The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

12- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, December 2, 1997 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Lingering concerns stall bus amalgamation plan By Jeff Mitchell Port Purry Star A number of lingering questions have led trustees with Durham's separate school board to defer approval of a plan to join forces with the public board to provide transportation for students region-wide. Trustees examining the proposal at committee level have recommended defer- ring the matter until February, Scugog separate school trustee Kathy LeFort said. She said a number of outstanding questions, including con- cerns about amalgamating staff and possible conflicts over policy, resulted in the decision to send the matter to the board after trustees are sworn in next year. Public school trustee Bobbie Drew said the deci- sion throws a wrench in works that have been in motion for months, and will likely scuttle the imple- mentation target of September, 1998. That's when the two boards were to have amalgamated their transportation systems, after extensive consulta- tion with parents and school officials across Durham Region. "It's disappointing it's going to be held up," Mrs. Drew said last week, after public trustees learned of the deferral. "To my way of thinking we are in office until Dec. 31, and we have to make some decisions. If we can save money, it goes right into the classroom." Staff members from both boards have been working together toward the goal of an amalgamated system for some time. Their work has included purchasing software designed specifi- cally for the task, and draw- ing up a detailed map of the region and its routes. Information gathered from parents and schools in a survey which was to be launched about now was to be part of the data consid- ered during the process. But Mrs. LeFort said separate school trustees have concerns they want Township of Scugog a a A A TOWNSHIP or SCUGOQ = Council Appointments For the Term 1998-1999-2000 The Council of the Township of Scugog invites applications from members of the public who are qualified electors in the Township of Scugog (with the exception of youth applicants for the Scugog Youth Advisory Board) who wish to have their names considered for appointment to one of the various Agencies, Boards, Commissions and Committees. Any person interested in offering their services and would accept appointment to fill one of the vacancies are invited to submit their name, together with a brief resume, to the undersigned by 11:00am Friday, December 19, 1997. PLEASE NOTE that the present members of Boards, Commissions and Committees with expired terms, are eligible for reappointment provided they express an interest in writing. The term of office is three (3) years and the vacancies are as follows: Blackstock Recreation Complex Committee - 5 members Committee of Adjustment/Property Standards Committee - 3 members Durham Region Tourist Association - 1 member Durham Region Land Division Committee - 1 member Fenceviewers - 5 members (on call as required to arbitrate line fence disputes) Scugog Memorial Public Library Board - 5 members Scugog Hydro Electric Commission - 4 members (3 from Port Perry, 1 from surrounding area) Scugog Youth Advisory Board - 9 members (2 adult, 7 Youth ages 13-18) Earl S. Cuddie, Administrator-Clerk Township of Scugog Clerk's Department 208 North St., Box 780, Port Perry Ontario LOL 1A7 (905) 985-7346 Bobbie Drew addressed before they make a binding decision on a major policy matter. Among their concerns: Q Trustees want to know how differing policies on transportation, such as walking distances for older students, will be reconciled under an amalgamated sys- tem. a They're concerned about workers from two different departments who earn different pay levels -- the public officials are paid more -- will work together. 0 And they want to know Kathy LeFort more about the structure of authority in the new department; essentially, who answers to whom. A predominant concern 1s also protection of the separate school system itself, said Mrs. LeFort, referring to the "Catholic identity" that trustees want to protect. They don't want government officials to see this exercise as an excuse to pursue full amal- gamation of the two school boards. "I don't want this to be the beginning of the end... Join us for Haugens Christmas Morning Rehearsal Sat. and Sun. December 6 & 7 Start our special morning with our delicious Breakfast Buffet (9am to 1pm) for 9.95 children under 10- 5.95 Ey z (. ch FE @&x Visit Mr. & Mrs. Santa (10-2) 7. 7 (CO storytelling, carolling, milk and cookies ( o yr for everyone, ice sculptures outside, J fy , weather permitting ali py Christmas is for kids at "the at Se ny 4 Original" Haugens ANT Hwy. 12 at 7A vy tritser X Boe ronvory gl HEY KIDS! J orrainyou 985-2402 Have thebuffetthen BB (io for enterand you might fi ~Peraiion win a special surpri Scugog and i o / VINO 191 Queen St., Port Pe ~ Open 7 Days a Week ~ Celebrate the Season. Paul Livingston Debi Fitzgerald Saturday & Sunday, December 6th & 7th ctives OWNE RATED BY WO 5 SSISSAUGRS OF Sect ISLAND TAS) Ne 1 LLY wy 985-4977 | 1] 3 that down 'he road it would look like we don't need two separate systems," said Mrs. LeFort. "It's a question in some of our minds. We just want to be sure we protect our- selves in that regard." While the two boards share bus services In Scugog, Uxbridge and Pickering, and have real- ized savings since the pilot project began in September of this year, separate school trustees are not convinced full amalgamation will be the cash cow it's touted as by the public board, Mrs. LeFort added. "It's debatable how much money would be saved by amalgamating the two boards at a staff level," she said. Mrs. Drew, on the other hand, is convinced of the savings -- she points to a report by public school board staff that estimates savings so far of $469,500 for this year's shared trans- portation -- and says that parents with children in both systems are pushing for more economical ways of doing business. "The public has been so grateful about this step," she said. "This has got noth- ing to do with programming and the separate school board's constitutional right to have their own board." The question before pub- lic trustees now is whether they ought to begin their public consultation, or wait for the separate board's decision and do it in con- junction with them. Either way, the collection and input of all that data will be time-consuming, and delay amalgamation of the transportation depart- ments, she said. For her part, Mrs. LeFort is comfortable with the deferral, saying it will give her colleagues time to get the answers they want from officials with both boards. "It's not that the com- mittee is not for it," she said. "It's just that before we make these type of major changes, we want the answers." : "The " Intercede holding its annual Christmas raffle. e. to courts -the program. over 15 prizes including a hand powered clock- affle aids Intercede Diversion Program is Generals, along with ~ other great items. o courts Tickets will be sold in - victim and Sea agree to join "way at the Oshawa The raffle features work radio, tickets to Phantom of the Opera and the Oshawa Sears King St. entrance- Centre and the Whitby Mall beginning Dec. 3. For information call us at 905-728-8204. egistered Massage Therapist Kristi Wildman, R.M.T. rience the release of tension and stress In association with Dr Morely Pitts For appointment call (905) 985-4473 1821 Scugog St., Port Perry GIFT CERTIFICATES NOW AVAILABLE FOR THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE WHO DESERVES TO BE PAMPERED (Purchase one gift certificate & we'll treat you to a massage for 1/2 price. Offer good until Dec. 23, 1997.) 985-8416 169 NORTII ST. PLACE PORT PERRY