TERRACE — After more than half an hour of discussion and the defeat of at least five prd- posed amendments, the board of School District 88 ratified a facilities-use policy that none of the trustees appeared entirely happy with. _” The policy, prepared by an ad - hoc committee, came up for a vote at the board’s monthly meeting in Terrace April 14. The major effect of the 15-point policy will be a clamp-down on community uses such as dances and banquets that are con- - sidered incompatible with the primary purpose of-school gym- nasiums: student athletic ac- tivities, © . Since the beginning of the year, the board has already turn- ed down several requests for use of the Skeena School gym, in- cluding one from the Terrace RCMP for their annual Regi- mental Ball, The Skeena gym is in heavy demand for large groups because it’s the only facility within Terrace big enough to handle events with more than 300 people, and the school’s. kitchen is adjacent to gym. School district maintenance © personnel have indicated that the hardwood floor in the aging school’s gym is nearly worn out -one more resurfacing is the limit. After that, the nailheads will be coming through and the- entire floor will have to be. replaced. In view of the school — district’s capital proposal to replace the building with a new ‘school, there’s little enthusiasm for making major investments in the old building. The committee report also noted that the smell of liquor and cigarette smoke lingers for days after an event, hard-soled shoes carve up the floor and spilled booze eats holes in the varnish on the hardwood in all schools, not just Skeena. Trustees’ dissatisfaction with the policy centered mainly on recommendation 14, which al- lows exceptions to the rest of the policy for ‘‘traditional users’’, defined as the Big Band Parents Association: in Terrace and the Lions Club and Winter Club in ‘Stewart. Trustee Francis Sabine said the board would stand to be accused of discrimination, Edna Cooper said the section was not fair enough, and. Barbara Johnson (formerly Barbara Ross) said the board can’t discriminate against other users. Terrace Review - — Wednesday, April 20, +1988 MW _ Board restricts school use after lengthy debate A motion to delete the section, however, was defeated, , Johnson and Sabine subse- quently moved to amend the policy by banning smoking and drinking altogether at any event held in schools, but that motion was also defeated. Cooper moved to rewrite a section of the policy in order to give the board greater discre- tionary powers.: No dice. Sabine and Johnson moved to establish a standing committee to deal with community users until a suitable facility is built in Terrace (a reference to recent reports that there is public sup- port for a city-run community center), Shot down again. After a further spate of discussion Val Napoleon invok- ed the privilege of the chair and called for a vote on the first mo- What todo when SS at] Ministry of Health Honourable Peter A. Dueck, Minister of Health ~ facedwithan — : unexpected pregnancy. . Your doctor has ‘aurent information. Knowing who you can turn to for assistance in deciding what to do, can help provide the i professional support and reassurance you may - need. In British Columbia, there are many support services and agencies offering that assistance. Your Government has prepared facts and information to help and support you in making a a responsible decision. - When talking with your doctor, ask about 7 current information on pregnancy support services and the | : network of community support agencies available to you. ~ "Information to assist you in making your decision is available _ atyour pharmacy or local Health Unit listed in the Blue Pages -of your telephone directory. ~ This information and other Government initiatives are part, of our commitment to ~. strengthening the family. ur future needs responsible decisions. tion of the evening, which was to. adopt the policy as originally. | presented. To the apparent sur- prise of most board members it passed by a narrow margin and the policy was adopted unchang- ed. Napoleon noted that the ratification does not mean that the policy can’t be modified at some point in the future. u (Ole : Alma Joachim 638-1204 SINCE 1930