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Board cuts some fees in Halton By Tina Depko METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP Student fees for items such as textbooks and course materials like wood and fabric will be a thing of the past at public schools in Halton starting this faîl. The Halton District School Board (HDSB) approved a new student fée policy recently that eliminates charges for registration, textbooks and course-related materials at both the elementary and high school 1ev- els. While fees will stili be charged for what the board calis'supplemen- tary items and activities' such as yearbooks, field trips and athletics, board staff expccts the new policy to case the financial burden on Halton families. Director of Education Wayne Joudrie drafted the policy with the help of board staff. He said the HDSB is ahead of the curve, with the Ministry of Education currently looking at stu- dent fees charged at sehools across Ontario in anticipation of a similar movement toward affordable eca- tion. "This is a significant change in practice," joudrie said. "It is very clear the Education Act doces not allow us to charge course fees that currently exist in Halton and likely across the province. 1 expect the minister and ministry will be look- ing at doing the same kinds of things we are doing in Halton straight across the province.' Through the new policy, elemen- tary schools will receive $20 per stu- dent from the board. High schools will receive $35 per student. This is a total cost of $670,000 at the elementary level and $600,000 at the secondary level, with a com- bined price tag of $1.27 million. This cost will bc added as an annual line item in the budget. The $35 and $20 figures were calculated by board staff following a review of fees charged by Halton schools. The review of secondary scbool fees for courses showed that the average charge per pupil per ycar was $35. The range of fees per stu- dent/school was between $23 and $41. The review of program fee charges at the elementary level showed that charges for in-school esee TRUSTEES on page A13 I A6OntaIoStNu~ Limted Time InmSto BRANO NEW> "ýTOP 0F THEWNIE" 120101 EQUIPPEO WITH ALL THE BEILS AND WHISTLES Model #R0743A, 1.6L DOHC eng, auto O/D Trans, Bluetooth, Tilt Steering, AM/FM/CD/MP3/USB Stereo, Split Folding Rear Seats, Air Gond, Power Windows, Power [ocks, Power Mirrors, Keyless Remote, Cruise Gontrol, Front Heat- ed Seats and Much More. ALL KIA SOUL'S ON SALE! $p5O0 Consumer ssa 2.9s ck Special Offer' 0 oz 3 Rie ýSEDAN EX.C-ONVEN IENOEPKO.G luw Cin ...4 OUA V§P - wwh§ýh CD r Ïtim iblrott 1-3 111,uarme quel uîiî go 111p.- 2011 KIA SORENTO mm' -34 JUST NORTH 0F THE KU1A MO:TOR ý. V if.Mali MILTON MAIL The Power to Surprise 9.\u% No Paymeots 90 Pays No Paymeii7nle"els i o 3 à: r 90 Pays -J ý1