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Friday, April 9, 1999 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER 7 Board may investigate private funding for new schools (Continued from page 1) funding to build schools," said north Oakville trustee Debbie Marklew, who was confident the approach could work. But there was skepticism from Susan Cox of the Limehouse/Stewarttown par­ ent councils. She said a com­ munity like Georgetown lacks a large industry to provide new school funding. "And what if a company that is not appropriate wants to donate money?" She said Stewarttown school will be running at 66% over capacity without a new school in the area. New school proposals were eventually deferred by trustees until an impact study is made by staff. "We don't want to give the community false hope," noted Burlington trustee David Abbott. Oakwood school had been recommended for consolida­ tion into Morden school. Oakville trustee Lynn Roberts, absent for 5-4 com­ mittee votes to close Oakwood and Fairfield, voted against closing either school. "Oakwood had one of the highest enrolments in Kindergarten and its numbers continue to grow," she said. 'To close it would mean using portables indefinitely at Morden." Oakwood has a capacity for 284 students, but only has a school population of 218 (with 38 students bussed in from the Oak Wood Trails area in north Oakville). Superintendent A1 Greyson said the recommen­ dation was made because stu­ dents usually go to Morden anyway after graduating from Oakwood, a K-5 school. Fairfield school council president Mary Jane Wood was relieved the school had again avoided closure, but wants changes so the school isn't just operating on a year- to-year basis. "Our next thrust will be to change the funding formula for the region," she said "One of the key things to change will be to allow community use of a school, such as rent­ ing space to an organization like a private school." Wood noted a Waterdown private school is interested in using part of Fairfield's space. As of Wednesday, the K- Grade 5 school's enrolment for next fall was projected at six Kindergarten students and 78 others. That would be under 30% of capacity. But Wood is confident Fairfield will rebound from the closure threat. She noted 106 students enrolled last fall when only 87 were forecast. "I have absolutely no confi­ dence in staff enrolment pro­ jections." Trustees voting against closing schools noted the board hasn't completed all its studies. Some of these include a consultant's report on growth, plus studies on school boundaries and use of the board's administrative centre. "I'm not saying never close a school, but only if I was getting all the informa­ tion and there were no other options," said Burlington trustee David Bird. "But not now." Trustees said the board's activities were influencing its own enrolment numbers. "The reason Fairfield's enrolment is lower is basical­ ly our fault," noted Burlington trustee Michael Ellis. "Any school with clo­ sure hanging over it is going to have people moving their students out." Oakville trustee Peter Petrusich said Halton's public system doesn't have enough students for new school fund­ ing. "The no-close report says we'll be in a grave situation if we don't close schools. We'll be cheating another part of the system." 'The Halton public board has closed 28 schools since 1969 and the children of Halton have not suffered one iota because schools have closed," said board chair Ethel Gardiner. "Good teach­ ing and good programs are what counts." As for other fundraising options, trustees were told the board could pay for half to two-thirds of a school through excess land sales. Trustees were also warned, with its current enrolment and capacity situation, the board could lose $3.5 million in education development charges. Voting against closing Fairfield and Oakwood schools were trustees Bird, Ellis, Roberts, Sheila Flook and Marianne Hawthorne. Voting in favour of closing the two schools were trustees Abbott, Gardiner, Petrusich, Marklew and Erica Andrew of Milton. A board committee recent­ ly started looking into its sec­ ondary school accommoda­ tion situation, where there are 3,200 surplus secondary spaces. The committee is expected to make recommendations on that situation by November. P u d B y S te v e N e a se TYPICAL SAMMf/ HE looks , so forward-© easter y ^ * 2- F o R m C A N P L A ® -- them he. Doesn't EVEN EAT HALF I f c ^ O F I T . ' HAV|N6 is NOT so PLEASING A THING AS WANTING, it's NOT LOGICAL, BUT IT IS O F T E N , ^ i = e n t i r e s Jxt&uAt: The Discount's Inside The Balloon. Don't Miss On Your Chance to Save. E x c a l i b u r P IN E K U N N R N ^ GOLF ^ A A D A M S ©Etonie S P A C I N G A rm our Taylor, <5 Made Foot Joy Dexter TO P ^TU TE 5 DAYS ONIY Thurs. April 8 to Mon. April 12 You can save I0%... 20%... 50%, even up to 100% off our everyday low prices on everything in die store at Pro Golf. 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