The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

PAGE 2, WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1987 Bussing request denied By ROXANNE REVELER Parents of students now atten- ding Palmerston Public School have lost out on two counts in their battle against Durham Board of Education. At a committee meeting last week they were told they would not be getting an expansion to their school and that children in the area slated to switch to the newly named Leslie MeFarlane Public School (Whitby Senior) will have to walk rather than be bussed. ELDORADO CHEESE- NOW AVAILABLE AT THE SCOTTISH BAKE SHOP B 124 ATHOL STREET, WHITBY MR. TRIM COMPLETE LAWN & GARDEN SERVICE Reasonable Rates 725-3300·.....623.9711 With respect to the second request, board chairman Sandra Lawson admitted the boundary change which forces some students now attending Palmerston to walk further to their new school was an emotional, highly sensitized issue. But she added: "Boards aren't in the business of transportation, they're in the business of education." Lawson admitted such moves had become a problem for boards from the time special education started and explained the Ministry of Education does not take into ac- count the bussing of special education students for long distan- ces when they determine their grants for bussing. According to Lawson, the public board pays about $2.10 per day per student in busing costs. Ap- proximately 75 per cent of tran- sportation costs are picked up by ministry grants, but the Durham board still went some $1.6 million beyond the grant ceiling last year, a figure which Lawson concluded had to be picked up by taxpayers. INSURANCE COSTS SOARINGIe BEFORE YOU RENEW YOUR AUTO OR HOME INSURANCE, CALL AND COMPARE.... Fora complete Insurance review, call and arrange a mutually convenlent appointmmnt ...Of course there la no obligation PETER DI LELLO 24 RESOLUTE WHITBY CRESCENT 666-2090 CANADA AUTO-HOME-LIFE-GROUP-DISABILITY-RRSP 854 BROCK ST. N. WHITBY 668-5519 THE BEST IN TOWN -i" 'MggH FREE DELIVERY IN WHITBY MINIMUM ORDER OF $6.00 **PARTY SPECIAL* * 2 Large Pzza with 2 topping * of your c ice only $16.50 plus tax * Slices $1.25 * SAVE $1.OO kk OFFFRESH k BAKEDLASAGNE : * SAVE $2.00 OFFON , ANY SIZE PIZZA : k NOW OPEN FOR LUNCHk Monday to Saturday: 11:30-1:30 k Evenings open: 4 -11, Mon. to Thurs. Fri. and Sat. 4 - 2,Sun. 4 -11 THE BEST IN TOWN * The boundary change resulted in Palmerston being dropped from a high priority list for expansion this year. Initially, when the Ministry of Education announced a $13.7 million grant for capital projects in Durham, Palmerston was fifth on the priority list for expanded facilities. With the rezoning of school boun- daries recently drawn up, it lost that spot. Members of the Durham board are unable to comment on where they now stand. Parents packed the property and transportation committee meeting last week in protest. Spokesman Mark Flewelling pointed out that although the board estimates 100- 125 current Palmerston students will be attending McFarlane School this September, the projected enrolment equates to a total reduc- tion of only 50 from the current population. He added that with the growth of the area, there could be no decrease at all. Flewelling said while parents acknowledged the library at the school was some 750 sq. ft., it was neither adequate to support its present needs nor in keeping with the "norm" of square footage in the region. He pointed out such restric- tions as limited display area, lack of storage space and lack of space for the teacher/librarian. Parents are also concerned with inadequate gymnasium facilities. As the school does not have a stage, a make-shift stage is utilized during such times as the Christmas con- cert, science fair, etc. This, says Flewelling, results in the disruption in regular school activities such as physical education periods and ex- tra-curricular activities. Property and transportation committee chairman Ruth LaFarga stated the board was well aware there were a number of schools within the region that were inadequate with respect to libraries and gymnasiums, adding three new gyms were being added to schools this year. She did, however, stress the board was forced to stick to its priority list, adding that any fun- ding okayed now would be on next year's funding list, not this year. This year's ministry funding will not be available until the next school year and every project must be justified," said LaFarga, "Un- fortunately, we cannot guarantee the Palmerston project until then." Whitby trustee John Buchanan suggested although it was not a guarantee, if the board found itself with extra funds there might be a chance the Palmerston issue could be reevaluated. "There are still two schools in Oshawa with no gyms at all and they must come first before the upgrading of inadequate gyms," said Buchanan. "We're trying to SEE PAGE4 Two Cobourg youths have been charged with break and enter and theft over $1,000 after three suc- icessive break-ins at Country Lane golf course. The break-ins began on Thur- sday, May 21, when sprinkler equipment was stolen and damaged totalling more than $3,500. The following night, a window was removed to gain entry, and liquor, cash and three sets of golf clubs valued at more than $2,000 were stolen. Then on Saturday night, police responded to an alarm at the Taun- ton Rd. golf course, and arrived in time to see two males running from the scene. Police gave chase but lost the pair along the roadside. One of the youths was later picked up by an of- ficer as he walked along Taunton Rd. in front of Weall and Cullen adjacent to Country Lane. Police then issued a warrant and arrested the second youth on Mon- day, May 24. The two, one 16 and the other 15, are charged with the Friday and Saturday break and enters. They have also been charged with stealing a 1986 Dodge truck from Blair St. on May 23. Police are also investigating an incident at the golf course on Sun- day in which an Oshawa woman's clubs were stolen from the trunk of her car. The woman told police she had trouble removing the clubs from the trunk. She went to get help at the club house and when she retur- ned five minutes later, the clubs, valued at $1,800 were gone. Trailer park FROM PAGE 1 homes in the new area is 6.1 metres in width and 20 metres in length. Residents want wider lots. Siksay said parking should also be in the area along the railroad tracks, rather than in the eastern or opposite extremity as planned. The trains would make the mobile homes near the line "shake, rattle and roll" more than normal homes, commented resident Terry Potts. Town planning director Bob Short said more comments, in- cluding those of CPR, have yet to be received before a recommendation can be made on the application. He also said a recommendation would not likely be forthcoming un- til the fall this year. Mizzi said that could lead to problems since moving would occur during the winter. "Let's face realities," replied Short. "We have to get a lot of in- formation together." He added that the application was "complex," mentioning set- backs, noise barriers, environmen- tal issues and the variety of lot and trailer sizes to be considered. CINDERELLA delighted fans off all ages with her bird act as the Carden Circus played to capacity crowds at Iroquois Park last Friday. Free Press photo Theft spree at course