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Education grants major disappointment Sevenâ€"yearâ€"old Angela Chiarelli, with the help of her mother Lisa, adds a new leaf (created by tracing her hand) to the giant tree poster at the Oakville Museum. The giant tree, which was decorated by colâ€" orful handâ€"traced leaves made by Grade 2 students from St. Marguerite D‘ Youville School, is just one of many planned activities at the Oakville Museum Sunday in celebration of Arbour Day from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Other activities include a "fun hunt" for trees and building natural bird feeders. Mayor Ann Mulvale will plant a Red Oak at the Erchless Estate at 2 p.m. (Photo by Peter McCusker) A Metroland Community Newspaper Vol. 32 No. 48 "Canada s Best mm@ /Véwa;oqwr CCNA Better Newspapers Competition 1993 spriNGSALE "ACCUFILE" ONLY...................... Ask for details SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 1994 28 Pages 75 Cents (GST included) $15.00 The finance committee has yet to act on three remaining administrative budgetâ€"reducing proposals: the cancelâ€" lation of the Bronte Creek program and no budget provisions for either Technological Studies or the Grant Eligible Micro Computer Systems. "I can‘t express how difficult it is this time around," she continued, referring to social contract restrictions and the forced implementation of Junior Kindergarten. Normally grant information is available in the middle of March. The board has already missed the usual March 31st deadline for requisitioning the town for additional money required. "Yesterday (Thursday) was the first time we heard the numbers," said Siebert. "I‘ m very concerned. I‘m also realâ€" ly angry that this government delayed the whole process...The province put us in a position where we have to react to a change to our funding in less than a week," said Siebert. "It‘s very serious, extremely seriâ€" ous," she said, adding the committee has asked administration to help trustees deal with the problem Monday night before the budget is approved at next Thursday‘s board meeting. "They are sending a message to the public. They think taxpayers should be assuming a larger proportion of the cost of education," said Siebert. Siebert said the finance committee had built in a 7% decrease in grants which, as it turns out, is not enough. Public school trustees face the difâ€" ficult task of reducing their 1994 budâ€" get of $283 million further, now that Ministry of Education grant informaâ€" tion is in, albeit more than a month overdue. Exact numbers won‘t be released until Monday night‘s finance committee meeting, but the decrease "definitely" impairs the committee‘s ability to reach the targeted 0% mill rate, said Siebert. ~% he Ontario NDP government obviously feels the people of Halton should be satisfied with less serâ€" _ vice, said an angry Penny Siebert, chairman of the Halton Board of Education‘s finance committee, in the wake of a substantial drop in provincial grant support. Oakville Beaver Public school board ‘s 0% mill rate increase in jeopardy By KATHY YANCHUS Today‘s Paper SPECiAL SUPPLEMENT S Food City, AP, Kmart Canadian Tire, Biway, The Bay, No Frills, Aikenhead‘s Canadian Publications Mail Product Agreement #435â€"201 100% Government Guaranteed Strip Coupons Maturing in 2004 9.59%, Page 21 Holeâ€"Inâ€"One Mark Sli (416) 359â€"4633 842â€"9410 ext. 460 842â€"4811 ext. 324 Lucky shot for good cause wiIn $1 million