Whitby Free Press, Wechiesday, June 19, 1996, Page 21 More about modified' Chief recognition ÇIYAN HALTON of Whtby receives the Chief ScoutAward pin from brother Robin, a Scout leader, during recent oeremonies. Photo by Jeremy Dresar, Whltby Free Pross Local Km elee't new exnAecuitive oflCers. Tho Kinsmen and Kfinette clubs of Whitby are' gearing up fer another year with the installation cf their executives for 1996-1997. Kinsmen executive offices are held by Ray Chapman, president; Bob Keziol, past president; Bryan Childerhouse, vice president; David Glever, secretary; Ralph Bellissimo, troasurer; Charles Rolland, registrar, Marc Renaud, bulletin editer, Jim Pirie, mombership director, and Marie Lewi, director. "The Whitby Kinsmen will continue their fine tradition cf serving Durham's needs... We are proud that many cf oui- projocts diroctly assist Whitby residents, such as Scouting organizations, seniors, minor sports teams and educational bursaries," says Chapman. The Kinette executive offices are held by Andrée Renaud, president; Laurel Bellissimo, past president; Lynda Willisten, vice president; Faye Wynistorf, secretary; Kim Glover, treasurer, Patricia Koriol, bulletin editer, and Janet Rolland, diroctor. "Whitby Hinettes are active in many ways in the community. We are known for our long standing service projects, such as Library Outreach partriers with the Whitby Public Library," says Renaud. "Our club members bring ferward many new initiatives. We have just donated a bench for the waterfront trail and hope Whitby residents will enjoy this rest area for many years. Our- new 'Kmn Kuddle' projoct with the Whitby lire department has our members very excited," says Renaud. Both clubs recently hosted a *Raise the Flag' celebration for Whitby residents. "Next year's plans include a citizenship ceromony te ho held at our ovent. Theo Km celebration of patriotiem and our Canadian flag is the perfect setting te become a citizen cf Canada," says chair Im Glover. Te 'flnd out more about opportunities in Kinsmen and Kinettes, cail 666-4356 or rbellis@spanit.com. Fair and balanced By John OToole The Automobile Insurance Rate Stability Act was introduced rcety Fromth reports 1 have read, it appears this bill has focusedon consumrs who are threatened each year with double digit increased in premiums. Bill 164, the NDP no-fault insurance, was unaffordable. Rob Sampeon, Pariamentaryr Assistant te Finance Minister Ernie Eves, has cQnsulted widely and I know I have presented him with cases from my constituents who could not believe their premium increases. Some of the amendments are as follows: = aeuie insurers te, offer discounts to retirees *stbishes a new insurance ombudsman to investigate complaints; makes it easier for the consumer to shop for rates " allows optional "top-up" coverage " reforms the Facility Association for bigh-risk drivers " anti-fraud measures to fight false insurance certificates " introduces stiffer penalties for uninsured drivers " allows the court system to be used for losses above the no-fault level insurance and your driver's licence records will bo* linked. These changes should reduce the burden for drivera with a good record and will return the system, to a fair and balanced agreement between the consumer and your insurance broker., CaIl your insurance agent and ask themn what thoy think. John OToole is MPP for Durham East riding which indludes Whilby, north of Taunton Road. To reach hm coenatiiuency offléeý eaU 1-800-661-2433. To the edltort I flnd it-interesting that some of tho proponents of C.E. Broughten Public Schoel feel the parents who opposed sending their chil1dren te, this school are simply whining about the right te choose the school their children attend. This very narrow-minded view of oui- position doos net refleot well on the progressive and innovativo spirit Broughten's principal Jack Smyka wishes te exude. isterically, opposition was voiced in the fal cf 1995, prier te the school's construction, when $6 million te $10 million of taxpayers' dollars couhd have been saved. It was foît that this school was neither needed in this area nor was it wanted by Most. This writer's previeus letters have remained unanswered by the board cf education in this regard. Once tho school's construction was wehl underway in early 1996, the concernied parent, group adopted a 'live and lot ivo' ideology which gave the board cf education the benefit of a doubt ini fllling this sohool with those who want the modified achool calendar. Voluntary medified calendar registration, Durham-wide, left the door open te 40,000-plus3 candidates for this experiment (the proposed Broughten boundary was net a facter past the flret week of registration in January 1996). At this point, none cf these in the boundary had been officially notified that their children wouhd be required te attend Broughton, though modifled registrations were still being actively sought at shopping malle and such. When it thon became apparent that this multi-million-dollar endeavour weuhd have upwards.cf 300 empty desks in the faîl of 1996, it was decided that the two- track (traditional calendar/ modifled calendar) system would Workfare FrROM PAGE 2 have te ho ncorporated at this work at jobs like community imjprovement,»he said. Flaherty conceded that «some of that work ie being done by some of hie (Ryan'e) members, but a lot of it je net being dene.» Flaherty referred to, the pro- blem ef somo municipalities net being able te afford te, have litter removed from the side of road- ways, for example. «There are a number cf com- munities where thate net going te happen or it wilh only get done by the Ontario Works program," ho said. Flaherty dismnissed opponents' criticism that the _geverriment is sPecific comrnty group whichi has offered te sponsor a project. Durham Région chair Jim, Witty, who was quoted hast week as stating that local welfare reci- pients could bW enrolled in the. .prowramwithin weeks, ,ýwas flot sc-hool if only te justify this oxpenso. Only thon did boundary enforcement become a reality. Now the concerned parent group who had always opposed this school ovolvod again, digging their heels in and said "Whoa! Hold on a second, this is not a status quo new sehool. If our children's education is te hoe disrupted by shifting thom te Broughten, thon wo do not want them te be part cf this modified school experiment' wvhere the student body is divided in such a way as te make split classes an unavoidable given. Make this a traditional calendar school with an adequate popuhati on for class structure and programming, ho it sports, music, whatever!" 1The board cof education's major mistake.was construction a school in a mature area cf declining enrolment where it is literally impossible te obtain an adoquate population. This is a regional school and it is net fair te impose a local boundary. A urther mistake by the board- was te build this school adjacent te Pringle Creek Public School which is among the best schools in the region and expect a third of its population te backfill Breughton- (if needed). Why should I move my children from Pringle? They already have the best that cari ho offered. I will net settle for lesa; and why should I? To justifyr a mistake made by the board? Te subsidize a few parents who want this program for their children? I do net oppose their right te choice except at the expenso of my own. The one-year reprieve given the Thoriteri,.Pringle and McFarlane students living in B3roughtoes ill conceived, almost immoral boundary, is a farce., Ninety-nine students are taking advantage cf this option and 135 are not. 0f the 135, some had no other -option, being victimes of circumstanco, iLe. no busing offered to Thorrton, no busing te McFarlano where pedestrian traffic is ahnost an impossibility due to Gardon Street construction, and the- most tragic being new. kindergarten registrants with older siblings. The effect of forcing those 99 students to Broughton in the following year will be to beave Pringle Creek and Thorrton below ministry of education capacities while Broughton will still not reach its capacity. This hardly. seems an efficient use of taxpayer funds in light of recent tax hikes. I expect fur-thorboundary changes to these local schools are on the horizon. The moat. positive thing to'come out of this is the fact that Mr. Smyka has declared this sehool open to out-of-boundary registration on the traditional calendar. Now people who feel their home school1 offers their children lesa than the best can opt for a change te take advantage of the latest technology -and a new staff should they wish. I believe the mandate of C.E. Broughton is to become a fully. modified school in the future where ne boundary need apply, but in the meantime requires traditional calendar registrants from far and wido to *stay afloat. So with this purpose in mnd , I sugest te Mr. Smyka, MGet thee te a mali!" Maybe next year thoso 99 students won't be so desperately required at Broughton and they. cari romain at their curent schools whichare not ovorcrowded when compared to the average school in Whitby.> Laurle Joýuca Wbitby Spliwhiz DUAYNE'JEFFERY of E.A. Fairman Public Sohool in Whitby tackçles a word in the Whitby-Oshawa spelling bee held recently. Another Fairman student, Stuart Wright, won the pnimary division and Ifinished second at the provincial- finals June 9.