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Recommendation to eliminate school trustees' Iaptops rejected Little support shown for cost-cutting measure By Kim Arnott SPECIAL To THE CHAMPION Halton Catholie scbool board trustees will keep their laptop comput- ers despîte an attempi by the chair of the board to elîminate tbem as a cosi- cutting measure. At a meeting of the Halton Catholic District Sehool Board last week, board Chair AI Bailev brought forward a rec- ommendation to scrap the policy that secs laptop computers supplicd to trustees for the duration of their cleet- cd tcrm. Noting that the board is expecting to face vcry tight budgets over thc coming fcw ycars, Bailey saîd, "This is my sug- gestion of what (trustees) can do to hclp." In 2004, trustees approved a policv to providc laptops to members of the board in an attempt to save lime and paper, as wcll as fax and counier costs. Arguments for the policy includcd the suggestion that the computers would make communication with trustees "At a time when we're looking at where our budget money is going to go, supplyring computers to us oni a regular basis is flot a feasible thing." ALamEI quieker and more efficient. Bailey argucd that the computers havcn't resulted in any significant costs savings for the board. "At a lime when wc'rc lookîng ai whcre our budget moncy is going to go, supplying computers 10 us on a regular basis is not a feasible thing," bc said. But scveral of bis fcllow trustees qucstîoncd the Iogîc.of clîminating the laptops, whîcb cosi the board $2,200 cach to purchase. "It is such a miniscule amount, com- pared to the enormous budget the board deals with on an annual basis," said Burlington Trustee joanne Matters. The boards approved operating budget for 2006-07 is $205.4 million. Along witb laptop computers, the board also supplies trustees with Internet aeeess and a printer. Prior to the 2004 policy, the board provided trustees with fax machines and fax tele- phone lines. The policy, whicb applies to ail trustees, including student trustees appointed for a one-year term, says trustees must return their computers at the end of their terms, or purchase themn at an agreed-upon depreciatcd price. Baileyls defeated motion had sug- g-ested that the board continue to sup- ply Internet access and a pninter to trustees owning their own computers. "As a budget item, this bas to be .001 per cent of nothing," notcd Burlington Trustee Bob Van de Vrande. 1I don't think we should make a hasty decision here based on a cosi tbîng, wbich 1 tbînk is spunious ai best.- The Canadian Champion, Friday, September 29, 2006 -A5 0Thompson 1& 0Raisins Ml Deluxe ~49 % OMixed uts 6 l regular .910 OJ U or9sOr 1 IAprîcots. jfsreoed g .62/100g Prunes lb California 1.39/100g 4Almonds lb assorted fiavours i. 19/1 OOg Cranberries,% w. lb Pure Chocolate .97/100g ~1Covered 3 sem-weet. reular orjmbo OPure Chocolate Chips "'D2 91 Regular 4I0 Fruit Mix 1,79b Pecans 170g7.98 p hl & ok ene 61e Cherriesred or green 2.991b t&ore Lctin MILTON MALL (905) 693-9207 SMEADOWVALE 3035 ARGENTIA RD. (905) 824-3207 SSQUARE ONE SHOPPING CENTRE (905) 897-1210 ERIN MILLS TOWN CENTRE (905) 569-3629 DIXIE OUTLET MAIL (905) 891-0976 OAKVILLE 261 OAKWALK DR. (905) 257-7987 MI 2.- Wiadiac -1 C) f 1 T 1 6 ý71,1 ' r-, ý/, i