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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday May 23, 2008 - 7 Southeast Oakville parents plead to keep their schools open Clearview parents want board to build school By Melanie Cummings SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER The Body Shaping Fitness Studio For Women S Specialists in Women Decisions about the schoolscape and student makeup of southeast Oakville now rests with the Halton District School Board. Parents had their final say at the podium Tuesday night (May 20). And they came in droves. For five hours, parent after parent with children at each of the six schools in the southeast end of town pitched their case to trustees to keep schools open, convert to JK to Grade 8, or build a new one. More than 100 people packed the board's meeting chambers while 30 took a seat in the presenter's chair each offering their tailor made solutions. In most cases, Clearview residents are advocating for a new school; Chisholm, New Central, Brantwood and Maple Grove residents want walk-to schools; and New Central and Brantwood residents want one to at least remain open while Linbrook parents are demanding French Immersion stay in place. Jancis Sullivan said the current recommendation before the board ­ to renovate and refurbish Chisholm Public School adding four classrooms at a cost of $800,000, spend $2 million on 10 new classrooms at Maple Grove, another $3.1 million for eight more classrooms and a gym at Linbrook and $80,000 at EJ James School ­ has too many shortcomings. The board is proposing to sell Brantwood School, New Central and five acres of land in the Clearview community, netting an estimated $6.6 million, which is more than the $5.98 million price tag to repair the four still standing. To renovate four schools (Linbrook, Chisolm, Maple Grove and E.J. James) within the sum- S Summe Shape-Up SUMMER MEMBERSHIP - May 1-Sept.1, 2008 ludes all classes Only SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER $199.00 SIGN OF THE TIMES: Clearview residents have taken to posting lawn signs to get thier message across. mer is "an almost certain impossibility", Sullivan told trustees. But building a new one in Clearview and renovating two others "would be far less disruptive to students," she added. Denise O'Connell, whose child attends Maple Grove, prefers two English elementary JK to Grade 6 schools but objects to moving some children east of Ford Drive, who attend Maple Grove, over to a smaller populace at Chisolm. With just 300 students projected they will not have a fulltime librarian nor dedicated music, gym and art teachers, she said. "We are creating a have and have not school right next to each other," added O'Connell. Janet Haslett-Theall and Gillian Santageli whose children attend E.J. James School support the board's view to move to a Grade 7-8 French/English program there and are keen to see the $80,000 in planned upgrades such as doors for stalls in student washrooms plus additional lighting and hand dryers, as well as lockers, gym equipment and playground. Heather Campeau is from New Central School community and doesn't want to see it, or Brantwood close. New Central has 300 students and Brantwood currently has 227 students with enrolment at both projected to decline. "We support any alternative viable options...that include an elementary school on one of either site," she stated. A new school in Clearview, however, appears unlikely according to Director of Education Wayne Joudrie, because it wouldn't qualify for provincial New Growth Funding. Tuesday's delegations are the final piece of a process that began in May 2007 and produced a series of recommendations. According to Joudrie, the mixed opinions are understandable. "These are communities that have been living under the cloud of potential closures for a long time," he said in a report to the board. Trustees will grapple with several of the scenarios presented and recommended, including the preferred option to create two JKGrade 6 English schools, one Grade 1-6 French school and one Grade 7-8 English-French stream school in southeast Oakville. A decision is likely to come forward at the June 21 board meeting. months - May 1-Sept.1, 2008 Up to age 25. Student card required) STUDENT PACKAGE Includes all classes Personal Training Session Only $149.00 183 Lakeshore Road W. Oakville (just east of Dorval Drive) For more information, please call (905) 849-1919 www.bodyshapingstudio.com Don't Pay Retail! Factory Outlet Sale Installed by Professional Finish Carpenters Columns Wainscoting Ajax man charged with daytime break-ins An Ajax man is in custody facing numerous charges in connection with a series of break and enters committed in Oakville. Halton police report on May 7 an investigation began into three separate daytime break and enters in the area of Eighth Line and Dundas Street East. In one of the incidents, police said, the homeowner was present when two men forced open her front door.Hiding in an upstairs room, the woman was able to call 911 after which police arrived and located a vehicle believed to be related to the break and enters, but no suspects. Through consultations with the York and Durham Regional Police Services it was determined that similar robberies had taken place in their jurisdictions. On May 21, Wrayal Creswell Dacosta, 25, was arrested by police at his home in Ajax and charged with six counts of break and enter and the committing of theft, one count of break and enter with intent to commit theft, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime and one count of assault with intent to resist arrest. Further criminal charges are pending by the York and Durham Regional Police Services. The Halton Regional Police Service is continuing to investigate this incident. Anyone with information related to it is asked to contact the Oakville Criminal Investigations Bureau at (905) 825-4777 ext 2219 or by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Over 70 Smooth or Patterned Profiles Visit our website or showrooms for prices, design ideas. In home design consultation available. 201 Millway Ave., Unit 6, 416-245-1115 (One light north of Hwy. 7 & Jane) Showroom Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5, Thurs until 7, Sat 10-3