[ PAGE 1%, WHfMYFREE PRESS,,WEDNESDAY, MRH1,18 Agig shools Aging school buildings dth hiler if, tr increasing number ofpotbe esiaed$ bas led b6 an, 11.7-per cent projects not'ir increase.for elementary, schools budget proect and a- 10.5-per cent -increaue'for The "critic secondary' schools in - the 'proposed according to 1988 maintenance - 'budget, amounts te $I finance committee çf the Durham "ThMese public school boaid',was told last absolute mini Welnesday. in- mroney for And' that figure .could go desir.ed," plé help inraemainten anci uà stees . approve an L.2 mnillion in'repair ricluded in that 1988 Ltion. cal" list' of repairs, oa staff report, L.3-millon.- ,, ,>. figues a, âre -the mium. If -you cari put m'iore it wouùld:be' Ànt superintendant Jim- Russel told commvittee. He said- thé board is* con- stantly falling into a "deeper hole" by' deferring mchneeded repairs. Russell told the commiittee staff has held back $627,000 in lemnentary repairs and $606,000 in secondary repairs. He added that any extra amount trustees couldplc in the budget is wHiTBML Open l10:00 a.m. -9:30 p.m. Mondy-te Saturday. The ~Xshopping oeý6ntre ini town!l LUC ?omioF1!Icomil r. needed.ý Some of -the: major main- tenance projects for 1988, include continuingý the window replacement prograru; the replacement of, five eélementary and one secondary public address system; and an updating of fire alarm systems in three elementary and one secondary school. Education director Bruce Matersaid costs ' are as increasing because of require- ments, contained in. the Ontario Health and Safety,,Association Act. "It is causing us problems,"f said Mather, noting that safetY requirements have increased more than 100, per cent. Other itemà in the budget include a bus loop at, Ajaxes Bayview, Heights Public school (Russell told committee every new school will inclùde a bus loop), .and enlarge parking lots at three schools, one of which is Anderson CVI. Uxbridge trustee Heather Beveridge asked Russell te 1ook at adcling some of the deferred projects into the budget. "I want te see, the figures included. We can't keep being in le budget' the hole. Leét's have taft'-look at it and se. What tii. udget.would look 11k. <if some of them are Put in." >Russell also presented> the committee. with a draft of the plat peaton budget. which includes such items aàs hydro, heating gas and. supplies. He said the increase over the 1987 b udget is 11.7 per. cent* for elementary s chools, and 7 per cent for elemeontary schools., H.' added that if- no new schools had -been -built or' portables .added the increase would have been 5.5 per cent for secondary scheools and 7.2* per cent for elementary schools. In the flrst four months of the 1988 school year, the board added 45 portables. During 1987,, 68 portables were added. 1The plant operation budget for. elementary sehools is $9.6 million. For secondary schools it is $7.3 million. Finance committee chairman Ian Brown, a Whitby trustee, said the 1988 budget should be going before the board on April 25. On Jan. -13 a first, draft of the budget showed a 14.8-per cent increase over 1987. The budget for 1988 was $242,848,955. Discussion on 'Street Kids' The annual meeting of the Children's Aidl Society of Durhamn Region.will be held Wednesday, March 23at Harwood Sécondary School, with dinner at 6:30 p.m. Guest speaker will be staff inspecter Jim Clark of the Metro Toronto Police morality bureau, and a former member of, the society in Durham, wvho will ciscuss "Street Kfids." Cal 433-1551 te register. Hospital has speaker's bureau Whitby General Hosptal has "rvd centralized handling' of formed a "speaker's. bureau" te speech requests; speakers, explain and prornote the outreach programn announce- hospital's outreach prograros and ments and promoti n of the planned expansion, says board hospital expanision. chairman Bill Wallace. . Booçings forspeakrscari be He says the bureau will made by calling 668-6831. Kaplan is Chamnber guest The Whitby Junior Chamber of Commerce is hosting a joint Junior Chamber and Chamber of Commer- ce dinner at the Whitby Yacht Club, Tuesday, March 22. The guest speaker for the «ever'ing is the -4 *- Wedding Invitations *Thank You Notes *Brj&'s Books *Guest Books *Printed Napkins *Plume Pens *Sjgns *Showers & Stag Party Supplies *Wedding Fcwours *Decoratùjns *Balloons *Toast Glasses *Cake Knives *Netting Colour Co.ordinated *Napkins *Plates *Cutlery *Glasses, *Table Covers *Streamers *Decorations WHITBY Km-ART PLAZA ae »(Kendà lwood Park Plaza) C 1801 Dundas Street East, Whitby, Ontario ctr 436-8718î __________ î f Finance and past Solicitor General, who will speak about free trade. Persons wishing to attend should cail the Chamber of Commerce to confirm at 668-4506. PAUL CHESTER of Uxbridge shows his piece of art, 'Two Score.' Other art work by Chester will be on- isplay at the Whitby Station Gallery until March 27.* Free Press photo