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WHITBY FREE PRESS),WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18. 1986 PAGE 31 Staff should inform trustees when out of town By JAN DODGE Free Press Staff Whether trustees should approve or be in- formed of the attendan- ce of staff at out-of-town conferences was the question at last week's meeting of the Durham Bqerd of Education. Bruce Mather, Direc- tor of Education, said if the board were to require approval it could interfere with the duties of administrative staff. "Whty shouldn't staff members have to get approval from the board? Trustees do," Whitby Trustee John Buchanan said. "If we're unhappy with what staff is doing, then the director is ac- countable," Whitby Trustee Ian Brown said to indicate why he did. flot see a need for requiring approval, or for staff informing the board prior to attendan- ce at an out-of-town con- ference. Brock Trustee George McLaughlin said he did not feel competent to second-guess what con- ferences wouid be most valuable for staff to at- tend. Gary Kitchen, trustee from Oshawýa, said he FROM PG. 4 Letter praises Ontario Eye Bank Club visited this venerable facillty on June 5. The club, like most of the Lions and Lioness clubs in the Durham area, bas made several donations to Dr. Basu's prograni at 1 Spadina res., and decided to visit the premises to find out exactly what is enabled by the monetary donations. Dr. Basu, our genial host, bas presided over the ophthalmology research unit for 30 years. Mrs. Wolfe, who is in charge of the eye bank, bas served this vital facility since it was established, also 30 years ago. The Ontario Eye Bank was the first eye bank in Canada. Now, most provinces have their own and it serves physicians and patients from ail over Ontario. Hunian eyes are used for the transplantation or grafing of corneai tissue. In addition to corneal transplants, the white part of the eye, the sciera, is aiso used to repair patients' eyes who have sùffered pun- ctures to the sciera. The sciera can be damaged or. punctured by sucb diverse means as a cat's claw or the thorn from, a rose bush if either makes direct contact with the seemingly har- dy -and firn scIeraI sur- face of Oie eye. The cornea could be described as a "window covering the eye". It is a clear round surface which covers the coioured part, or iris of the eye. If, through disease or injury this "window"~ is damaged, it becomes clouded, causing blindness as no light can penetrate it to reach the lens of the eye. It would be like replacing a clear, pic- ture window with one of frosted glass. Because the cornea "aliows'" Oie lens of Oie eye to see rather than being the part of the eye that "sees'", a donor can be of any age and need not have good eyesight. Eyes from babies who have died have generously been donated by parents and one donor was over a 100 years old wben he died - bis corneas giving sight well into a second cen- tury. Mrs. Wolfe, via film and conversation, told us of how eves are retrieved from deceased persons who bave signed a donor card, or driver's licence indicating their wish to donate their eyes after death. Lions play an important part in this process as tbey arrange for transportation, in special céontainers, from outlying areas in On- tario to the Eye Bank in Toronto. Althougb time is not as crucial as in the case of other donated organs - up to 48 bours can elapse before a transplant is made - Lion volunteers ensure that donated eyes reach the Bank as quickly as possible. If you expected a refrigerator filled with orbs, you would be disappointed. Donated eyes come to the bank; the corneas are examined by microscope to ensure that the tissue is healthy and suitable for tran- splantation. A history of the donor is inciuded, giving the Eye Bank and the physician wbo will actually undertake the transplant surgery, a medical history of the donor. For example, the donor may havè been prescribed medication wich could have a negative impact on the transplant altbougb the cornes is useable. The physician can then make allowances for that impact and use the cornea while watcbing for specific reactions. Because the, need for corneal transplants is 50 great, there 15 always a waiting list of patients; thus, very few donated eyes stay at 1 Spadian Ores. They come in, are evaluated, and go on to give our neighbours the precious gift of sight. We were most for- tunate in being conduc- ted on a tour of the research laboratories by Dr. Basu and bis skilled and personable staff. Although some animal eyes are used for research purposes, this lab makes great use of cultured tissue; cultures -grown" in the laboratory. Sucb equipment as a spec- trophotometer, donated by Lions and Lioness in our District, was demonstrated for us. We were able to see celis under the microscopes and we were given an overview of one par- ticular experiment being conducted to determine if electrical and electronic emanations do any damage to the human eye. The staff was very generous in both time and patience. answering our questions in "llaymans language" so that we could under- stand the principles in- volved if not the technicalities. Dr. Basu even gave us copies of published resuits of various experiments in whicb Lions and Lioness bad been credited for our financùai! support of the research Lions and Lioness devote a great deal of tinme and energy in our quest to prevent blin- dness, to aid blini people and, when possible, to give sigbt back to those who are blmnd. Tbrough sudh projects as the Lion: Journey for Sight, we raise funds to make our quest successful. It is most gratifying to know that money generously donated bv peopie ih Us your car readly Ziebart 12-point Air-Conditioning Tune-Up. " Drain and evacuafe entire system. " Refi with proper amounts of refnigerant. " Refili system with proper amounts of oil. " Electronically inspect for refrigerant leaks. " Check temperature for maximum cooling efficiency. lnspect the following: " Belts and Hoses " Compressor " Evaporator " Clutch Assembly " Condenser " Control Valve " AIl Electrîcal Connections $3995 8 arn. - 5 p.m. Dailiy 9 arn. - 1 p.m. Saturday 440 Hopkins (S. of Dunidas St. St. E.) 666-1811 ir being used by Dr. Basu and is colleagues for important research and sight-giving projects which will help coun- tless people not only in our community but al over the world. The visit was an exhilarating experien- ce. We felt that we were a part, bowever small, of the painstaking and sight-giving work that is quietly being conducted by Dr. Basu, Mrs. Wolfe and their cohorts. We also very quickly recognized how mucb we should appreciate what we usually take 50 mucb for granted - our gift of sight. Eleanor M.W. Stevenson thought the board Trustees decided staff should be informed should inforni theni before staff attended before they attend out- out-of-town conferences of-town conferences. for information pur- poses. New hours for Board trustees Trustees on the Durham Board of Education.wiIl be doing business at new hours for the next six months. Meetings normally held at 5:15 p.m. every second and fourth Mon- day, wilI now be held at 7 p.m. on the second FROM PG. 25 Monday, and 5:30 p.m on the fourth Monday. The trial change in meeting times is an at- tempt to make it easier for trustees to arrive on tume without inter- fering with personal employment. Rvrand toured a fort Councilloi Edwards which had been erected said that coincidentaly, to defend Canada.- by the time everyone On Sunday night, the ivas finisbed singing, councillor said the :he group bad formed group was served a din- nto the shape of a heart. ner in. esrly French "Tears were flowing. Canadian style. It was a very emotional At a luncheon held on experience," said the the last.day of the trip, councillor who added Monday, citizens of botb "lwe have a stronger town's came together Canada as a result of and sang auldlang syne these excbanges." and 0 Canada. it m - s m !r m m m - * NBEAEN OMFOT!m m m -m - Free e astim at Ad el up 10 275 cWhen ou buy Carriter mm = arcombiiinedpurchaseoeral air otir <oe t ump m - plus gas f rncar ae adhmdiir1 m O-lNE EXPOMOIE UEm018 m HOWOETING& AICONDTINIGTD OSHAA WITY AA.P OFFER ENDS JULY 12186 eca1r s nncirtf5 - E L" àZieba mu MPI~NC us TCT WHITBY