Page 2. Whhlby Free Press, Wednesclay, April 3,1996 Parent.s ask ~Why? Opposition, legal threat to plan to 'bump' students By Mark Reesor Why are 265 students at three Whitby elementary schools beingr forced ta transfer ta a new school MUST BE SEEN ... beautilul executive home, over 3,00 0 sq. 1. ceramics and gleaming hardwood floors, dream kitchen wvith waikout 10 1 0x20 deck, 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. central air and more, super location, ~ justlilsled $224.900. when 112 out-of-boundarychil- dren at the three schoos can stay put? That was the big question EXCELLENT AREA ... very spaclous famlly home on pie-shaped lot with inground pool, some newer windows and flooring, 4 bedrooms, central air. newer deck and fenced yard, close to schools, corne have a look, $164.900. Certjv'I ~~~~~Custom Draperi.Bdped.BidSae etcl.Clfri tes, 14 Grrad R.. *.. W *by * .N3 3057-81 yaised by more than 100 parents attending a meeting last week on the new C.E. Broughtan public' Lschool now under construction behincâ Anderson CVI and sche- dul.d to open in August. "Being at Pringle is like being on a ship that is sinking because of the stowaways and t he people with tickets are being asked 'ta 9 et off,» said one parent after oard officiais confirmed 83 of the cross-boundary students attend Pringle Creek. Tii. others attend Dr. Robert Thornton and Leslie McFarlane achools. (0f Broughtan's 300-plus in- boundary students, 226 are ta corne from Pringle, which would redue the school's population from 707 this year ta 478 next year.)' "If they're staying, rim stay- ing,» another said. "If I have to go ta school every day with iny son and sit at the door ta make sure he doesn't leave the class- room lil do it... my son has equaf rights." It's unfair that people who live «way the heck away from Pringie are going to bump my kid but you're taing my choie. away,» complain.d on. mother. «My child is in Grade 6 and he is devastated; h. does not want ta go ta the n.w school... I can't behieve that you can force me ta pull my son out of sehool when he'sgot hreeyears l.ft... Thychose that sehool because they heard of the music program and the phys-ed pro- gram and they want their kid ta go ther. and now you draw a lime in the middle of my neihbour- haod and I miss it (being in the Pringle area) by five houses... "(My son) has built a future for himself and naw you're going ta take him away and send him toaa school wh.re h.'s a no on.. Al the hard work he's done and al bis friends are just ripped away. I don't know how you can do that ta someon. who's 10 or il years aid.» She said she would taik ta her Iawyer about the situation, which prompted a promise from, Whitby truste. Patty Bowman, Dueto the4 GoodFriday Holiday the offices of the Wintby Free Press willbe closed onFriday, April5th 4 Normal advertising deadline ise Monday noon for April 1 Oth, 1996 isue HAPPY EASTFl[E! -MI 'w" 'W' 'W' 'W' 'W' 'W' 'W' 'W' W 'W' W' W' W' 'W' 'W' W' 'W' 'W" For blanket caverage of ALL the homes and/or businesses in Whitby OR to selected areas oniy, oeil the Whitby Free Press - 668-6111. If you did flot get a flyer which is isted for ful distribution, give us a cati. (select) *The, Town of Whitby. (ail homes) Prices That UR-------~ Are Ihbi 'n The Dunny. l'ýml e who chaired the meeting, to ask the board's lawyer ta look into the issue. «W. may not, as a board - as an organization.- have a leg to sEand on bécause of 'permission ta en.roll' eisting currently," she told parents. "Or we may have responsibili- ties under the education act that, whether w. 11k. it or not, give the board that collective respon- sibilit;yý' Bowman did annaunce that Grade 7 students ini the three "feeder schools» would'b. allowd to «sotay put" if the.y so desired, by filling in an out of area» form which han to- bke submitted by tomorrow (April 4). The. lack of a crosswalk or traffic lighit to allow children to cross busy Anderson Street to get to the new school also worried many parents. Board pianner Lewis Morulis s.ugestedparen!ts lobby Durham Pte- on to convinice it to instali lghts, which so far haven't been warranted by traffic counts. «Hold on now,» interrupted on. pearent. «You're making my chl- dren go to a school we don't want them tfairgot and we have ta, ,ob frtii. lighits ta get there?» Smyka suggested parents 0mobiie --we getall the people we can together and go ta the re:gional meetings because my etteralone (askingfor, lights) is netgong ta do anythinOr You're the'ones builng the achool,» replied another parent. «Yucntfind $lEt0,00 out of a $6-million echool'ta pay fýor a crossing.;. I can't understand how you possibly let it get this far." Following its policy, the board will ask Durham Regional Police ta, examine whether crossing Anderson Street. is a safety issue, Ifthxepolice sa , «yes, it is a safety concern, Lhe we will transport (bus) situdents." Tiie grade separation. now being done on Garden Street is lIkely ta increase traffic on ,Anderson, she added,ý which will «Wactuallïr increasè the case for twôuid be cheae for the board ta pay fr lights, Bowman admitted but "the issue becomes, tixen the school, board wiil have ta, buy ail lights, every time we need a Ugt. ROMARY CSHCMESR .. .. . ..... m om LJLJLJLJLB k m m 1