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LETTRS T0TE DITOR pals disrnaye d by o ur )on fiscalpo-licy -Demar Sir: Your article entltled, 'Education budget,'. a prime example of fiscal and political irrespon- sibiity', was recently brought to my attention by a concerned coileague., It wà*s with some dismay I read the ar- ticle and realized there are many of our elèc- torate who are not necessarily _familiar wlth the intricacies of the education system and, in particular, that of budgetlng' Unfor- tunately, your article is qulte misleading..- 1You have. done mariy more things than just attack the Board of Education. You have, in fact, implied the per- sonnel working for the Board are suspect, and the taxpayers shouldn't have- opinions different from your own. Just as your newspaper wil not always ,find ail readers in agreement, as educators, we realize DearSir:, I arn writing in response to your editorial of April il, "EËuclid Street Residen- ts. Know Whether They Need.Sidewalks",, - you were right on!11 Ini respect te Mr. Bugeili, who attempted -to express our views at the - Town Couneil meeting, I feel that the blame really lies with each member of the coundil. Whn the initial decision was made that the sîdewalks were not needed, my feilow residents of Euclid, Street and I felt (if only for a' few short weeks) thatý maybet., you really can fight "City Hall". I Ifor-one, have been sadlydisiilusioned. You see, Ithis whole con- troversy encompasses we cannot met desires of ail taxi If you were tc however, an ext survey, you Wou] the educationali in- Durham favourable, and by many boards the fiscal policieE not been one restraint such as tised in Durhar many years. An extensives was conducted b board in ordé streamline prox the electorate ma were i need of tion. This Co-opei Evaluation Development 'of Systenis (C.E.I survey received rE ses from approxirr 5,000 taxpayers. board lias now-rn ded to each of th recommendations addressed the wist the respondents. The majority veyed stated. the3 not want educatic suffer even if ,it'i more than jus sidewalk issue. W. neyer forget thatmi residents, elect council member t our spokesperson and our representative in times of opposition. When coundil mem- bers stop listening to the complaints of their con- stituents, then they have ceased to fil the role for which they were elec- ted. This very ideal was expressed no more than one week ago by a coun- cil member who even- tually voted for the sidewalk. In closing, I would like to address each and ev ery oneWo the Whitby Town Council elected members - your are not listeningt Rosemary Grosjean Eudid Street, Whiùtby. ,et the increased taxes. payers, You suggest the it.ake, community may b. get- .tensive ting programs it doesn't dd find even want, and yet our results newest expenditures are very for increased envied programming in special where education and French, S have both of which are es-0f legislated by the sprac- provincial ministry. ,m for Many of the new staff allocated willk be for survey these programs. by our Several other issues er to. recogmized by our Board )Cesses are as a resuit of other ay feel surveys coniducted atten- which show Durham has arative characteristically fallen and behind provincial norms School ini class size, PTR, ).S.S.) secretarial. and ad- ,espon- ministtve time. For nately example, in 1980 , The Durham's total per espon- pupil. expenditure was he 173 the least for any sehool , and board'in Ontario. 0f the ihes of twelve major boards in Ontario, we had the sur- highest pupil-teacher ýy did ratio and 'the fewest ion to nuniber -of professional neant staff. Mr. Brown and his t fellow trustees are to be congratulated for trying to deal with significaut problems and stiil main- ) .tain a budget increase of J5.21 per cent. These restraints have saved taxpayers much money -over the years, and for- tunately. now the citizens of Durham it a realize it is time-to ad- must. ra h sus We s drs he hing oteac the hl adnouac b e colades may I extend to SPi SPI Ian 'Brown and his coileagues on the Durhami Board their .fair share. There - is quickly developing a feeling of unity throughout the system beause problems are being addressed An. harmony. The - board realizes adjustments are ixnperative now, and they are using the suggestions from the public- throiigh the C.E.D.S.S. report to ikn- prove education1 in Durhiam. *To indicate Ian Brown's efforts were not Objective ' is irresponsible. To be sure, Mr. Brown's ap- proacli was beneficial, to the taxpayer. His ex- perience ieducation has to be. a definite asset,,and heproved lis dedication as atrustee by holding the budget to 5.21 per cent.- There is no question the educators in the schools, as wefllas many Parents, would have appreciated a greater increase to compensate for educational frugality in the past. It is to be hoped this wiil even- tuaily transpire, but give credit where credit !às due. The Durhîam Board of Education has done. ,the, taxpayers a favour., Rodger Lappin EDITOR'S NOTE: Mr. Lappin la chairman of the DurbamElemen- tary Princlpal's Association. AIL DRAPER y CLEANING A CLEANING SERVICE FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY -SAME DAY SERVICE ALTERATIONS & REPAIRS REGISTER, CONTINUOUS, CARBONIZED & MUSC. 1I I' Yul 107.50 CLOCKS >SAfEuO33 % A $6.95REG. 7O9'-5R EG. ,.7989.95 SPECIAL VALUE ON MIRRORS WHILE SUPPLIES LASI SELECT FROM 5 SIZES FROM37SO $ 8995 oshawa cet Lower LeveI -ý-70 itre Sale Ends May1 Euclid resideui disillusioned I sitdewalk vote 'HITBY FREEPRESS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 1984, PAGE 5