OAKVILLE'S BEST REAL ESTATE SECTION INSIDE! www.oakvillebeaver.com Beaver THE OAKVILLE Voted Ontario's Top Newspaper Four Years in a Row - 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Mortgages G R E AT R AT E S A member of Metroland Media Group Ltd. Vol. 52 No. 73 Ward 3 still divided over school closures Public school trustees vote tonight By Joanna Phillips SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Ward 3 parents and residents remain split over the fate of six existing public elementary schools in their community. While Halton District School Board trustees will determine the fate of those schools tonight (June 17) more than 40 delegations aired their views at a public meeting in Burlington Monday night. The current proposal recommended by Education Director Wayne Joudrie would see Linbrook, Brantwood and E.J. James schools closed, with Maple Grove, Chisholm and New Central remaining open, as well as a new school in Clearview, effective September 2010. With a strict time limit of four minutes, delegates often rushed through reams of information. Delegates speaking in favour of the current recommendation cited its fiscal responsibility and educational soundness as appeal factors. Resident Janet Haslett-Theall was "ecstatic at the viable option (being offered)." "The director clearly listened... by asking for research into transition, the board staff has demonstrated a willingness to open their perceptions." According to Joudrie's report, transition which refers to any of a variety of changes a student will encounter in their school career, including school closure and reconfiguration on student learning will not be minimized in the current model. With two JK-6 schools and a middle school being proposed, the plan would include a forced transition from Grades 6 to 7. This didn't sit well with several parents. Steve Gibson, a teacher at Maple Grove and father of two, stressed the importance of a "true JK-8 experience" which would "allow our children to avoid a SERVING OAKVILLE FOR 25 YEARS! 175 Wyecroft Rd. Oakville 905.845.6653 Between Kerr & Dorval VISIT OUR ALL NEW WEBSITE Serving up live music ARTS PAUL FOLEY AMP MORTGAGE CONSULTANT M08005472 1500 Upper Middle Rd. Abbey Plaza at Third Line HO: 104 5770 Hurontario St. Mississauga, ON L5R 3G5 Powered by 905.827.8009 Purchases Renewals Refinances Rental Properties Over 40 Lenders Credit Lines Vacation Properties "Using Communication To Build Better Communities" WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2009 · 68 Pages $1.00 (plus GST) Police fire shots at stolen SUV By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF DAVID RITCHIE / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER RECORDING EVIDENCE: Halton Police Detective Constable Mark Creighton, of the Identification Unit, photographs a bullet casing from a gun fired by a police officer at an oncoming stolen SUV at the Oakville Entertainment Centrum early Sunday morning. The driver of a stolen SUV may have been wounded after a Halton police officer opened fire on the vehicle as it attempted to run him down. The incident began as a police surveillance operation at the Oakville Entertainment Centrum, near Winston Churchill Boulevard and the Queen Elizabeth Way, early Sunday morning. The surveillance was set up following numerous complaints of car thefts in the area. "We're an intelligence-led service. We look at where our problems are and we've been noticing that we have had a problem in this area with vehicle theft, with theft from vehicles as well as stolen autos," said Sgt. Brian Carr, Halton police public affairs officer. "We have put some teams up there to do some plain-clothes work and, on this particular occasion, the tactical team was there as well and they became involved." Around 1 a.m., plain-clothes officers spotted two men in a 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche SUV enter the complex and park beside an unattended GMC Yukon. As the officers watched, one man left the Avalanche and quickly broke into the Yukon. Two uniformed members of the See Trustees page 5 See SIU page 4 No Pay for 6 months and Huge Rebates PLUS We guarantee your valuable Manufacturer and Government Rebates and take care of the Paperwork for you. For Deadlines and Complete Details call 905-844-2949 Ask about our excellent Financing and Great Terms. YOUR FRIEND IN THE BUSINESS! www.lockwoodchrysler.com