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

Page 20, Whitby Free Press, Wednesday, April 21, 1993 New con fract for elementary' school teachers atee FROM PAGE 1 teachers heading in te nêé' 'tia- tiens. "The number one issue ameng tenchers was class size and we addressed it," said Butcher. flIowever, the union's bid for time off for teachers in the event of personai or famiiy emergen- cies was net successful, Butcher said. "One area that we lest was personal leave days,» he said. But with class size and the length of the school day bei*ng stipulated in the contract, "I feei Butcher said recent sugges- tions b y the Ontario goverament that ail public sector bargaining be suspended until a new 'social contract' between the province and its empieyees 15 obtained, had ne bearing on negotiatiens. "We had already settied before he (Premier Bob fise) announced it," said Butcher, although hie conceded that this may have influenced how seme teachers voted. Reglyardless of what may even- tuay transpire between the pro- vince and public sector workers, Butcher said his union's head office has informed ail its branches te bargain nornially. i3utcher said the Durham asso- ciation has already notified the school board that it wants te begin bargaining on next year's contract. "We're startingte t pick" the committee andth e issues, he said. "But we won't move as cjuickly until we see what Rae has te say.» School board chair Louise Farr expressed satisfaction with the outcome of negotiations.. "I'm quite pleased that we were able te, corne te, an agree- ment at the local level witheut intervention from outside par- tijes," said Farr, a Pickering trus- "It's always good for internai relations, " s he said. Aithough she feit the final settlement was dloser te, the board's position, Farr said, "I think aJ of us recegnize the (economic) situation ." The teachers had been seeking a 1.6 per cent increase, but pro- vincial fact finder Heather Crisp sided with the board in her report and recommended a 0.5 per cent hike in salaries and allowances. A fact finder's report is net binding but serves as a tool te heip the two sides reach an agreement. WtDROOKLTN VVLI Extra daylight and warmer temperatures are two indications of spring's return to Durham Region. Ariher sure sigiilis the return of the birds to Cranberry Mnrsh in Whitby. The Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA) is holding an Earth Day waterfowl viewing event on Sunday, April 25 at Lynde Shores Conservation Area. Members of the public are invited te gather between 1 and 4 p.m. on the northeast viewing platform of Cranberry Marsh Youth debate ethnie group stereot1yping Members of the Octagon Club of Brooklin beat members of the Barbara Black Youth Centre 4-0 in bail hockey Iast Thursday at an inter-club meeting. Octagon member Shannon Spanger wns in net for the Iawn & gardè' rentai nee-ds. Serving Brooktln & Whitby 655-3600 shutout. Back Centre youth beat the Brooklin boys 40-8 in basketbail. Ryan Bond proved te be the most valuable player for the Brooklin team, shooting tvo of the four baskets. Following the sports, members ftom each groucpa-,rticipated in a forum on race relations. The forum was set up by Robert Thompson, co-ordinator of the after-school program at the Barbara Black Youth Centre on Liverpool Road in Pickering. The discussion centred around ethnic stereotypes, leading t 'dot-aPod'Garden Party The Brooklin Horticultural Society will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, April 28, 8 p.m., at the Brooklin United Church. Conservationist Bob Johnston will discuss 'Adopt a Pond.' Refreshments will be served. Lug-a-mug. Ail are welcome. Brooklin United Church Wonien wîll hold a 'Garden Party Luncheon' on Wednesday, Aprii 28, 12:30 p .m., in the Christian Education building. Following lunch, there will be a Cedarbrook Flowers and Gift Shop floral arranging demonst- ration. Tickets are $5 each, available from any UCW niember, or eall the church office at 655-4141. toward prejudicial ideas. The youth were given an opportunlity to express their ideas and get responses in an open debate format. Most of the youth members of the Barbara Black Youth Centre are black and the Brooklin Octagon members are white. Members from both clubs were surprised at how closely their ideas matched on stereotyping different ethnic groups. The forums are considered an excellent opportunity for youth te, get a better understanding of each other and help te break down barriers. Octaglon president Steve Webb says the Barbara Black members will be invited te a rematch in basebali and soccer in the near future. The Octagon Club is a youth school students, and is sponsored by the Optimist Club of Brooklin. The Octagon's next service project will be a car wash to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabxetes Foundation of Canada. Brooklin Oddfellows and Rebekahs will hold a roast beef dinner on Saturday, April 24. There will be sittings at 5 p.m. and at 6:30 p.m., at the 100F Hall, Bagot St., Brooklin. Cost is $10 for aduits, $4 for those aged 12 and under. For more information caîl 655- 8034. 1