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2- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, March 5, 1996 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Board votes to keep French program in place Reports say it's cheaper to keep it in place than flood home schools with kids By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star Durham public school trustees have voted to preserve the French immersion pro- gram, despite having received no assurances funding from the province will continue. Trustees voted 13-1 last week to guarantee continued provision of the program, in which 3,200 kids are enrolled region-wide. The vote came after meetings were heavily attended by parents of those kids, who have been alarmed by rumors the program might be on the chopping block as the Durham board strive to cope with provincially-imposed cutbacks. Trustee wanted deferral Scugog trustee Bobbie Drew voted in favor of keeping French immersion, after losing on an amendment that would have delayed a decision until after the Ministry of Education hands down legislation to help boards implement deep budget cuts. The so-called "tool box" has been promised by the gov- ernment since January. "As long as the (provincial) grants are in place, (the pro- gram) still has my full bless- ing," Mrs. Drew said after the meeting. She admit- ted to being $400,000 a year program without assurance the government will continue to kick in its share. She's hoping now that recommendations French immersion and other non-core subjects, put forth-in a paper by Ministry of Education bureaucrats, won't DREW be adopted by minister John Snobelen. "I don't think it was right to deal with this until after the tool box comes out," said Mrs. Drew, Board trimming $12M The Durham board has learned that its provincial funding has been reduced by $12 million this year. One cost- cutting action taken so far has been to scrap its Junior Kindergarten program. Trustees heard from staff that while the program costs to board nearly $400,000 annu- ally, primarily in transporta- tion costs, it would likely cost much more to kill it. That's because kids now in French immersion would be diverted back to their home schools, in some cases creating space shortage crises. In Scugog, for instance, where 196 kids take French immersion at R.H. Cornish in Port Perry, a number of home schools would have to see porta- bles added to handle the extra bodies. Region-wide, the case would remain the same. "Even with moving portables around we would still have to buy 29 portables -- that's a mil- lion dollars," said Mrs. Drew. KELLY LOWN/PORT PERRY STAR STURMAN'S GENERAL STORE held its grand opening on Saturday. The new store located on Queen Street, in the former Meating Place location, sells all the conveniences of a general store and more. Pictured are (from left) owner Jim Sturman and daughter Ashley, owner Nancy Sturman and son Austin, Jim's grandmother Shirley Reid, Nancy's grandfather Fred Allard and mayor Howard Hall. Absent from photo are Nancy's grandparents Bill and Gladys Rudkin. Van Camp & Keller Chartered Accountants Police report Thieves dealt a double whammy to a Prince Albert resident last week, during a night-time heist. Durham Regional Police said that sometime over night last Wednesday (Feb.27), two vehicles -- a 1992 Dodge Shadow and a 1992 Pontiac van -- were stolen from the home on Old Simcoe Rd. Both vehicles were locked and parked in the driveway, police said. Snowmobiles stolen Police have reported two more snow- mobile thefts in the area recently. Sometime between Friday and Sunday (March 1 to 3), a 1986 Ski Doo was stolen from a Devitts Rd. home, police said. the machine, valued at $2,500, had been in the back yard at the home. And thieves were on the scene when someone had engine trouble this week- end on Scugog Island. stealing both cars from the driveway Two vehicles stolen from home Police said a rider had his machine break down at the foot of Pine Point Rd. March 1, and was forced to leave it overnight. When he returned the next day the 1974 Arctic Cat, valued at $900, had been stolen, police said. Motorcycle theft Police are investigating the theft of a motorcycle from a Seagrave home last week. Police said a 1982 Kawasaki bike that was in the back yard of a home was stolen sometime during the period from 4 p.m. Wednesday (Feb. 28) to 4 p.m. the next day. Value of the bike has been set at $600. Weed eaters swiped Two gas-powered weed eaters were stolen from a shed at the Oakridge golf course recently, police said. They're worth $1,600. Income tax planning and return preparation. Personal tax returns electronically filed. Financial, estate and retirement planning. OFFICE HOURS UNTIL APRIL 30. 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