MINGLED NOTES from an estimated 800 student musicians filled the Panorama arena last
Wednesday night as students from the Saanich school district joined in a mass band concert.
A standing-room-only crowd enjoyed the DSHOUNEINES, which featured middle and

secondary school players.

Neighborhood meetings next in OCP process

The next step in the official
community plan review in Sidney
is a series of “Community Plan
Neighborhood Information Meet-
ings,” council approved in princi-
ple recently.

Both the advisory planning
committee and acting administrat-

or, Paul Edgington, had recom-
mended that $5,000 be approved
to publicize the information meet-
ings prior to the adoption of the
annual budget.

The format envisaged by the
APE is a short presentation
explaining the review process, fol-

BOARD BLASTED

lowed by discussion. Displays,
tables and information sheets
would also be made available in
four separate classifications: hous-
ing; commercial/industrial: trans-
portation; and waterfront.

The motion to approve the plan
in principle was carried 5-1.

Continued from Page Al

Cameron was dismayed that the
1992-93 budget, accepted by the
board on April 13, did not restore
any of the programs cut over the
past two years.

Yet teachers and parents had
both asked to have the programs
reinstated.

“They (the board) smile and
listen and agree to all the recom-
mendations made by committees,
they will politely listen to all the
presentations but bottom line, they
are not prepared to budge an inch
on the really important issue of
telling it like it is and suggesting
ways to find more money to put
into the budget to improve the
conditions of both students and
teachers,
letter to Saanich District teachers.

“No matter how much a wolf

puts on sheep’s clothing and no
matter how wide the smile, bottom:
line is once a wolf, always a wolf,”
Cameron added.

She said an estimated 500
copies of the letter were mailed
last Wednesday and Thursday.

Trustee Marilyn Loveless, who
presented the budget April 13 as
finance committee chairman, said
the board does care about educa-
tion cutbacks.

However, she said the trustees
must represent taxpayers as well as
students and teachers. “Any
elected group of people don’t
deserve to be elected if they think
the taxpayers’ ability to pay is
infinite. Elected people have to
strike a balance.”

Loveless said negotiators for the
teachers’ association were warmed
during negotiations last year that
meeting demands for a 14 per cent
pay increase over two years would
lead to cuts in programs.

“The board and the union have
to accept responsibility for the
contract which was negotiated last
year to end the strike,” Loveless
said.

Cameron defended the salary
increases, saying teachers should
not accept low wages to support an
underfunded education system.

“Should I constantly sacrifice
my pocketbook, my family’s stan-

Cameron wrote in her:

dard of living, for the system?” she

asked.

Teachers should expect a rea-
sonable financial return for the
work they do, the five years’
university training required for the
job and the ongoing upgrading
many undertake on their own,
Cameron said.

Although she agrees budgets are
tight, she criticized the school
board for appearing to agree to
presentations on program cuts but
not demanding further funding to
reinstate programs.

“T hoped that the board would
truly come through when it
counted in showing the teachers of
this district that they are sincerely
interested in improving the learn-
ing conditions of the students and
that they care about the welfare of
their teachers,’ Cameron said.

Instead, she said the board com-
mended the provincial government
for not increasing education fund-
ing.

School superintendent Hank
Stefaniak said Cameron left the
April 13 meeting after the budget
was presented and before trustees
voted to write the Minister of

Education detailing the district
programs being affected by budget
restrictions.

Although the board decided
against requesting additional fund-
ing, Stefaniak said the district
expects a fair share of any addi-
tional funds which may be allo-
cated to education.

In presenting the budget, Love-
less said there was no provision for
salary increases.

Cameron said some of the state-
ments which accompanied the
budget presentation were “insult-
ing to teachers.”

Teachers are continually
expected to carry more and more
responsibility for education as
support services are cut, she
added.

The current contract between
the teachers’ association and the
district expires June 30. The dis-
trict is currently in negotiation
with CUPE employees, whose
contract expired on Dec. 31.

Cameron felt the board’s stand
on the budget is a “hard-hitting”
opening to negotiations.

“T am responding on behalf of
the teachers,’ she concluded.

USINESS
NEO
ENTRE

$18.00 members

SAANICH PENINSULA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
GENERAL MEETING

Thursday, April 23, 7:00 p.m.
Cocktails 6:00 p.m. Dinner 7:00 p.m.
Guest Speaker:
CLIVE TANNER, M.L.A.
Saanich North and The Islands Constituency

COLUMBO’S FAMILY RESTAURANT

7855 East Saanich Rd., Saanichton
$20.00 non-members

Reservations - Call 656-3616 Bring a Guest
General Public Welcome

TheReview Wednesday, April 22, 1992 —

La-Z-Boy Recliners

Choose from the largest selection
of La-Z-Boy reclina-rockers and
reclina-way Chairs on Vancouver
Island. Hundreds in stock.

: Lifetime warranty on
frame and mechanism.

Sale Priced From
$ 397 00

a
(As shown — choice of 3 colours)

FREE DELIVERY AND SET UP SOUTH OF OO ot
CAMPBELL RIVER, INCLUDING THE GULF ISLANDS + Service-Selection-Value

Pak floor
1 sec | FURNITURE
1-800-567-4314 Setting the otardard tor your Litestyte /

By Mrs. Nan Hsieh

The Baha’is of the Saanich Peninsula
Present Two Outstanding Public Talks

EQUALITY OF MEN AND WOMEN AS
A FORCE FOR TRANSFORMING SOCIETY

Instructor of Nursing, Camosun College
7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 25

8816 Forest Park Drive, Sidney

For more information please call 656-8019

LAYING THE SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION
FOR A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE

By Dr. Dan Popov, Clinical Psychologist
Director of the Wellspring International
Educational Foundation

8:00 p.m., Monday, April 27

Nell Horth Room, Sidney Public Library
For more information please call 656-4835

There is no charge. Refreshments will be served.

RICHLOCK RENTALS
10115E McDonald Park Rd. 656-9422

(opposite Slegg Lumber)
NOW OPEN SUNDAYS

95:

(GST. nor #
INCLUDED) =

coupon SAVINGS) }

THIS COUPON EXPIRES MAY 31ST, ‘92 :
| oe

Served with Baked
Potato, Vegetables and
Salad Bar.

7 oz. New York ? 05

STEAK & TIGER 9] q¥9

PRAWNS sic
COUPON SAVINGS )

and Salad Bar
THIS COUPON' EXPIRES MAY 31ST; ‘92
BEE»

“eur

i|*-