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OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, September 18, 2009 · 10 Staff and students believe patience will pay off for them Continued from page 1 requiring special resources, such as science labs and the gymnasium, are being held. The remainder of classes are being held in the 24 portables on site. Principal Pat Daly is not letting news of the delay hamper the excitement of the new school. "I think both the kids and the staff know what the payoff is, so if there's short- term pain, that's okay," said Daly, who has been principal since Sept. 2007. "It is going to be a state-of-the art school and I certainly think our students and those from our family schools who are going to be coming here in the future will enjoy the new programs and enhanced programs we already offer. It is going to be fantastic." He said that students and staff at the school are doing well in the portables this fall. "It is certainly easier this semester because students had that experience from last year and were able to adapt," he said. "The stu- European Engineering Combined With Traditional Workmanship "MASONRY & FIREPLACE DESIGN SPECIALISTS" "Building on the Brightest Ideas Around Glass" 406 SPEERS RD., OAKVILLE ACROSS FROM RONA LANSING 905-337-2066 w w w. c o b b l e s t o n e m b e r s . c a 905.849.0266 dents are really resilient and it hasn't been much of an issue. They have dealt with it really well." While students will be moved into the new building early in 2011, the exterior of the school will not be completed until that spring. The extension of the project means the school board will have to pay to rent the 24 portables for an extra semester. Corbacio was unable to provide an estimation of what this will cost the school board. While construction is now underway, approval for field lights has yet to be granted by the Town's Site Plan Committee. The issue has been a point of contention between the neighbourhood residents and the school board for many months. Cathy Duddeck, Ward 2 councillor and member of the Site Plan Committee, said she has received mixed reactions from local residents about the lights. While most are vehemently opposed, those who are more receptive to the idea want restrictions put in place. "I've had some people say that if there is going to be lights, they'd like to see some restrictions on them," she said. "The use that is going to be associated with this is outside the normal school hours, so if they have been used to a school in their immediate area that closes around 6 or 7 at night, now you are having something that could be going on to 11 at night. And it won't only be during the school year.... There are some in the area who said if we do have to have it (lights), has the Town given any thought in restricting the use, making it maybe an earlier end use than 11 p.m." Duddeck added that she is personally against installing field lights at the school. In response to the recent debate over installing lights at pre-existing fields, the Town of Oakville is conducting a municipal lighting strategy and policy study to review their current policy and practices concerning outdoor lighting at public facilities. The study will also examine lighting policy for commercial and institutional properties that are publicly accessible and widely used, such as schools and shopping centres. Council approved the two-phase study on June 29. There is no set end date of the study at this time. A decision will be not be made on the St. Thomas Aquinas lights issue until the study is complet See public page 20