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Santa Claus paid a pre-Christmas visit to the Blackstock Rec Centre last Sunday morning where kids and their parents enjoyed a pancake breakfast by the Co-op Nursery School. Five year old Rachel Beechey of Blackstock was one of many kids to visit Santa and his elves Lindsay Cooper and Sharon Pickering. .Chairperson MP Shepherd's travel expenses Taking the trajn rather than the plane helped keep expenses down for Durham MP Alex Shepherd last year. Figures released by the federal Public Accounts show that Shepherd spent $21,492 on travel expenses between his riding and Ottawa and around Durham riding. That placed him 35th out of the country's 295 Ottawa members of Parliament. "I take the train from November to April and then use my car during warmer weather to travel to and from the riding," Shepherd said. MPs are entitled to 64 round trip air tickets for travel each year between and any destination in the' country. "That's a perk Canadians can do without," he said. Native Perspectives PRESENTS THE ART OF Paul Livingston JUST IN ™E FOR CHRISTMAS GIVING! Saturday, Dec. 9th from 11 AM to 5:30 PM Sunday; Dec. 10th from 1210 5:00 PM muy" Scugog Citizen -- Tuesday, December 5, 1995 -- 7 Durham Board may lose $12M The November 29 announced $400 million in cuts for Ontario school boards could mean up to $12 million in lost transfer payments for the Durham Board of Education. Exact figyres are not available . because the government has not announced any detail « about the way these cuts will be applied to the transfer payments. "Until that detafl is provided, we are unable to assess where these cuts will have to occur and what impact they will have on our students and staff," says Board Patricia Bowman. In his economic statement, the Ontario Minister of Finance noted that parents should have more effective opportunities to become involved in their child's education, through school councils. Durham Board schools are in thé process of implementing school community councils in every school. The Board, as a recognized provincial leader in this initiative, believes parents and community members should be part of the educational process and welcomes their input and advice on school issues. He also stated that parents should be able to see what their children are learning, through tests that measure results against clear standards. Durham has undertaken a number of assessment activities beyond those called for by the Ministry: a follow-up assessment of the provincial 1992 grade 12 writing review was conducted in Durham in 1995 and another is scheduled for 1997; an assessment of general literacy of all grade 3, 5 and 7 students was conducted in 1995; an LUIGH& TED'S North South Futons for MATTRESSES 191 QUEEN STREET, PORT PERRY 985-4977 assessment of grade 8/9 math skilld is in the development stage; extensive surveys, of student attitudes about safety in schools, curriculum coritent, instructional strategies, transition years implementation, etc. have been conducted over the past 3 years. As well, earlier this year Durham developed a set of outcomes for its students to define what students should know and be able to do at various grade levels. The Minister also stated that schools ought to be making. more effective use of new technologies to educate students better and to manage more productively. Durham has just completed a technological review of system needs and administrative structures. The resulting multi-year plan has been received by the Board and the cost of its implementation will be included in 1996 budget deliberations. "We trust the government recognizes that this mutual priority is in direct conflict with the massive cuts which will have to be made as a result of this economic statement," reminds Bowman. The Minister said that school boards are to take every reasonable step to cut costs outside the classroom and that these costs now account for at least 30 percent of every education dollar. The Durham Board spends less on administration than most boards in Ontario. "It is my hope that consideration will be given to those boards which have reduced administrative past 3 to 5 years in an attempt to down-size school boards and streamline administration," says Ms. Bowman. "We hope the Ministry will provide us with its definition of administration becgyse to continue: to focus on administrative expenditures without providing this "costs dramatically in the "accountability and cost- framework is inappropriate." "We applaud the government's goals to provide quality, 'effectiveness within Ontario's educational community," says Ms. Bowman. PPHS food drive challenge Last year, the Scugog Citizen was the top business collecting food for the Port Perry High School Christmas Food Drive: We would like to challenge all other local businesses who have PPHS food boxes to take the title away from us this year. Food boxes have been left in about 15 local businesses and will be accepting donations of non-perishable food items from now through to November 15. It's a friendly challenge of course, since all food collected in this PPHS Christmas campaign will be turned over to Operation Scugog's Food Bank for distribution to families and individuals in the community. If you would like to make your donation at the Scugog Citizen, we are located at 54 Water Street. Drop in week days from 9:00 to 5:00, or Saturdays from 9:00 to 1:00. Please be generous: « Pat McDougall RETIREMENT PARTY Thursday, Jan. 18th 4:30 to 7:00 PM TRILLIUM VALLEY RSVP a $15. due . 20th. Send 10 R.H: Comish c/o Social Fund Reception Cash Bar hd LANTANA Fashion with a personal touch. Lantana offers you | # Personal in-home Shopping 4 Excellent Hostess Credits + Catalogue Sh + Free Fashion rafiors # Fundraising Sefvi 12 Largest Selection ver of. QUALITY PRE-OWNED 'BUICKS' 3To [ol TET From! PONTIAC Get that couch potato on your list he 5 GIFT CERTI FICATES VETTEL [0 {o] I (MEER ENT Te} _ MW Aerobics - High and Low Impact M Step Classes HM Weight Training MW Cardiovascular Programs M Full Weight Gym Professional Trainers on Saft MW Aerobics Studio M Life Cycles, Stepmaster & More