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8- The Oakville Beaver, Friday June 23, 2006 www.oakvillebeaver.com WOMAN THE SALON Catholic school councils backed campus plan Continued from 3 Anna Giovannelli, Director Sylist Julia Earle, Guest Colorist Welcomes Two exceptionally W talented artists to our NEW team. 128 Reynolds Street, Oakville · 905-337-3221 councils support the project, while only five per cent do not. The remainder had no position for a variety of reasons. (St. Thomas Aquinas is badly in need of repair and its council felt that any request for funding from the province would hamper its efforts to get special funding to renovate the school.) A letter to the Board signed by 34 school council chairs said in part that "Halton Region will be well-served by the Halton Regional Campus proposal because of cost savings and accessibility to services and because these four Halton organizations have a long history of innovative, successful partnerships it makes sense to share a campus to build on that successful partnership, while ensuring and enhancing each organization's respective identity, culture and autonomy. "When it comes to the future of Catholic Education in Halton, our Board must participate in a project that acknowledges our school board on a level playing field with our counterparts," the letter continued. "We do not want to be referred to as the `separate' board ... The Halton Regional Campus is good for Halton, especially the Halton Catholic School Board." After the vote failed, Belsito was extremely upset that the trustees who THE CONSERVATION ZONE EVERY KILOWATTS COUNTS ­ EVEN AT THE COTTAGE! Chief Energy Conservation voted against the MOU did so in direct conflict to her findings. In Burlington, which Van de Vrande and Matters represent for example, 12 of 14 school councils said they want the campus. "A trustee of the Catholic school board should definitely be getting input from church and from the community ­ but I would think that Catholic school councils would be a better source of feedback than the mall," said Belsito. "Not one school in Burlington is against the campus ­ one is split and one wasn't able to get feedback ­ and yet two Burlington trustees were against the campus, before they even listened to my presentation." Belsito said one parent told her Tuesday that the meeting was "hijacked democracy" and she agrees. "We need people on that board who will listen to everyone ­ not just people at the mall ­ but parents who have children in the schools that the trustees are in charge of," she said. "We need trustees who really care about our board, our schools, our staff, and most especially our children ­ and not about the political game playing that we all witnessed Tuesday night." The proposed campus is essentially a government office "supercentre" that involves the creation of a major, 540,000square-foot, multi-use campus on the Bronte Road property currently occupied by Halton Regional headquarters as well as adjacent land that is up for sale. If it comes to pass as originally proposed, the site would be a central location that would include four distinct, stand-alone areas of office space for the Region, Halton Regional Police, HCDSB and the Halton District School Board, housing about 1,900 staff. It's estimated that the campus would cost approximately $127 million, but would result in overall savings of more than $20 million for taxpayers ­ as opposed to how much it would cost if each of the four partners pursued individual buildings. To address all concerns about the plan, a special Article III was added to the MOU. It states, "This MOU is based on the principle that the recognition and respect for the autonomy and identity of each Participant, their beliefs, culture, culture sensitivity, icons, imagery, uniqueness and values are considered of primary importance in the design and operation of the Halton Regional Campus facility." On the financial side, the Board would have purchased its building and contribute to the shared facility ­ about 8.5 per cent of the costs. The Board would have also entered into a ground lease with the Region of $10 for 99 years. If the Board decided to terminate its relationship with the campus in the future, the Region would buy its building for the fair market value at the time. Don't decisions Dforleave the tough make. your family to Planning Ahead, Saves Money, Saves Stress & Saves Time ongoing energy strategy. 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