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\ "A Family Tradition for 128 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, January 30, 1996 -3 Job losses could be result of cuts: Drew Trustee says board faces tough decisions as millions are trimmed from budget By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star Junior Kindergarten has been axed, and now trustees with the Durham Board of Education await "tools" from the provincial government to help them trim millions more from their 1996 budget. And those tools might include allowing cuts that could result in staff reductions, says Scugog Trustee Bobbie Drew. Trustees voted 12-2 last Monday night in favor of a rec- ommendation from the board's budget committee, reported in The Star Jan. 19. Now, they're awaiting Education Minister John Snobelen's so-called "tool kit" of enabling legislation that will allow them to further trim costs. Durham trustees will see transfer payments from the province reduced by $12 million this year, a significant cut. That's what led trustees dis- cussing this year's budget to recommend eliminating the Junior Kindergarten program, which the government earlier allowed them to do. The program had been man- dated -- over the objections of Igcal boards -- by the NDP gov- ernment. "The Junior Kindergarten decision, for one, is saving us $1.3 million," Mrs. Drew said week. see last "We'll what other items they (the ministry) have in the tool kit for us." Minister Snobelen has hinted that negotiated teachers' con- tract benefits such as prepara- tion time and payment in lieu of sick days would be on the chopping block. That means boards would effectively have the right to revisit collective agreements with its teachers. And the implications are DREW far-reaching. Changes to prep time allowances, for instance, could equate to jobs for teachers within the system, said Mrs. Drew. That's because those teacher who fill in for teachers using prep time would become surplus. "If you decrease prep time it means you don't need as many teachers in schools," she said. "Our board, as far as the teachers are concerned, is very, very stingy with prep time," Mrs. Drew added. "Before the (NDP's cost-cutting) social con- tract it was sacred, and it was something they really wanted protected." Durham teachers expressed disappointment over the board- 's decision to cut Junior Kindergarten, but union rep- resentatives expressed confi- dence the 50 jobs eliminated by the move would be compen- sated for with retirements and opportunities created by a growing number of students in schools. Mrs. Drew warned last week that further deep cuts man- dated by the province could mean more teaching positions on the line. "I'm not so sure we're going to be able to cover them with retirements and growth," she said. Help wanted Scugog seeks five more members for youth committee By Kelly Lown Port Perry Star Scugog Township Coun- cil is seeking five more youths to sit on its newly- formed Youth Advisory Committee. There is currently one youth from each ward on the committee and coun- cillor decided there was a need for additional mem- bers. The committee also "has the aid of Ward 1 Councillor Ken Carruth- ers, who acts as council ad- visor and Cheryl Romeril, as an adult advisor. The more members on the council the more input they will receive, plus it is a way to ensure each ward is always represented at each meeting. The committee, whose mission statement is to advise Scugog Township Council on items of inter- estin the 15-24 age group, held its first meeting No- vember9. Scugog Council imple- mented the youth commit- teelast year as a way to al- low youths a direct say in what their age group needsin the township. The idea was first brought to council's atten- tion in the 1987 Recrea- tional Needs Study done on the township, which recommended it was high priority to the develop- ment and support for a comprehensive recreation program for the town- ship's youth. The committee mem- bers will be appointed to a one-year term where they will advise the Parks and Recreation staff of youth needs. MEET THE ARTIST: An open house was held at the Kent Farndale Gallery in Scugog Memorial Public Library Saturday as a new display by Blackstock artist Donna Griffin-Smith was opened. JEFF MITCHELL/PORT PERRY STAR She has assembled a wide-ranging display of watercolors for the show, and was on hand to chat with gallery visitors for several hours during the afternoon. The show continues until Feb. 16. ] : xr nn een aes a Amen . - ames sn 4 TOUTE [BV] [oa] | Bomconiso| os sper .ugesom | vescumom cron pizza: ® : a POTATO WEDGES Regular Large 12Ploco | . PIZZA & SUBS. 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