News Injunction delayed — school site negotiations continuing A threatened Dec. 10 injunction by the school district against a native blockade on the proposed Gowdy Road school site has been shelved following continued nego- tiations on the dispute. “We're continuing to investigate all the possibilities and we’re awaiting responses and in the meantime, the legal avenue is on hold,” school board chairman Marilyn Loveless said Tuesday. Saanich tribe spokesman Philip Paul anticipates a negotiated set- tlement. “I think we're very close to a peaceful solution. I think it is going to work into something posi- tive,” he said. Local natives erected a blockade on the site Nov. 19 to stop con- Struction of a replacement for Mt. Newton Middle School on the property. The blockade was removed Nov. 23, following a meeting between natives, school trustees and Central Saanich coun- cil. The site had been sold to the school district in 1988 by the federal government although the Saanich tribe had filed a territorial claim on the property in 1987. Teacher sirike A strike vote by Saanich School District teachers was passed almost unanimously Thursday, with 87 per cent of the teachers voting in favor of strike action to back contract demands. The vote was attended by 88 per cent of the teaching staff in the district, Saanich Teachers Associa- tion president Vincenza Cameron said. oe The blockade was removed Nov. 23, following a meeting between Natives, school trustees and Cen- tral Saanich council. Paul said the natives have sent a letter to the board offering to discuss terms under which the site could still be used for a school. However all attempts to find an alternate site must be exhausted before the natives would consider use of the Gowdy Road property for a school, Paul said. “We're still in favor of resolving it through peaceful means,” he stressed. He hopes for a meeting soon between the school board, Central Saanich council and the Saanich tribe. Loveless said the injunction against the native blockade had been prepared but said she hoped an injunction would not be needed. The board is continuing discus- sions to find an alternate school Site or to resolve the dispute on the Gowdy Road property. No formal meeting with the Natives is planned however legal counsel for the district and the tribe are in contact, Loveless said. vote passed Teachers have been without a contract since last June. Cameron said the vote allows teachers to call a strike after 72 hours notice. However she doubted a strike would be called before Christmas, as negotiations are continuing with meetings set for Dec. 17, 18 and 19. ASSAULT TheReview Wednesday, December 12,1990 — S ed Continued from Page Al Armstrong appealed his dismis- sal, following terms of the teach- er’s collective agreement, and an arbitration board was set up to hear the appeal. Following 21 days of hearings last fall and this spring, and after reviewing about 50-60 per cent of the school district’s evidence, Armstrong withdrew his appeal — by coincidence exactly one year after he was first dismissed on Oct. 11, 1990, Stefaniak said. The allegations against Arm- strong were made while he was on a leave of absence during the 1988-89 school year, Stefaniak S a i d : According to police the offenses Armstrong is charged with occurred between September 1978 and June 1984. The offenses Probst is charged | with occurred between September 1978 and March 1988, police said. After the allegations were made against Probst an investigation began immediately. As part of the investigation. Probst was advised to have a lawyer with him for a meeting with the school district April 9, Stefaniak said. Probst resigned his Grade 8 homeroom teaching posi- tion just hours before the meeting was to be held. “Some of the offenses took place in the school, some took place outside the school during the Outdoor Leadership Program and some took place in private resi- dences,’’ Rosequist said. “There is no evidence to suggest that any of the students were alleged to be assaulted by both suspects,” he said. “Some of these victims we talked to a year-and-a-half ago and I know some of the victims are still in counselling,” Rosequist said. School board chairman Marilyn Loveless said the board has done what it needed to do as far as terminating employment. The school district is not plan- ning any special program or plan- ning changes in policy as a result of the charges, however. “There is an ongoinggprogra that exists in schools. across te province,” Loveless said. “I 7 really a comprehensive progratt for the protection and safety § children and it’s been in place f@ some time now, “Our school staff has bees trained as part of regular procedur to deal with disclosures and w¢ have trained people availab!f should they require assistance: Loveless said. Cc A Come and Meet JIM COLEMAN at PELICANOS between _....on Saturday |. and obtain an Autographed Copy for yourself or _as a gift for a friend. Jim Coleman The “Dean of Canadian Sports writers,” author, syndicated columnist and recipient of The Order of Canada will be in Pelicanos Cafe & Bakery at Port Sidney this Saturday, Decem- ber 15th to autograph his new book — LONG RIDE ON A HOBBY HORSE. | MEMOIRS OFA SPORTING LIE - LONG RIDE ON A HOBBY HORSE by Jim Coleman Long Ride on a Hobby-horse, by Jim Coleman, is a breezy, funny, colorful tribute to the early years of Canadian sports and journalism that will delight sports buffs and Cole- man fans everywhere. PELICANOS Cafe & Bakery The Peninsula’s Only Waterfront Cappuccino Bar 655-41 16 ¢ Port Sidney Marina « 9851 Seaport Place, Sidney ose tts & = as