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t l i Page 12 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, Wednesday, May 12, 1999 py ■ ■ |M $-?/<V < > ,^n?V-iV7v.~ tf»» fs Keeping Computers In the Classrooms The local public school board will continue continue its strategic partnership partnership with IBM Canada to bring technology into the classroom. IBM donated about $800/000 worth of curriculum-based science software to the Board last year Trustees at the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board recommended the continuation continuation of the agreement agreement for up to five years at the most recent budget budget committee meeting on Monday, The alliance was originally formed with the former Northumberland- Clarington Board of Education in 1995, with a goal of integrating technology into all elementary elementary school classrooms. classrooms. The Board and its students have benefitted from the partnership through preferred prices for hardware and software. software. In addition, IBM donated about $800,000 worth of curriculum- based science software to the Board last year. Overall, the proposed technology budget of $15,760,620 includes the costs of establishing standard systems for delivering curriculum, maintaining records, administering the school system and communicating communicating across the board. "The proposed technology technology budget is structured structured to address the needs of the amalgamated amalgamated Kawartha Pine Ridge Board, address year 2000 issues, ensure stability stability in technology at the Board and' position us for growth where needed," said Dave Meldrum, Chief Information Officer. "In all areas, the prime goal of technology is to enhance and improve the program offered to students." students." A review and testing of thousands of computers, computers, technological devices and operating systems throughout the Board revealed that the leasing of $11-million of equipment would be required to ensure full compliance with provincial provincial year 2000 guidelines and health' and safety directions, as well as a harmonized approach to technology across the area. Those leasing costs arc included in the budg- ' et proposal. "We arc in great shape and ready to deal with the year 2000 issue," said Meldrum. "We believe we can achieve full year 2000 compliance by replacing old computers, upgrading upgrading our network technology technology and digital systems, and offering staff development." development." The next budget committee committee meeting is set for Tuesday May 25. VW Dealer Catches the Safety Bug Cindy Lawson lakes her scat in a Volkswagen beetle that has been converted to a cruiser for the Toronto police. Constable Gerry Dwyer is helping to adjust her hat. The little police car was on display Saturday, May 8th, during a "Mayfcst" event at Owasco Volkswagen in Whitby. The VW cruiser was unveiled at the Toronto Auto Show and is part of a safety program program and community policing initiative. "I'm hoping you'll sec a fleet of these in a year's time," said Constable Dwyer. Also at the Owasco Mayfcst was a barbecue, Bavarian-style band and lots of opportunity to see the VW products and enter some draws. Claringfon Police Briefs Can't Hardly Wait It would appear at least some people in Bowmanville can't wait for the new skateboard skateboard park to be built. Financing for a large skateboard skateboard park, to be built near the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex, was approved during Monday night's Clarington Council meeting. But, over the weekend, a sign at Dr. Ross Tilley School in Bowmanville's south west end was dismantled. The wood from the sign, say Durham Regional Police in Clarington, was used as makeshift skateboard skateboard ramps. Industrial Accident The Ministry of Labour is looking into an industrial accident accident in Clarington. Durham Regional Police reports indicate a 41-year-old man's arm was crushed while working on a roller and press at Bowmanville's Goodyear plant. The extent of the man's injuries was not known by police. Statesman Window Broken Durham Regional Police arc looking into an incident which left a window in The Canadian Statesman building broken. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. Sunday when a brick was thrown through a window. Sexual Health Education Supported Front page 1 the educational messages to youth, had become the topic of debate at trustee and committee meetings. "We felt it was the silent majority that we . weren't hearing from," said Pomeroy. "This survey gave us an accurate picture as to where the numbers numbers actually do lie." Done in conjunction with the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit and the Durham Region Health Department, the results will be used by each agency in the development of their programs. "It will help us develop our material material and resources that support the curriculum," curriculum," said Betty Ann Knutson, Sexual Health Program Manager at the Region. The survey, she said, shows the vocal minority who had negative things to say about sexual health education education in schools that there is support ATTENTION DIRECTORY ADVERTISERS We're new here, but we know our way around Around the directory publishing business, that is. We're BCT.TELUS Advertising Services and we're pleased to announce that we've purchased the assets of Locator Group Inc., the publisher of your local telephone directory. As part of Canada's second largest telecommunications company, we have nearly 100 years of experience and expertise in the directory publishing industry. We publish telephone directories and provide a range of information and advertising services in Alberta and British Columbia. Which directories will we publish? From our division office in Mississauga, we will continue publishing these community directories under the Locator brand: • Allislon • Haldimand • Port Perry • Bowmanville • Halton Hills • Richmond Hill • Brampton • Huronia/Barrie • Simcoe • Brantford • Kitchener/Waterloo • Stoney Creek • Burlington • Listowel • Woodbridge • Caledon • Markham • Cambridge • Milton • Collingwood • Newmarket/Aurora • Guclph/Fcrgus • Oakville • Georgina • Orangeville • Grimsby • Oshawa/Whitby Any Locator directory not listed here has been discontinued. What does this mean to your business? Your existing contract with Locator has been assumed by BCT.TELUS, and you will be billed for your directory advertising as usual. If you had purchased advertising for an upcoming issue of a directory which has been discontinued, you will, of course, no longer be charged for it. As well, you'll receive a credit equal to your 25% deposit, which can be used towards advertising in any of the continuing directories listed above. Need more information? Please call us at 1-888-339-0388 or visit www.locator.ca. We look forward lo.doing business with you soon. BCTTELUS LOCATOR for the programs. Overall, the survey shows parents and students think it is important or very important to teach subjects ranging ranging from building healthy relationships and reproduction, to avoiding sexual abuse and sexual orientation. As for how and when the topics should be taught, Pomeroy said that parent responses supported the current curriculum curriculum in most cases. "Disagreement seems to come in areas where parents parents think a topic : should be taught at an earlier age than what we do now," said Pomeroy. There were very few areas where parents felt a topic should not be taught, she added. "Compared to our current programs, programs, this would be asking for more." One area it seems the • school board has to work on is how sexual health is taught. According to the students surveyed, they would prefer more games, guest speakers and role playing/drama activities to the lecture, videos and full class discussions discussions that arc currently currently used by teachers. "Basically, they are saying they want a broader range and more balanced range of teaching methods," methods," said Pomeroy. "We need, in our program program materials, to make sure that the lecture is balanced with other types of activities." Parents in the Clarington area should be receiving receiving a copy of the results from the school and the findings will be presented at the May 27 Board meeting in Peterborough. The $12,000 cost of the survey was split equally between the three partners. The school system system will use the findings to improve its sexual health program. While the government government has set out certain parameters for the sexual health curriculum, there is flexibility in terms of what will be taught, in what grade, in what manner and what methods. . VM 1 V J| ra ■■■ M\ m il MlBMK ÜL_|V M I I II Il Æ\ A II Ifpp Æ?~". ■ ■ :e--Zrj'\ ' 'W* ' ' ' ' ' * A •' ' vUA V ^ 1 JÉ#; - W lllli % ' Mm f W PURCHASING Z0 AND FINANCING IIWY.H2 ri (C m d N ri (C ui Ë 3 i I .101