by many of the trustees clouded the issue of pal- icy governance. lt's certainly a contentious enough issue that necded toi be revisitcd. Somne trustees feit they were merely rubbcr-snamping everything the administration did. As Tate put it: "iThe way it happens now we are informed, but not asked toi judge. We need ta be able tai judge. Regardless of the intentions of the trustees who sought more power, the public must bc wondering about the motivations of tbc individnîals entrusted with the education of their cbildren. We hope by the time the next municipal election comes around that there will be frcxh faces uit tbc board who will be able ta work together in a way that is meaningf'ul ta the students. In the meantime, we wisb tbc administration and aIl the trustees mach luck in their endeavour to provide quality education. our small-town atmosphere Ask people their impressions of Milton, and they're bound tai comment on mts "-small-town atmaspbere." If's a phrase heard aIl] the time bere at The Champion, particularly in lenters ta the editor. And, it's a phrase I often found caming from my own moutb wben I began working in Milton, haîling frans the big ol' city of Bramnpton. La and behold! People actually look you in the eye bere. If's a novclty that stîll basn't worn off. But what cxactly is that intangible notion wc refer ta as a -small town atmosphere'? Afiter pondering that question over the past fcw days. I came up witb many possible answers and examples. Von know you're in a naxvn with that atmosphere when yau ask for a persan's phone number and tbey give you just Bbc last four digits. That's samething I've encauntcred with Iongstanding residenîs living in aid Milton, who assume everyone's first tbree numbers are still '878', which must have been Bbc case wben there were fewer residents. A small-town atmosphere is when Bbc servers; aitheb local caffee sbop know my order withann me telling them, and even have my coffee flavaur ranking doxvn pan. (French caramel's better than holiday blend. but non as good as maple cream). The level of small-toxvn atmasphere can also be cal- culated by the speed wiBh xvhich news travels, which it does vcry quickly in this town. Who nceds ta cal] the police for the local happenings? AIl 1 need ta do is keep my earx open on my travels, and I find ont almost aIl I need. Its taie; aIl these nhings describe a smnal town anmosphere. But Bbc conclusion I came ta, ns there's no anc factor that more accurancly depiens a small nawn than tbc kindness than cao be found thraughout. It's something 1 notice almost daily in Milton, and believe me - isn't losn on aur visitors. I can't counrt Bbc number of times I've been tbc recip- A round town ient of an act of kindness by a stranger, or witnessed one. 1 couldn't help but smile the other day when an eld- erly lady I was speaking with at Baker's Dozen Donuts told me of a kindness shown to ber by tbc management there. Though she spoke of it in an almost accusatory fashion, 1 know she appreciated it. "I asked for a muffin toi take witb me and when 1 got home, 1 saw they'd shoved a bunch of donut holes in the bag with it," said the frail, very thin womnan. Evert the sinallest of kind actions can turn a day around. Was my smilc ever big when 1 got two stamps on my grocery store coffee card the other day. after buying only one coffee. The other day aitheb local coftèe shop, I was behind a maan who was somcwhat frantically reaching into his pockets toi pay l'or bis coffee and muffin. Upon realiz- ing he didn't bave any nioney with hiai, the lady bchind him - a complete stranger -said, "I can get that for you." The gentleman, who xvas visiting bis tather in Milton. seemed truly flabbergasned and said, "This sure is a friendly town.- It's reassuring to realize that Multon's small-town atmosphere isn't anytbing that needs to change with developaient. They can exist mutually exclusive -if we want it badly enough, that ix. Letters welcome The Champion welcomes letters toi the editor. We reserve the right to edit, revise, and reject let- ters. The address and telephone number of the writer must be included in ail submissions. Letters can be e-mailed tai miltoned@haltonsearch.com, faxed ta (905) 878-4943 or dropped off at 875 Main St. E.