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PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, May 6, 1997 -3 "A Family Tradition for 131 Years" A F Sse CHRIS HALL / PORT PERRY STAR FULL OF AIR: Grade 9 and 10 students at Port Perry High School got a chance last Friday to learn about the hazards of smoking when a workshop was held by Durham Health Department and other PPHS students in the drama room. Students got a few pointers on the dangers of smoking and got involved in a few games and experiments to make the lesson more entertaining. Here, Mary-Sue O'Connor, a public health nurse with the Durham Region Health Department gets Grade 10 student Christie Norrish to blow up a cancerous lung to show students some of the results of smoking. The event was part of Education and Wellness Week, which was held at the high school between April 28 to May 2. --r au A\\\ Mother's Day Specials | SS Mother's Day Specials | Specials 2 o Op Ladies selected | ff Nightwear* & Robes Programs preserved with increase * By Chris Hall Port Perry Star Scugog Township residents who send their children off to separate schools will see their taxes increase by an average of about $18 this year. The Durham Region Roman Catholic Separate School Board recently approved an average 0.33 mill rate increase, bringing the board's total budget for the upcoming school year to just under $167 million. That's a 13 per cent increase from the $148 million required in 1996. According to board superintendent of business Cleary Smith, Scugog residents will be faced with a 1.27 per cent mill rate increase, lifting taxes by $5 per $1,000 assessment. The average home assessment in Scugog is $3,600. "This year we had a significant loss in provincial grants and in order to maintain supplies and services where they should be, it was necessary to make the increase,' said Mr. Smith, explaining why the board 81 voted in favor of the increase at an April 21 meeting. The hike was comparable to the one passed by the Durham Region Board of Education more than a month ago. The public board's budget for the next school year is just ort of $370 million, and requires an average of $15 more from taxpayers here than last year. "We're trying to provide the same ser- vices and resources that public school system gives its students. We don't want to anger our taxpayers, but we don't Slowerse:Ses tival < Join us as we celebrate Mother's Day with our stores full of fresh Slowers and fantastic savings on spring fashions and footwear! ml [e)V\V/STall =le)V,V/=1g IN Free Gift with Isotoner Slipper purchase** Z@R Complimentary chocolates for ZR Free Gift Wrapping "excludes Joe Boxer Girlfriend "Limited Quantities Sale ends May 12/97 BR@®CK S Service, Quality & Style Since 1881 168 Queen St., Port Perry 985-2521 >] ( =| AY | ¥ = 'S| '. {1 | \\. ~ a | Mom with every $20 purchase FILL OUT A BALLOT FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN! 2-*150% Gift Certificates from Brock's 2-*100% Gift Certificates from Brock's for Kids no purchase necessary Selected Kids Fashions by: * Club Monaco * Pickles & Dillon e Fit Knit * Jr. Kraze * All Baby Fashions Selected Footwear * All Girls Spring Dress Shoes * Rip Zone & North Star suede skateboard shoes. Separate board budget sees tax hike in Scugog want the issue of which school should parents send their children to be decided by taxes either," said Mr. Smith. In an effort to save money the separate board has decreased its centralized administration costs, while an increase in regular day school enrollment has been noted. A very significant increase in capital projects is also a cause for higher taxes, says the superintendent, pointing out that an addition is planned for a Whitby school; 38 new portables are slated to be placed throughout the region, and that there are plans for new schools to be built in Brooklin, Ajax and Port Perry. Mr. Smith also said that because of the estimated 5 per cent growth in the student population, close to 70 new jobs may be created including an estimated 60 teachers and 10 education assistants. Other highlights from this year's bud- get include funding for a complete updat- ing of the board's computer networks to promote the integration of technology into classrooms and the continuation of existing option programs, such as Junior Kindergarten, design technology and French immersion. Even though the board had to approve a tax increase, Mr. Smith says that he's happy with the end result. "The board is quite fortunate the way things turned out. An increase was unavoidable this year because of the costs this year," he said. % off * Zero Gravity * Val & Mik ' BRBCKS for Kids 178 Queen St., Fort Ferry 985-6797