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www.independentfreepress.com Ted Brown............... 7 Calendar .......16, 20 Sports ............25, 26 Directory ...... 30, 31 Classifieds .....32-34 50 Cents (+ GST) Circulation: 22,800 CONCERT FINALE Local pianist to perform final concert in summer series PAGE 18 BULLDOGS WIN OPENER Locals begin Founders Cup action with lopsided victory PAGE 25 56 Pages Halton Hills' award-winning newspaper THE INDEPENDENT & FREE PRESS THURSDAY, August 19, 2010 Public board approves $490 million budget By DOMINIK KUREK Metroland Media Group The Halton District School Board is dipping into its reserve funds in order to hire more special education staff for the upcoming school year. The board's trustees have approved a $490 million operating budget for the 2010/11 school year recently, including the use of $386,000 from its 2010/11 contingency budget for the hiring of 4.5 special education resource teachers. The 2010/11 budget includes enhancements, funded by the Province, such as new teachers, principals and other faculty and staff to accommodate the growing school board. However, the board made further educational enhancements that are not funded by the Province after receiving a number of recommendations from its Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) to improve the state of special education at its schools. The board approved six elementary and three secondary school special education resource teachers, though only three are funded as a result of growth. The board is also adding three social workers, one psycho-educational consultant, one speech and language pathologist, 5.5 educational assistants (EAs), 11 early learning program EAs, one Braille transcriber, one contract occupational therapist, and two more related positions. The 22.5 new special See FORMER, pg. 5 REFINANCING? PURCHASING? Mustang fever grips Concept Ford Three and a half-year-old Thomas Hines climbs into his 2008 Mustang Shelby 500 (which has a working radio) while mom Lynn enjoys the view from a slightly larger model during Concept Ford's first annual Mike Portelli Vintage Car Show Saturday. The event was held in memory of Portelli, a salesman at the dealership who died earlier this year at the age of 49. Numerous prizes were handed out and raffles of Mustang-related gear were held. Photo by Jon Borgstrom Paint · Lighting · Wall Coverings Window Coverings · Home Decor W W W. B E R G S M A S . C A GEORGETOWN MARKETPLACE MALL 905-877-4193 5 YEAR FIXED. CALL FOR DETAILS. 3.79% FSCO #10259 Division of 1490845 Ont. Ltd. BOB WOODS, Broker (905) 877-1490 360 Guelph St., Georgetown