Al6 - Wednesday, November 9, 1983 - North Shore News EEE election countdown Ee Smelovsky puts education first LOCAL DECISIONS with parental involvement are crucial for the quality of education says North Van- couver school trustee Verna Smelovsky who is seeking re- election to the school board as a North Van Dhistnct representative in the November 19 election. fo _ | ' VERNA SMELOVSKY Smelovsky believes the decisions which most affect local children must be made at the local level and she pledges to ‘‘fight against the continued erosion of the rights of local decision making.”’ She describes herself as a strong advocate of communi- ty involvement in education and urges the need for strong liaison between schools, school groups and the school board. She also calls for early recognition of children with special learning needs — both to help those with learning difficulties and to enable gifted children to fulfil their promise. Experience, says Smelov- sky, is of paramount impor- tance during a time of severe fiscal restraint. As a trustee for the past six years (and a former school board chair- man), she claims the necessary understanding of budgetary management, together with the integrity and accountability needed for decisive action about essential programs and those that must ‘‘regrettably’’ be curtailed. ‘““The children in the classroom and a comprehen- sive education for them must take priority over other con- siderations,’’ she declares. A District resident for 16 years, Smelovsky is the mother of three boys and three foster daughters. A realtor by occupation, she is also a North Van Recreation Commissioner and a director of North Shore Neighbourhood House. Sarsfield hits ‘extravagance’ WASTE and extravagance in school board spending must stop, says Ernie Sarsfield, North Vancouver City can- didate for a seat on North Van School Board in the November 19 election. He urges greater influence by parents on spending Priorities and also increased public use of school buildings after school hours. Sarsfield — a former school trustee who retired from school board in 1980 — attacks the present schools administration in North Van on numerous counts. In the two years 1980-82, he says, the cost of educating each child in the system rose by 45 per cent, to $3,428 from $2,371, ‘tand but for the government restraint pro- gram would have been much more’’. FROM PAGE A15 During the above eight years Reid negotiated the agreement that made the Squamish band the first native Indians in Canada to borrow mortgage funds on their signature. He cites this as an asset in helping negotiate with the Squamish people on behalf of West Van regarding Ambleside Park. Reid also calls for a review of the Ambleside waterfront land acquisition program. He wants ‘‘a fair and definite policy’’ established as to the, purpose of acquisition and the price to be paid to the property owner. He notes, in this context, his private sector involve- ment over the years with negotiated ‘‘land = claim’’ settlements. Having recently taken ear- ly retirement, Reid says he now has unlimited time to carry out the duties of an alderman in an_e efficient manner. EXPERIENCED & CAPABLE He accuses present trustees of issuing incorrect informa- tion about proposed 1984-1986 school budgets, particularly their allegedly false statement that the pro- jected budgets do not allow for a decline in enrolment and their alleged exaggera- uon regarding the decrease in next year’s budget. The current pupil-teacher ratio, he claims, is at an all- ume low of 16.7. With a cur- rent average class size of 24, he says, ‘‘it would appear that only two thirds of the teachers are in class at any one time. The other 270 teachers are employed in vanous administrative and support roles.’’ Spending, he declares, must be tailored to ‘‘those priorities which benefit most children and give the greatest possible value from every education dollar.’”’ ERNIE SARSFIELD LATE NIGHT SHOPPING ‘ONIGHT WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 9 S @ aun Watch for Super Specials on the Mall Regrettully, we are unabie to have the B.C. Place Stadium Display on the mall at this time. -S p.m. CAPILANO MALL *Supporting Our Seniors The advertisers below entitle any senior citizen to a minimum 10% discount on advertised merchan- dise in their stores. Seniors must show pharmacare card. GIFTS OF ALL DESCRIPTIONS COLLECTORS ITEMS 10% discount to senior citizens EVERYDAY IS SENIORS DAY 15% OFF 20% OFF ALL ITEMS Bot AS eM aTtE Gt ASS MADER RAC ER, [ Namond and Gemstone All drycleaning Specialists done on the premises AY GLASS 1598 Lonsdale Ave NV (bulk cleaning not included) ‘To 988-4717 CAROUSEL CLEANERS THE STORE THAT KEEPS NORTH Park Royal North 922-4811 VANCOUVER TICKING AND TALKING WEN. Remeron Drape ce Mere) Gos eveg thy 980-4804 152 Pemberton Ave NV Items in this feature are discounted 10% for seniors.