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24 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday February 23, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Want to send your child to private school... Catholic school board hands more power to students By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Children First: School Choice Trust is offering grants worth up to 50% of tuition to lower-income families for use at any private elementary school in Ontario. "It has been a total Apply online before March 31st 1-866-924-8881 A program of The Fraser Institute Power to the student trustees. At a Halton Catholic District School Board meeting Tuesday the board announced that student trustees will now be granted responsibilities and privileges previously only granted to board trustees. Among these includes the ability to attend in camera meetings that are closed to the public and, until now, were closed to student trustees as well. "We're really excited about the responsibilities," said Ryan Durran, student trustee. "It's a huge step forward not just for us but I think for the board because they're here to serve the students and I don't think there's a lot of better ways than by giving us more responsibilities and a more direct connection to what goes on at the board. As far as I can see that can't be bad for students." Some restrictions on what student trustees can hear continue to apply. For example, during in camera meetings where intimate or personal financial information is disclosed the student trustees would have to excuse themselves. Even so, Durran believes the gains of this announcement are substantial. "There are some limitations on what we can sit in on in camera and we understand, that but a lot of the things that are important to students go on in camera so it's maybe the biggest step forward for students in the province for a long time now in terms of representing themselves," said Durran. In addition to the wider role of student trustees, the meeting had a number of other highlights. The 2007-2008 transportation policy exceptions were also reviewed with special attention being paid to Georgetown. Christ the King Catholic Secondary School has a 3.2 km radius around it within which students are required to walk to school unless a walking hazard has been identified. Within this radius there are currently three areas where students are bused to school because of such walking hazards but at the beginning of the next school year this number will reduce to two. "This area, they can now walk to school. That one will be taken away," said trustee Alice Anne LeMay, indicating the area west of the school which includes Arborglen Drive and Belmont Boulevard. "The construction is finished there and they now have proper sidewalks." LeMay also noted that because of road safety concerns the area to the south of the school, which includes Forsyth Crescent and Hamilton Crescent, will continue to receive bus services. The area to the north west of the school, that includes Ruddell Crescent and Moore Park Crescent, which currently gets bus service is being reviewed. Other key points during the meeting included the donation of $16,000 to the board by the Dante Centre of Hamilton for use in their school program that allows students to travel to and experience Italy. Ergo Desk Mate Freedom Chair Tempur Celebrity Bed Get-a-way chair MOVING SALE Foot Machine SALE ENDS 24TH NO EXTENSIONS! 1 DAY LEFT Balans Vital FINAL DAY FEBRUARY 24 4 Go Go Scooter 1 DAY LEFT! TEMPUR ON SALE! TH Bucky HOURS Monday - Saturday 10am-7pm Trafalgar Village Shopping Centre Unit B9-117 Cross Avenue, Oakville L6J 2W7 Back Support 905.842.5555 Keyboard Support Backsaver Wedges Wool Duvets Tempur Enhanced System The Perfect Chair Natura Flex System