Public can speak to school plan at Feb. 10 meeting continued from p.1 The plan also calls for a mini soccer field and bus bay parking along McCraney Street East. The Town and the school would share parking between the new school and WOSS' north campus. The Town would keep the soccer fields and build a 100-metre track and 300-metre trail for community use. The MOU states the Town and CSV would share the existing baseball diamond, soccer field and track. CSV Communications Director Claire Francoeur said there is demand for the new French school. "We're not just teaching French, but we are teaching everything in French. So, not just the language, but also the knowledge, the culture and everything around it," said Francoeur. "This way, our students can make their big dreams in French as in English. They are completely bilingual when they graduate in Grade 12. This opens a lifetime of opportunities." Francoeur said 80 per cent of attending students would be from Oakville, with others coming from Mississauga and Milton. However, some people, like Carolyn Little, who lives in west Oakville, but works from her mother, Chrystal Little's home in the neighbourhood, are voicing concerns about a new school's impact on area traffic. "Traffic and parking in this area are already an issue. Also some of these students will have their we usually have one French school for a full municipality so not everyone can walk there." This way, our students can Francoeur said a traffic study indicated the make their big dreams in French impact of the new school on local roads would as in English. They are completely be virtually non-existent. bilingual when they She said before the school board purchased the former Lorne Skuce Public School, 150 graduate in Grade 12. This Ridge Dr., there were traffic issues because a opens a lifetime of large number of parents would drop off their opportunities. children at the school. After the purchase, Francoeur said, the traffic Claire Francoeur Conseil Scolaire Viamonde problems ceased because the bulk of the students are bused and the buses had a dedicated own cars and we have no idea how many parents place on the property to drop the students off. will choose to drive their children to school," said Little. "During school admission and dismissal times, delays are already up to 15 minutes waiting for students to cross (McCraney Street East, which runs between the two White Oaks campuses). Adding a third school on the same street will exacerbate an existing problem to create even more chaos. There are already five schools within a three-kilometre area and adding another school is inconceivable. This project needs to be stopped." Francoeur said the new French school would not add to traffic. "Around 90 per cent of the students would be bused. That's why we are creating the drop-off for the buses to ensure there is no interference with the traffic on the street and it is also secure for the students," she said. "We are not a neighbourhood school because The same situation would exist at McCraney Street East, she said. Little charged many area residents don't know about the project so she has set up an online petition at www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/ mccraneytrafficissue to raise awareness. So far, it has 27 signatures. A Town staff report indicated a public information meeting about this project was held Oct. 23, 2013 and was attended by 10 people. It also said a statutory public meeting was held Nov. 12, 2013 and notice for the meeting was provided through a mailing to all properties within 120 metres of the proposed school site. 3 | Thursday, January 30, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com STEPHEN DURBIN BA LLB BARRISTER AND SOLICITOR A LAWYER WHO WILL FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS. FAMILY LAW Highest rated family lawyer in Ontario (January 21, 2014) on lawyerratingz.com Email: info@stephendurbin.ca · 905-847-0888 156 Lakeshore Road East, Suite 203, Oakville www.stephendurbin.ca