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4- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, April 30, 1996 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Hike needed to avoid 'butchering' system Trustees still working on budget as deadline for submission looms By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star Trustees with the Durham Region Board of Education have acknowledged the fact they'll probably have to bring in a budget increase this year to avoid "butchering" the public school system. An informal poll of trustees taken at a budget meeting Wednesday night revealed a majority feel they can live with a 2 or 3 per cent increase in this year's levy. That would equate to an average hike of $39 this year for supporters of the public system. The trustees were to meet in Whitby last night in an attempt to finalize their budget for 1996 --it has to be filed with the Ministry of Education by next week -- but still had a number of items on a list for further cansideration. They want to revisit pro- grams such as outdoor educa- tion, and resources such as educational assistants, school- based services counselors, com- puters and lunchroom supervi- sion, which have been included in lists of massive cuts. But some board members feel they would have too large an impact on the board's curriculum and operations. Board staff has said cuts totalling $14 million -- on top of $12 million already cut by the province -- will be necessary to bring in a budget with no increase to taxpayers. As a result, they've submitted sev- eral lists of potential savings for consideration. "I'm not happy with some of the things they're talking about taking out," Scugog trustee Bobbie Drew said following last week's budget meet- ing. "I don't want to butcher the system, and we're coming close to that." She's par- : ticularly wor- DREW ried about bringing about savings by cut- ting the number of educational assistants, who work-in class with kids with special needs, and a multi-year computer pro- gram that was to have seen equipment in schools across the board upgraded. And there are more. Trustees last Wednesday gave approval to a recommen- dation to cut a superintendent's position, as well as support staff, for a 1996 savings of $87,000. The community ser- vices position includes estab- lishing school community coun- cils, parent councils, and corporate partnerships, as well as other outreach. Mrs. Drew contends -- and says studies back her up -- that the Durham board has a very low ratio of administrators to students, and shouldn't be cut- ting more positions. "We are lean," she said. "I don't want to see another (superintendent) go; I think that's going too far." Also on the list of cuts Wednesday night: Q Another 5 per cent reduc- tion in staff at the board offices for a savings of $3 8,000 this year. That's the equivalent of 17 or 18 more jobs, making for a total of more than 50 admin- istrative jobs on the block; a A 5 per cent cut in supplies and services, amounting to $250,000 this year; 0A $43,100 chunk of funding taken from the research depart- ment; Q Another $200,000 from the board's technology initia- tives, including computer equipment and software; that's in addition to an earlier $1.5 million cut recommended by staff; 0 A further $450,000 cut from maintenance. Proposed cuts there now total almost $2.5 million. The list of proposed cuts so far brings the board to a budget level that requires a tax increase of almost 2 per cent more than last year. But a num- ber of items will likely be brought back before the budget -- and its long list of cuts -- is finalized, said Mrs. Drew. IN TROUBLE Shepherd backs his party in flap over GST 'promise' By Mary Sanchez Port Perry Star Prime Minister Jean Chretien was right to expel maverick MP John Nunziata from the fedéral Liberal caucus, says Durham MP Alex Shepherd. "What we have devel- oped in'Canada is one of the strictest party disci- pline systems in the world," said Mr. Shepherd. Mr. Nunziata voted against the federal budget 314 his party -- because he felt both failed to deliv- er on a promise to scrap "the GST last week. Mr. Shepherd, writing in his weekly column, car- ried in the Weekend Star, says the MP crossed the line of party discipline, and had to pay. "I think that for most WITH THE LAW! You NEED SOMEONE ON YOUR SIDE! people, Mr. Nunziata's stand boils down to what a politician says during an election campaign and what the public's percep- tion of that was," said Mr. Shepherd. "During the October '93 election campaign I never said scrap or abol- ish the GST. I have been a tax accountant for 20 years and I knew scrap- ping the tax wasn't going to be in the cards." There was a strong reaction from people in the riding and across the DANCE to the sounds of DEJA VU » (formerly Trouble Shooter) 8:00 P.M. FRIDAY, MAY 3rd PORT PERRY LEGION CLUBROOM Music of the 50°s and 60s, Country and Western, no cover charge everyone welcome 0000000000000000000000 The law office of Randy Hoban has arranged with an experienced criminal lawyer, Dennis Lenzin to be available at his office in Uxbridge from the hours of 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm every Thursday evening. If you need the help of a criminal lawyer, please call: 852-3900 for an appointment with Mr. Lenzin. Emergency Number 416-869-342 _-- Ed RANDALL B. HosA Barrister ¢rr Solicitor 9A Bascom Street Uxbridge Port Perry Star & Weekend Star For Classified Ads That Really Work Reaching more than 16,000 homes every week Please call 905-985-7383 INSURANCE ASSIGNMENT ACCEPTED WM EVENING APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE (WE COLLECT FROM INSURANCE COMPANIES) I DENTISTRY WHILE YOU SLEEP - BM PAYMENT PLANS ARRANGED ® GENERAL ANAESTHESIA AVAILABLE WM SENIOR CITIZENS DISCOUNT 462 PAXTON ST. (ACROSS FROM PORT PERRY HOSPITAL) country to the Liberals failure to scrap GST, and actions taken against Mr. Nunziata. Many say the government's credibility has been compromised. "Yes, the real issue is credibility," said Mr. Shepherd. "John Nunziata felt voting against the government was the only way of keep- ing his intact." "STAR" CLASSIFIEDS GET THE RESULTS YOU WANT... ...FAST PORT PERRY STAR PHONE (905) 985-7383