Se ee eee ee ee hoes The cancellation of the dual entry Kindergarten program and the existence of the Compensation Fairness Commissioner are creat- ing an uncertain picture in the finances of School District 88. _ Education Minister Stan Hagen announced last week that the dual © entry program was being scrapped because in its first year it had created too many difficulties for administrators, teachers and dis- gtuntled parents. The aim of the program was to enrol children in. School at a point as near as poss- ible to their fifth birthday, but Hagen concluded that the problems with the program outweighed its benefits. . The cancellation came, however, after school boards had fixed their 1991-92 budgets, a portion of which were based on anticipated enrolment of January kindergarten students. Barry Piersdorif, secre- tary-treasurer for School District 88, said yesterday the January figures will have to be divided into students who will enrol this Sep- tember and those who will enrol in 1992. It will be a week before he can project new enrolments. The district gets its money from Victoria based on the number of students enroled. That number will undoubtedly be lower with the cancellation of dual entry, but Piersdorff points out that it may be offset somewhat by lower staffing requirements. "It’s all a guess- limate at this point," he said. The real effect will be apparent when the final enrolment numbers BRITISH COLUMBIA PROVINCIAL ROAD AND BRIDGE MAINTENANCE This year, the Ministry of Transportation and Highways is renegotiating contracts j contract areas, This proposal call is for Companies may make proposals on as many contract areas as they wish, but a separate proposa The successful contractor will be responsible for direct delivery of specific maintenance services and for ensuring that business opportunities for small operators are retained through compefitive sub-contracting. The schedule below outlines when RequestforProposals documents will be in its 2 - Still facing uncertainty are calculated at the end of Sep- iember, he added. In addition to that uncertainty, . the board’s new collective agree- ment with the Terrace District Teachers’ Association still has to be cleared by the province’s Com- pensation Fairness Commissioner. The commissioner’s office was established by the Ministry of Finance and Corporate Relations in what the government called a move to protect taxpayers. The . ‘commissioner is empowered to examine all public sector collective agreements to determine if they are within the public’s ability to pay. He has the authority to reject agreements he believes are too generous. Piersdorff said applying to -the commission is more complicated ihan simply forwarding a copy of the agreement. "It has to be costed out to nuts and bolts,” he said. "The benefits have to broken down to cost per employee." . Until an agreement is approved City approves grant for Riverboat Days Terrace city council has approved $5,000 in financial backing for the Riverboat Days Committee and there may be a little bit more to come. In complying with a funding is needed for each. available and closing date for each Contract Area: of these Contract Areas. A SKEENA THEATRE ARTS PRESENTS:§ by the commissioner, the raises granted to teachers in the new deal can’t be paid out. The increases go back to June 1990. Piersdorff said the money is being held in general revenue until a ruling is made. He added that the most recent reports indicate a four- to six-week waiting period after the commis- sioner receives the application. The board is also facing a prob- lem with its facilities. The city of Terrace turned down an application last week from the board to allow a portable building next to the district’s Kenney St. headquarters to become the permanent home of the district Special Services depart- ment. Piersdorff said the district — hasn’t been officially notified of the rejection, but when it comes, the matter will probably to to the board’s Facilities Committee. The building is leased. When asked about the term of the lease, Piersdorff said it is long enough that the district will almost certain- ly look for something else to do with it. LATE NIGHT HORROR MOVIES ARE A LAUGHING MATTER IFRUSAT JUNE1415 7:30 P.M. R.E.M. LEE THEATRE TICKETS $6($4 ADVANCE SIGHT&SOUND) request from the committee, the $5,000 is only a part of the $7,000 budgeted by the city for Riverboat days. The contribution will be used for $3,000 worth of fireworks, $1,200 worth of advertising and $800 worth of secretarial help. PUBLIC FORUM Protecting the environment... Developing the economy... Can we do both? The British Columbia Round Table on the Environment and the Economy needs Interested groups and individuals are invited to make submissions on any related topic, sither by writing to the Contract # Contract Area Nicola Documents Avail, lokes : June 17, 1991 June 24, 199] your help to create a provincial strategy for sustainable development. address below, or at a public forum scheduled for this area. Pre-registration is requested but not required, and the public is invited to attend. :~ Closing Date July 5, 1991 July 12, 1991 To be considered, proposals for any Contract Area must be received by 2 p.m. on its closing date at the following address: Project Office Highway and Bridge Maintenance Ministry of Transportation & Highways 3D - 940 Blanshard Street Victoria, B.C. VBW 3E6 . Phone (604) 387-6931 Fax (604) 356-7276 Request-lor Proposals documents, costing $500.00, include a General Contract Information Package and a Contract Area Information Package. Companies who have already purchased the General package at the February 21st Information Conference need only buy the Contract Area Package, at $250.00 for each Area. These prices include 6 5. Requestfor-Proposals documents can be purchased from the Project Office by cash or non-refundable cheque, payable fo the Minister of Finance and Corporate Relations. The documents can be couriered {prepaid) upon request. Cheques forwarded prior fo the date on which documents will be available will ensure prompt delivery. Province of British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Highways Hon Lyall Hanson, Minister Friday, June 7 2:00 - 5:00 pm Opan House 7:00 - 11:00 pm Public Forum ~ R@®UND TABLE . ». let's find a better way Terrace The Terrace Inn 4551 Greig Ave. For more information contact: British Columbia Round Table on the Environment and the Economy Suite 229-560 Johnson Street Victoria, B.C. V8W 3C6 1-800-665-7002 (Mon.-Fri.