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CR RR SE SS A AR Rp BNI 4 - PORT PERRY "WEEKEND STAR" FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2000 Plans for expansion to USS come as a surprise Mayor 'outraged' she can't address board By Rik Davie Special to the Star Uxbridge Mayor Gerri-Lynn O'Connor was left fuming after Monday night's meeting of the Durham District School Board. The mayor expressed outrage after more than 100 people came to the board meeting to hear a presenta- tion by the School Community Council (SCC) for Uxbridge Secondary School on the need for renovations and expansion of the badly overcrowded and out-of- date school facility. ~The mayor became angry when she was prevented from responding to statements by board staff that the first stages for land acquisition near the school have already begun. The mayor was unaware of any corre- spondence between the board and her municipality regarding the move. Through a presentation and video, the SCC showed board trustees the effects of overcrowding in the school, which has a capacity for 975 students. The school popu- lation is currently 1180 students. HALIBUT HOUSE We serve Alaska Halibut only in our famous light batter! Hwy. 7A & Simcoe St. Port Perry 9865-0880 -n Winter Special Monday & Wednesday PHONE AHEAD FOR FAST TAKE OUT Buy one Dinner receive . 2nd Dinner 1/2 price! OID BBQ Spare Ribs ! £5 h) XS (\} \ Slee Choice of potato, Tuesday Senior Special vegetable . 2 ' > Daily Specials - bread & butter - 10% Discount See photographs of: Tummy Tug Face Lift -» lines wrinkles Restyla Collagen for rem pving fine lines afd wrinkles ® S&WINGS 985-8448 wide accommodation plan after trustees voted to keep open two area under pressure from parent groups. Mayor O'Connor told the trustees "if we can't support our The Uxbridge school was bypassed in the last board- students with the accommoda- tions needed for a good educa- tional environment, then we have all failed miserably." A disturbance erupted after comments by board staff that some moves for obtaining land to expand the school were already in the process. Parents, as well as Mayor O'Connor, asked to respond to the comments. Scugog trustee Bobbie Drew, vice-chair of the board, explained that there was no forum for public question periods at standing committee meetings, and that the group could return at a public meeting on Feb. 21 to address any concerns they had. Trustee Liz Roy attempted to make a motion to waive the rule, but was told the motion would be out-of-order at that time. Angry shouts erupted from the audience and Mayor O'Connor leapt to her feat shouting to the trustees, "| thought we lived in a democracy." Trustee Roy, one of the trustees who voted last year O'Connor member of Ontario Crafts Council Lake Scugog Studio Tour TR participant l/] Through The Looking Glass ©; presents STAINED GLASS CLASSES Beginner & Advanced Leaded & Foil Panels, Lamp Maki ng, Mosaics daytime & evening classes available with a limited enrollment of 8 or less per class REGISTRATION DEADLINE FEB. 14/2000 136 RIVER ST., SEAGRAVE (905) 985-2945 RAFTS & GIFTS After 30.years in business the WOLF'S DEN having a final closing sale. ine European Gifts & Crafts. VE Hi NG (UST GO! PUREE WEEKENDS Od | dil) } am. - 5 pm. under used schools in the Oshawa to keep the under-used schools open and delay improvements at Uxbridge, refused to remove her motion. The motion was defeated. Outside the board room SCC Chair Karen Cotie said that she regretted the outburst by school supporters. "We were aware when we came here that we could only present our plan for the board's information, and we intend to keep coming back to the board to make our points as the process unfolds," Ms Cotie said. "We do not want to become a screaming mob; we want to do what's right for our students, and we will do that. We will be back on the 21st." - Ms Cotie said that her council was well aware that the three trustees who supported the group's wish to speak further on the matter were among those who supported the continued running of under-used Oshawa schools that resulted in the Uxbridge renewal plans being shelved in the last accommodation plan. Mayor O'Connor said outside the board room, "I have a real, real problem with the process here, when staff who are paid by taxpayers - mine included - are not accountable to the public. There were statements made in there that were totally untrue." Mayor O'Connor was referring to statements made by board staff that a letter regarding obtaining more land for the school had been sent to her council. Superintendent Ron Trbovich said later that a letter had in fact been sent, and received, by the Uxbridge planning committee, "but had not yet made its way to the council table". Board Chair Doug Ross told his fellow trustees, and the angry crowd, "what happened here tonight is why we have by-laws. "We have seen this before and we have to get away from whoever yells the loudest gets the schools." Mr. Ross said later, "they (the Uxbridge SCC) made an excellent case for their school, and one that will defi- nitely be taken into account. No one can deny the need in Uxbridge. But we have to get away from democracy by picket signs and screaming." Mrs. Drew said she is aware of and supports the cause of the Uxbridge school council. "What happened tonight was about the process by which we do things, and keeping the board on track," she said. Uxbridge trustee Nancy Loraine said the board made the right move: "I had a real concern that the true thrust of the presentation would be lost with further discus- sion." The new board-wide accommodation plan is expect- ed to be ready in its first draft form in the early spring, but may not be finalized until after the fall municipal elections. : "PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM, LET US PREPARE YOUR WILL" hi Durham Paralegal Mary (Molly) Wilson Divorce - Process Serving - Small Claims - Landlord/Tenant - Wills - Domestic Contracts - Debt Recovery - Immigration 10% OFF & NO GST. 26 Cameron St. W., Cannington, Ont. (705) 432-3323 1-877-684-3323 durhamparalegal @hotmail.com BO) PIZZA, SUBS | SEs Al» Ak zie [ Lele] / fia Iq "oo ~ ¢ ; t oR ( WIN A Tropical Cruise FAMILY FAVOURITE | a i, Rs int Wo CAE rd 5 lt As a Am WE Pizza with AED, 3 toppings Til AN and 4 Coke' SS [ XL) ® SERGEY ICN er Cd v & SAD AST DT You could win aTropical Cruise. 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