16 - Wednesday, December 16, 1992 — Nerth Shore News Teachers’ union lobbies board for budget support WEST VANCOUVER Teachers’ Association (WVTA) president Wayne Rowley told District 45 trustees Dec. 7 that they should reaffirm their number one priority of supporting instruction (and hence instructors) and set their budget based on this principle. “While the WVTA understands the budget problems facing the schoo} district in 1992, the school | board has made some decisions and set some pricrities that are seriously affecting the quantity and quality of services being of- fered to the students at the classrcom level,'’ Rowley’s brief stated He was referring to the board's recent decisions to spend money on computers or other non- instructor-based costs. “Because of underfunding from the provincial government, the board forecast a $2.1 million shortfall and a deficit of $600,000,’’ Rowley said. ‘But cuts to teachers and direct support for instruction are ac- counting for 70% of the cuts.’’ His Dec. 7 presentation to the West Vancouver school board, en- titled ‘‘Budget Brief for the FOR ANY MAKE OR MODEL PLEASE CALL ANIBLESIDE AUTO SALES & LEASE 925-5233 OR CELLULAR 351-1958 _ By Kevin Gillies Contributing Writer Budget Year 1993-94" contained nine recommendations. The first recommendation set teacher-to-student ratio targets the WVTA felt the ‘board should adopt. They were: @ primary classes (P1)- 20 to one, @ primary classes (P2-P4)- 24 to one, © intermediate classes (Grades 4 to 6)- 26 to one, @ middle school and high school classes- 28 to one, except where safety conditions or the number of stations dictate a smaller number. “Common sense and my expe- rience tell me that a reasonable size is fundamental to a teacher’s ability to provide quality educa- tion to their students,’’ he said. WEST VANCOUVER SCHOOL BOARD Other recommendations put forward by Rowley were that the board: @ set a budget that will reduce the number of student contacts/ teacher at a secondary school to a maximum of 190; @ consider the class composition when deciding on class size and support; © provide more time to plan, prepare, report and collaborate; @ attend to outdated facilities at elementary; @ provide increased time in the form of teacher/librarians and trained library technicians to the library resource centres in West Vancouver; . ® reduce the teacher/counsellor- to-student ratio by providing more counselling time for both elementary and secondary schoois; @ budget for a program of “teacher weliness’’; @ develop a needs budget for 1993-94 based on supporting in- struction at the classroom level. “The Royal Commission on education and the Year 2000 Report are placing additional cur- riculum and program demands on the school system,’’ the brief stated. - Computers purchased for Grade 5 teachers AN APPLE on a teacher’s desk was nothing out of the ordinary at one time. Now West Vancouver's Grade 5 teachers. can expect a MaclIn- tosh on- their desks as West Vancouver District 45 school trustees accepted a bid. from Apple Canada at their board meeting Dec. 7. The bid of $15,366.87 means every Grade 5 teacher in the district will have a computer to work with. “This order completes our ob- jective of placing a computer on every Grade 5 teacher's desk,” secretary treasurer Len Archer said. Archer said that roughly a dozen computers will supply Grade 5 teachers at 1i elemen- tary schools in the district. The board finished supplying computers to primary teachers before starting with intermediate teachers. Next we'll start aquiring com- puters for Grade 6 teachers, Ar- cher said. . He said that teachers cannot teach computer skills without understanding computers themselves fi rst. AFTER COMING To OUR MARKET, _ - YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE GIFTED. - For gifts that inspire the imagination and uelight the senses of the young and young at heart, visit our Second Floor Shops. You're sure to find something that will tun on the smiles Christmas morning. And here are some noteworthy events sure to bring you Christmas cheer: * Members of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra joined by the Vancouver Children’s Choir, Saturday, December 19th, 1 and 2 p.rn. Come and sing along. ‘© Holiday Craft Making Workshops in the Food Court every Saturday & Sunday, between [lam & 2pm. * Santa’ Storytelling in the Rotunda every Saturday and Sunday. Noon - 4pm. ; * Community and schoal chairs performing daily ‘til Christrnas Eve Day. GOODWILL TOWARDS MEN IS A WONDERFUL TRADITION. We have always believed in giving back to the community. As in years past, we have set up a drop- off centre for non-perishable food and toys for the North Shore Christmas Bureau. This year we're starting a new, year-round tradition, Share our Strength.” Bring fresh food donations». 7° + to the hooth located across from Tino’ Bakery. . WIN A TRADITIONAL FAMILY HOLIDAY: ° You could winan extended weekend tipforyour. . family tothe Big Bar Guest Ranch in the Cariboo. Contest rules and entry forms available from participating ” Second Floor merchants. Best of the season lo you and yours.