SUNDAY _ August 11, 1996 s See g Page 22 BCAATIavel| NEWS photo Mike Waketieid ENVIRONMENT Canada emergency response officer Christopher La Rock displays the dead fish he found in Parkside Creek Thursday morning after a sewage spill swept through the stream the night before. The federal WEATHER Monday: Sun with clouds wh 22°C, low 13°C, Sewage chekes Parkside By tan Noble _ News Reporter ENVIRONMENT Canada discovered dead salmon in Deep Cove’s Parkside Creek after a sewer line ruptured Wednesday evening. On Thursday morning, Christopher La Rock, an emergency response officer with the fe long strip of Parkside Cr eral agency, assess d a 200-metre approximately half a kilometre downstream from the spill site near Myrde Park. He found 40 dead fish ranging in size from one centimetre to 10 centimetres long. La Rock expects more fish succumbed to th pill. He spotted seagulls at the mouth of the creek feed- ing on fish likely flushed from the stream. “There is some good news in this,” said La Rock. “When | was doing my stream survey [ saw three live fish.” Testing revealed 50% of the fish died within 15 minutes of coming in contact with liquid from the ruptured sewer line. La Rock expects further testing will show that ammonia killed the fish, as is often the case in sewage spills. Cove Cliff elementary students released 300 salmon fry into the creek this spring, but it’s been a rough couple of years for the salmon in Parkside Creek. invironment agency Is investigating the sewage spill. it’s the second one toxic to fish in the Deep Cove stream just a over two years. y lan Noble ews Reporter . OST students in orth Vancouver can ither dread or look for- ard to going to a cer- school in Trady Johannsen’s son doesn’t ave, that! luxury. A new: School istrict 44 policy intended to maxi- ize‘ class sizes*and lower district taffing costs means the six-year-old y doesn’t know where he'll be ttending school next year, - That doesn’t sit well with the ohannsens. a: “Policies with as many ramifica- ns as this ohe should not be uni- fudent, 6, searches for scho faterally decided and then hoisted on an unaware public as a fair accom- pli,” said Trudy Johannsen. But district superintendent of hoals Robin Brayne said Johannsen’s concerns are premature. “I don’t anticipate there will be much of a problem in respect to par- ents being able to enroll children in neighborhood schools,” he said. Under the attendance areas poli- cy, which was adopted by govern- ment-appointed trustee Bob Smith ata public board meeting June 11, schools staffed for 1996-97 based upon actual enrolment at June 30. Students who register with their neighborheod school throughout the summer will be accommodated within space available, Students reg- istering after spaces have been taken will go on a waiting list. PROVINCIAL BONDS - A Rated | B15 yr. Alberta 22/08/01 itt yr. Ontario 24/07/06 6.31%' yield 7.29% yield § ‘Rates as of July 31/96 « Subject to change and availability MIDLAND call WALWYN West Vancouver office * Blue Chip thinking is a Trademark of Midland Walwyn Capital Inc. 925-9210 | space At the end of the first week in September, a new class will be creat: ed if there are cnongh students en the waiting fist to create a class and still maintain maximum clas Ifthere are insufficient new regis- trations to “reorganize efficiently,” said the district, wait-listed students will be placed in another school, [f tormer students leave the school over the summer, new regis trations get in. The policy prevents school ccor- ganizations in ¢ where a single new registration causes a class to exceed outlined in the teache agreement. Johann son attended a French immersion school outside his catchment area last year. For the upcoming school — year, the Joharsscas decided to send their sop to a regular school, However, when they went to Highlands elementary to register him, the Highlands principal said the schoul was full. “This means thar my son will not be able to attend the same school as the other children on our street,” said Johannsen, Because their son been released trom his previous school, he will have to attend an as yer unknown school next year. This ‘aised a couple of ques- dons for the Johannsens, who both work full-time. Will transportation be provided toa new school and how will it be paid for? Will outof-catchment. students attending the school bave priority over students from the catchment? According to Brayne, children in the catchment area have priority. The district said the school bx will not make transportation provi- sions for students who attend school autside their attendance areas. In May 1994, a sewage spill killed fish in Parkside Creek the same day an environmental fair was taking place. The district was charged but successfully fought the charges, saying it had See Creek page 3 Rule SUPERINTENDENT of schools Robin Brayne. The Johanns Is worry about their son’s safety if he has to go toa school out of the catchment area. Ifhe attends Highlands, he won't have to cross busy streets.