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February 26, 1986 News 985-2131 Classified 986-6222 Circulation 986-1337 40 p pages 25¢

UP TO $500,000 INCREASE?

WEST VANCOUVER residents may be asked to cough up
$500,000 more in taxes to improve the quality of education

in their district.

Schoo] District 45 heard this
proposal from the West Vancouver
Parents’ Association and the West
Vancouver Teachers’ Association
Monday night.

The local school board is wrestl-
ing with the problem of insuffi-
cient funding to support the
district through 1986.

School board chairman Michael
Smith said the district is currently
spending far in excess of the
Ministry of Education’s basic
budget allowance,

In 1985 the district spent $17.4
million, but 1986’s budget, which
must be submitted to the provin-
cial government by March 15,
cannot exceed $16.3 million.

- INCREASED STUDENTS

**Keep in mind we have Bowen
Island and our enrolment, will in-
crease,’’ said Smith, referring to
the amalgamation of Bowen Island
and .West Vancouver school
districts.

TRUSTEE MICHAEL SMITH

This will increase enrolment by
about 60 students.

* “F don’t think parents will want
children on the street corner selling
pencils,’’ said Smith.

Maureen Ciarniello, the presi-
dent of the local teachers’ associa-
tion, said since the municipality is
one of the wealthier ones in
Canada, taxpayers could afford a
small increase.

“T don’t know how we can keep
up standards with the budget the
provincial government is offer-
ing,’’ she said.

‘*This community has the ability
to pay, and ! think if we present it

By KIM PEMBERTON
News Reporter

to people properly they would
support a tax increase.”

When asked by a trustee how
much the district should request
from local taxpayers, Ciarniello
replied a half million dollars.

She said homeowners in West
Vancouver currently pay four cents
per pupil, or a net school tax of
$202 each year.

Ciarniello also said the teachers’
number one bargaining priority
when they begin contract negotia-
tions next Tuesday will be for sala-
ry increases.

She said, unlike other public
sector employees, teachers have
not received a salary increase since
1982.

“We're not interested in sub-
sidizing the education system any
more through our salaries,’’ said
Ciaraiello.

Vicc-president Jeanie Ferguson,
of the West Vancouver Parents’
Association, said the association
would offer the board support in
seeking a tax increase from local
residents.

“Government-imposed restraint
on the educational system was to
last for three years. That period of
time is over,’’ Ferguson said.

DESERVE BETTER

“In this district we've lost a

great deal in the last few years, and
our children deserve some
upgrading of the present situa-
tion.’*
‘ Programs and _ services lost to
restraint were outlined in a written
brief from the teachers’ associa-
tion.

Some of those included the
home and hospital program,
elementary music program,
counsellor services, career educa-
tion program, supply budget, field
trip account, outdoor school pro-
gram, elementary aides and cross-
ing guards.

Both the parents’ and the teach-
ers’ associations complained of an
increase in class size during the
period of restraint.

Ferguson said her daughter's
grade five class has 36 children.

“YT think that’s an intolerable
situation,’? she said, adding the
board should work to decrease
class sizes.