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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, D ec em be r 10 ,2 02 0 | 4 ENJOY THE SOUNDS OF THE SEASON Come in and have your complimentary hearing consultation today! 360 Guelph St., Unit 44 Georgetown (In the Knolcrest Centre) 905.877.8828 Georgetown's trusted choice for hearing care The board once again has the will, but is strug- gling to find a way. The Halton Catholic District School Board is facing renewed calls by parents to expand the pop- ular French immersion program. For well over a year now, board trustees have expressed a desire to grow the program but have been challenged with signifi- cant capacity, equity and logistical issues. Over 40 parents have delegated to the board about the issue, many say- ing the inability to get into the program is pushing people into the public school system. Pat Daly, the director of education with the board, said a report on the pro- gram will be presented at the upcoming meeting and then trustees will be left to decide what to do next. "The real work is deter- mining what the next steps are because it's not just saying let's add a cou- ple classes here or there. It also will take into account where those classes may go and boundary reviews and all of those elements," said Daly. The board's application window for new entrants to the French immersion program closed on Nov. 20. The number of applicants have not yet been released but the available spaces is not expected to accommo- date all those interested in joining next school year. Carrie Kelley, a mother NEWS CATHOLIC BOARD GRAPPLES WITH A FRENCH IMMERSION EXPANSION ROLAND CILLIERS rcilliers@metroland.com Trustee Helena Karabela is supporting the board to look into French immersion expansion options regardless of it potentially meaning some areas would get more spaces while others would not. Roland Cilliers/Metroland See - page 5