Whitby Brass Band The Whitby Brass Band put on their last dens. The perforriance gets underway at 1:30 concert of the summer August 21 at the band p.m. and the show will also feature the stand in Centennial Park under the direction Weston Brass Band. of conductor Roland Hill. The band's next Free PressStaff Photo concert will be September 14 at Cullen Gar- Macdonald report response extended By JAN DODGE Free Press Staff The minister of education has extended the timeline for respon- se to the Macdonald Commission report. Responses to the commission's March report on the financing of elementary and secondary education in Ontario were originally due August 1, but are now due October 31. Chairman to the Durham Board of Education Ruth Lafarga has criticized the timing of 'the report saying it should have preceded major changes in the education system such as the extension of fun- ding to grades 11 and 12 in separate schools. There were no solutions to funding dif- ficulties offered in the report she said, adding that recommendations at present would in- crease the tax burden on property owners. Lafarga further criticized the report for not dealing with the issue of capital funding, a particular sore point in Durham which along with York and Peel is the fastest growing area in the province. Because of the lack of capital funding to build schools the board has had to increase its por- table classrooms this September by 52, making a total of 247 portables in use at board schools, the equivalent of 18 average-sized schools. The Durham Board of Education submitted its response to the com- mission report in June. WHITBY FREE PRESS. WEDNESDAY. SIEPTEMBER 3. 1986. PAGE 7 Fairman P.S. driveway built to ease traffic By JAN DODGE Free Press Staff E.A. Fairman Public School has a new unloading loop to ease traffic congestion and improve safety although parents of French im- mersion students there would have preferred school busing. The heavy traffic at the front of the school began last September as a result of a decision by the Durham Board of Education to withdraw the special education program from the school and move it to another. This meant that buses which carried those students were also routed to another school. French immersion students, for whom transportation is not normally provided, had been using these buses since their was space and because the buses were already routed to the school. Consequen- tly, parents of French immersion students then had to supply tran- sportation and thus in- stead of a few buses, many cars were arriving at the school, morning and evening. Parents tried to per- suade the board to change its policy of not providing busing for French immersion, but they were unsuccessful. Without busing, the parents argued, traffic congestion at the front of the school at opening and dismissal times was hazardous. Neighbors around the Walnut St. school were also concerned about the increased traffic. Colin Sexstone, the board's health and safety officer, in- vestigated. Before the board could construct the $15,000 loop it had to get permission from Whitby as the area in front of the school is town land. The Town has agreed to widen Palace St. at the side of the school and install an off-street parking area. Dick Kuwahara, director of public works, said this will give parents a safer place to stop while waiting for their children. The Town is also looking at changing town bus routes, Kuwahara said, but it is just at the study stage now. Route changes would not be made before June 1987. Should the changes now being considered go ahead, many French immersion students would be able to use public transit to get to school. BLOCKPARENTS The Whitby. Brooklin Station in Whitby. It is Block Parent their first monthly Association will meet on meeting of the 1986/87 Sept. 11 at'7:30 p.m. at school year. Everyone Division 18 Police is welcome. PIay your part New programs at library With summer over the Whitby Public Library is back in full swing and there are lots of in- teresting programs planned for the coming months. Registration for the pre-school en francais program begins today (September 3) at the Children's desk. The program runs for 10 weeks beginning Wed- nesday, October 15 and fees are payable upon registration. The program for three year olds is $15 and runs from 1:15 till 2 p.m. and the fee for four and five year olds is $20 with sessions running from 2:15 till 3:15 p.m. The Saturday Story Hour gets underway September 6 with the film "Soup and Me" from the book by Robert Peck. Story hour is an hour of fun with games, stories, crafts and films for children six or older. Story hour begins at 10:30 a.m. Beginning October 2, the library will host the weekly Slumbertime sessions featuring a half hour of quiet bedtime stories, songs and story telling. The program is for children three or older but children under five must be accom- panied by an adult. There is also a pre- school story hour Tuesdays at 10 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. beginning Oc- tober 14 for eight weeks. Other programs of in- terest include Babytime, Monday mornings beginning Oc- tober 20 and the childrens computer classes which begin Oc- tober 18. The library will also SEE PG. 1) Each year in Canada, about 70 young children are killed and 4000 are injured in car crashes. The latest national survey showed that almost 80% of children under 5 are not being protected adequately in motor vehicles. Transport Canada sets tough safety standards that manufacturers of infant car- riers, child safety seats and booster seats must meet You can provide the best protection for your children by secuning them in a properly installed seat, anchored to your vehicle by a top tether strap Buckie up. It's the thing to do. m+ Transport Canada Transports Canada Canadla