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I EH iI EEE SP i, "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, January 4, 2000-3 . Drew will serve year as board vice-chair Special ed, teacher relations top trustee's priorities By Rik Davie Special to the Star Durham District School Board vice-chair: Bobbie Drew is voicing some con- cemns, and some hopes, for Scugog students as the new century: begins. Mrs Drew, who has held the post of public school trustee in Scugog for 12 years, said that never have there been so many changes in educa- tion, so fast. "We have now experi- enced one full year under the new funding structure for education," said Mrs. Drew. "I hope that we can 'take that experience into the new budget process in February." One of her main con- cerns - 'remains 'funding shortfalls' to 'special edu- cation. The program has already suffered cut- backs, and has seen stu- dents who once got high levels of one-on-one attention return to main- stream classroom settings due to lack of funding. "It (lack of funding) not only affects special edu- cation students," said Mrs. Drew. "Teachers who are already struggling with new curriculum plans, new report cards and increased workloads over all, now have the added task of giving these spe- cial needs students the level of attention they require to succeed." Mrs. Drew said that while the provincial gov- ernment has said it recog- nizes the need 'to revisit special education fund- ing, she is aware of no plan in the works for a review. Given the current cli- mate, board representa- tives have been issuing warnings that a funding crunch in special ed is imminent. "We have been wamn- ing parents for some time now that there is no longer funding in reserves to top up the programs as we did last year," said Mrs. Drew. The veteran trustee also said that labour rela- tions with secondary school teachers, strained since striking teachers were forced back to work by an arbitration deci- sion, must be a priority. "We have to get back to the table with teachers Drew and come up with an agreement we can all live with, and in a way that is not detrimental to stu- dent programs or activi- ties," said Mrs. Drew. On a brighter note, M rew said that she is l6oking forward to the opening of the new library and classrooms at Port Perry High School. "This is a long overdue addition to the fine pro- grams run at that school and | hope to help cele- brate its completion." The opening of the library has been held up by a shortage of special glass used in doors for the music classrooms. Mrs. Drew has high hopes for the board. -- selected jewellery fashions -- selected baby fashions -- selected men's styles by Dockers, Arrow, Gant and Chaps -- selected fashions by Guess and Tommy -- women's coordinates by Tabi, Nygard and more -- selected women's and kids' coats -- selected kids' fashions by Krickets and more -- selected kids' and women's casual shoes INN -- kids' and women's dresses/holiday fashions -- selected kids' and women's dress shoes -- men's selected dress shirts | SR@ 8 (Queen Stre 005-985-2 i Sa NG Wb, KX int Pet "We remain deter: mined to make the new government changes to education work in a way that will benefit all the kids of Durham Region." p-e-23 8 rem errr rrr ry meee