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"A Family Tradition for 130 Years" HH School cuts delaye But more savings must be found in Durham: trustee By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star School boards across Ontario are left feeling they've dodged a bullet after the province's education minister announced no significant cuts to fund- ing last week. "It's kind of a good news, not-so- good-news statement," Scugog trustee Bobbie Drew said of the plan announced Friday by John Snobelen. The board in Durham and those elsewhere had been bracing for significant cuts, such as those imposed by the Conservative overnment last year; Durham took an 11 million hit in that statement in the form of reduced transfer payments. But the minister announced no new cuts; instead, he has shifted $167 mil- lion in operating grants and ordered that boards dedicate them to capital expenditures, which are new buildings. Mrs. Drew said that while it's good news a moratorium on building new student spaces has been lifted, the reduced funding for operations is a matter of concern. "We as a growing board are in des- perate need of new pupil places in schools, rather than portables," she said Friday, after the minister's state- ments. . Mrs. Drew added, though, that ongo- ing funding concerns will present prob- lems as next year's budget is prepared. LE... HH Hl ¥ Bifid 11) TH | Christmas Day Thurs., Dec. 26 Fri, Dec. 27 Sat., Dec. 28 R@CIKCS Service. Quality & Style Since 1881 3 Transfer payment reductions announced last year mean the board had to trim costs to absorb an $11 mil- lion reduction in the 1996 budget year, and a further $7 million in the 1997 budget year. Last year's actions -- the board imposed measures such as elim- inating Junior Kindergarten, and cut- ting back almost everywhere else -- managed fo save $3.5 million for the '97 budget. But another $3.5 million must still be trimmed to accommodate reduced funding lev- els. "We've still got a lot to cut," said Mrs. Drew. And as trustees crunch this year's numbers, they must come up with pro- jects to use their capital expenditure grants from the province, or face having the funds withdrawn: "We use it or lose it, from what we understand," said Mrs. Drew. Board chair Ruth Ann Schedlich Drew said that while it's a relief that Durham can create much-needed new pupil places, "It is regrettable... that the reinstatement of this $167 million means that school board operating grants will be lower for 1997." Christmas Hours Sun., Dec. 29 Mon., Dec. 30 Tues., Dec. 31 New Years Day Closed Closed 9:30am - 9:30am - 7:00pm 5:30pm 168 Queen St. Port Perry 985-2521 Sorry No Returns/ Exchanges accepted on December 27/96.