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6 ·The IFP· Halton Hills ·Tuesday, September 4, 2012 OPINION New road rules As the children at various Halton Hills schools head back to class to further their education, many parents will find they have a thing or two to learn as well. The Town, working with the two school boards and Halton Regional Police, will implement plans starting today (Tuesday) to improve safety around five local schools. No stopping and no parking zones and speed limit reductions will be imposed in areas around McKenzie-Smith Bennett, Harrison, Stewarttown, Gardiner and St. Catherine of Alexandria Schools. For full details see today's story on page 2. Town Traffic Co-ordinator Matt Roj said he is working with schools to communicate the new rules to parents. As well, Halton Police will be on hand after a two-week learning period, to enforce the new rules. Roj said similar rules are being imposed in front of schools around the province. The new rules are being instituted as a solution to a problem that occurred around schools last school year when there was a number of hits and near misses. For example, last spring there were three incidents where Acton youths, on foot or on bike, had been involved in collisions. The problem at many schools is that parents park their vehicles on the side of the road opposite the school. Kids, being kids, then dart across the road, sometimes into the path of cars. Similar traffic rules for other wards will be coming in the next phase of traffic bylaw amendments. Undoubtedly, there will be some grumbling about inconvenience and congestion, but clearly steps were needed to improve the safety situation near some local schools. Parents will simply have to adapt to the new traffic restrictions. Call it a learning experience. 905-873-0301 Publisher: Ken Nugent General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@theifp.ca) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@theifp.ca) Managing editor: John McGhie (jmcghie@theifp.ca) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@theifp.ca) Classifieds Kristie Pells (classified@theifp.ca) Accounting Rose Marie Gauthier Editorial Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@theifp.ca) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@theifp.ca) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@theifp.ca) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@theifp.ca) Letters policy Letters must include an address and daytime phone number. Anonymous letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 150 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Publication is not guaranteed. Email: jmcghie@theifp.ca Steve Nease signed in haste, or any of the rest of the mismanaged operation that has run Ontario for far too long. 5. Show the strength to amalgamate the Catholic and public systems and reduce the cost of education (mostly through administration) significantly. The boards are close to generic already. Teachers realize the need to be part of the solution, possibly with a short-term pay freeze, reduction of sick time benefits and re-organizing the pay grid. Working three days without pay? Even Bob Rae didn't expect that. Vic Phyllis, Acton Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. Letters to the editor Teacher betrayed by MPP's column Dear editor, Re: Ted Arnott's Aug. 28 column Teachers' unions, government must work together. Mr. Arnott; I feel betrayed reading your article. You obviously have not done your due diligence and have positioned your comments to inflame the situation without giving the complete story, which makes you on par with Dalton McGuinty and the Liberals. 1. Our last two pay icreases have been at about inflation, one slightly above and the last slightly below. 2. You have totally glossed over the expectation that we work three days without pay (a 1.5 % pay cut). Have you or any of the MPPs taken a pay cut? Is anyone but the teachers being forced to take a pay cut let alone a salary freeze? 3. Many teachers agree with some of the measures being put forth. 4. Why are the teachers the only ones being attacked to cut the deficit? We had no part in eHealth, Ornge, fees for cancelled contracts Anthea Hoare lived here. When I said yes, she said she had found my wife's wallet, then simply handed me the wallet and left. Everything was there. Quite aside from the money, there were many items that would be difficult to replace, so its loss could have been devastating. Thanks to this lady, all is well and we are extremely grateful. Again it is people like this that make one realize that Georgetown is the best place to live. Thank you, madam, for your kindness. A donation has been sent to CAShh in the name of `a caring citizen' as a token of our gratitude to you. Colin Hoare, Georgetown WEB POLL RESULTS (Go to www.theifp.ca) Who do you side with in the dispute between the teachers' unions and the provincial government? · The teachers (56%) · The Liberal government (30%) · Neither (14%) Return of wallet sparks donation Dear editor, My wife and I moved to Georgetown nearly 20 years ago, and we have always loved the community spirit, friendliness and honesty here. This proved especially so on August 4, when my wife did not notice she had dropped her wallet in the parking lot after visiting the Farmers' Market. Shortly after we got home, a lady came to the door and asked if Share your thoughts The Independent & Free Press welcomes your letters. Letters must include an address and daytime phone number. Anonymous letters will not be published and letters should not exceed 150 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Please email your letter to: jmcghie@theifp.ca The Independent & Free Press The Independent & Free Press is published Tuesday and Thursday and is one of several Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.