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10- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, April 30, 1996 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" 'Ball's in trustees' court now' Outdoor ed workers hope for reprieve from board By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star Staff involved with the Durham Region Board of Education's outdoor ed program are watching closely this week, as trus- tees wind down their talks on the 1996 budget. Funding for the pro- gram, which gives thou- sands of kids a year an op- portunity to carry out studies in a wilderness en- vironment, is on the block as the board cuts millions of dollars worth of spend- Ing in an attempt to avoid a steep increase in taxes. Staff have suggested cutting $229,000 from the outdoor education budget this year, and eliminating funding to the tune of $344,000 next year as they attempt to find the $14 million necessary to bring in a budget that requires no tax increase. But trus- tees want to revisit that recommendation, along with several others, and "We're keeping our promise to serve you better. were to discuss it at their meeting last night. "The ball 1s in the trus- tees' court now," John Box- all, program facilitator for outdoor and environmen- tal education with the board, said. He's responsi- ble for programming at three outdoor ed sites: Nonquon in Scugog, Dur- ham Regional Forest, and Claremont. Mr. Boxall and nine oth- er staff members are hop- ing trustees will see their Ys AAO? SOUNCL-- "Whenever you call us to meet at your property, we'll make an appointment for a time suitable for both of us. We promise to keep that appointment, on time. We promise to complete all the work that was agreed to. We promise that this work will be finished within a mutually agreeable time. And if for some reason we can't keep any of these promises, we'll waive the applicable service charge or fee. It's just one of the ways we're trying to do right by our customers. And in the near future, we'll be offering other improvements like expanded customer service hours, way clear to impose a cut to funding, but keep the program alive. He said outdoor education pro- vides a valuable learning experience to kids throughout the region, and isin high demand. "Nonquon sees any- where from 7,600 any- where to about 8,800 kids a year," said Mr. Boxall. That's up to three class- es a day, five days a week. and there's a long waiting list of classes whose teach- Introducing our new Service Guarantee.' As part of our commitment to serve you better, we're proud to introduce our new Service Guarantee. It's brimming communications centres for quicker and easier access to us, with promise. And promises. and a new, more flexible billing system. At Ontario Hydro Retail, we'll never stop working towards serving you better. Promise. Ontario Hydro Central Ontario Electric" * a division of Ontario Hydro Retail + Guarantee does not apply in the event of severe weather. labour disputes. and or other circumstances beyond our control or f you cancel your appointment or are out when we call ) -- er want to use the sites for units on anything from wetlands studies to sur- veying to orienteering. "For many kids, this is the only outdoor education opportunity they'll have, at least in their young years," said Mr Boxall. Scugog trustee Bobbie Drew said she'd like to see staff show how the pro- gram could sustain cuts -- maybe as much as 30 or 40 per cent of the current budget -- without elimina- tion of funding. As it stands now, withdrawal of funding would mean no staff on site at the outdoor ed facilities, and transpor- tation money to carry stu- dents there from their -schools would be gone. "We've had quite a bit of lobbying" on the matter, she said, noting that trus- tees are willing to look at alternatives, and were scheduled to last night. "If the political will wasn't there, it wouldn't be on this list (of programs to reconsider)," said Mrs. Drew. "A number of trustees have said at the table they want to revisit outdoor ed- ucation." Port Perry 985-0800 Uxbridge 852-3510 gtonemoor . LA +° ¢ Yar, genet® Non-profit organization Stonemoor Day Care [= " All At Guaranteed Low Prices UNITED CARPET® Largest Carpet Selection In Scugog Township B LIN D S & a member of the largest carpet « Verticals » Venetians | |} buying group in Canada. * Pleated Shades HOMESTEAD by Ballard & Carnegie s Hwy. 7A East - Port Perry 985-2451 or 985-2157 .. FAMOUS K Levolor® CAPTAIN GEORGE OPENING ny Clpitellire ¢ Location!! FISH & CHIPS ~ ALASKA HALIBUT ~ COD ~ HADDOCK --~ SOuUVvVLAKI ~ HOMEMADE BURGERS ~ CHICKEN BREASTS Eat In or Take Out 161 QUEEN ST., PORT PERRY TE 0 0 a eR TW" Lm --ms Rt a a