1011 Upper Middle Road E. 905-849-4722www.oakvilleshops.comSELLING YOURJEWELLERY?LONDON GOLDFine Jewellery Co. Ltd.SNA NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR 2010ONTARIOS TOP NEWSPAPER - 2005-2008BlSportsades get burned905.337.0051USINGMUNITIESW60 Pages $1.00(plus tax) COMMUNICATION TO BUILD BETTER COMA member ofEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2011 Metroland Media Group Ltd. Vol. 49 No. 28OM-m-m-m goodpinionsCouncilclash over approvesgifted/special5.93%needsbudgetprioritiesBy Dominik KurekincreaseOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFBy Dominik KurekThe long list of students wait-OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFing for psycho-educational assess-ments at the Halton District Despite some opposition from a School Board has drawn criticism minority of councillors, Oakville from parents wanting help for Town council approved a 5.93 per their children.cent base budget increase, as rec-The assessments are used to ommended by the Towns Budget identify children with special edu-Committee.cation needs, such as those who Final approval was granted are autistic or learning disabled, Monday, March 7.and helps determine learning Balanced with hikes to Halton strategies for them such as extra Region's (1.40 per cent) and local classroom support.school board (0 per cent) budgets There are currently about 700 factored into the equation, it students waiting to receive such means Oakville residents will see a an assessment.2.79 per cent increase to the prop-Much of the criticism was erty tax.directed at the previous boards This translates to Oakville tax-decision last November to begin a payers paying an extra $27 in gifted program in Grades 1 and 2 property taxes per $100,000 of during the next school year. assessment in 2011.Currently the program begins in This years budget will see a Grade 5, except for in Burlington spending of $88.6 million on capi-where the school board has begun tal projects and $222.5 million on a primary gifted pilot project this operating expenses, with year. The board currently has 17 $135,468,200 coming from the tax psycho-educational consultants to levy.do both the gifted and the rest of In early January, the budget the special needs assessments. increase stood at 7.6 per cent, but Because the screening process for was whittled down to 5.91 by vari-ERIC RIEHL / OAKVILLE BEAVER gifted students (which the board ous program cuts.calls time sensitive) takes place PANCAKE BREAKFAST: Grade 1 student Adam Fallon enjoys a pancake during St. Vincent Catholic School's One such cut was the discon-See Gifted page 3annual Shrove Tuesday pancake breakfast.See Council page 8ADDCentreIB Optimize Performance(Adults and Children)World Attention span is short Diffi culty organizing & completing work School also helpful for Aspergers also Psycho-educational testingN ow accepting applications for September 2011.Forfurtherinformation contactNancy Norcross,Director ofAdmissions. Neurofeedback and learning strategies can provide a lasting improvement.337Trafalgar Rd.,,N/ 905.844.0372ext. 235 | admissions@maclachlan.ca/www.maclachlan.ca Director: Lynda M. Thompson, Ph.D., 905-803-8066Co-author with Pediatrician William Sears of The A.D.D. Book: New Understandings, ational university prep school Kindergarten to Grade 12A co-educational university prep school Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12New Approaches to Parenting Your Child.www.addcentre.com