ernie N.Van schools wrestle $1.7m cash shortage EDUCATION MINISTER Art Charbonneau heard recently that North Vancouver School District 44°s (NVSD) $1.7 mil- lion deficit is a direct result of the province's funding struc- ture, according to bourd chair man Barbara MacLellan NORTH VANCOUVER SCHOOL BOARD By Kevin Giles Charbonneau mei with MacLlelian and =o members — of NVSD's Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) on April 19 to discuss the district's financial prob- “tems and the provincial govern- ment’s lack of action on the lechni- cal distribution report: 7 — -Forathletes ~ aswellasbrawn. You play a different sport every day of the week. ‘So what if-you're a jock? You're wearing one of the best fitting, best performing cross trainers around. You're obviously nota dumb one. : = The report. prepared by an inde- pendent party two years ago, stated that some urban school districts were being short-changed by the {is- cal framework system of distribut- ing funds throughout B.C. A Jan. 9 BAC letter to Charbonneau said: “Not addressing the significant flaws in how the provincial ‘block” is fairly distrib- uted to school districts continues to have a profound effect on the hourd’s ability to provide education- al programs and student services to learners in the schoo} district.” The reports recommendations included changes to the system which would have provided District 44 with an additional $1.5 million last year. At the meeting. district represen: latives suggested three courses of action to deal with the fiscal situa- tion — an expected $1.7 million deficn to the end of June 1995; @ iniplement technical distribution group recommendations in the are of operations and maintenance. @ forgive the deficit forecasted for 1994-95 (based on revenue lost dug to dejay in implementation of rec- lan Defieux-Saxelby Insurance Services Inc. 105-200 West Esplande, North Vancouver . (Located beneath mous Players Theatre), CXT775 with brains [Movety_wioTHse | oA | 8 | o | oe [ae M998 RUNNING he MS80 RUNNING ee E [wosenunnine ULSTAR SPORTS 922-2115 it for amine ndity Widvlee Gorn payment of deficit until funding system changes are implemented in 1996-97, The provincial government revamped the funding system [ast fall but only a fraction of funding shortfalls (recognized in the report) were addressed, Remaining changes are expected to be announced in the coming school year. “is good news they're finally being addressed.” MacLellan said. “t's bad news that they're being delayed.” “tf the deficit: issue is not addressed, it simply carries over? she said at the April 25 board meet- ing. “Then at the same time next year we face a similar or greater deficit.” The deficit is a problem for the district because it is unclear as 10 how much money from next year's budget should be set aside to deal with the current deficit. District administrators are currently prepar- ing next year’s school budget. NVSD’s deficit was $1.8 million two years ago. MacLellan said that if the buard does not receive a response from Charbonneau soon, it will contact him. She said the bourd believes Charbonneau is looking at District 44's situation. Cost per pupil in the two North Shore school districts: is about $5,600. Some private schools receive partial funding from the government, and private school tuition can be as high as $6.000 for 4 10-month school year. North Vancouver is among the 44 B.C. school districts expected tw run a deficit for the 1994-95 school year. Advertorial Ted White, M.P. #302 1200 Lynn Valley Rd. North Vancouver V7J 2A2 Telephone: 666-0585 Fax: 666-0509 ANTI-RACISM FORUM On March 16, 1995 | participated in an anti-racism forum sponsored by the B.C. Government Multicultural + Advisory Council. The forum was held in North Vancouver and my main rea- son for attending was to search out and identify any examples of racism in my Riding. | spoke to at least two dozen people during the course of the day, and aithough there were many genuinely concerned people in atten- dance, | came away feeling that there were also quite a number of bitter and angry delegates who were anxious to blame their personal difficulties on someone else. RACISM EXAMPLES . The examples of racism | was given by persons ! spoke to personally are as follows: (1) A man told me that a bus driver at the SeaBus Terminal had tried to ignore him and had then been quite rude when asked for an explanation of somathing in the Cus timetable. (2} A woman claimed that the CBC is racist. She told’ me about a recent “TV program, North of Frobisher Bay, in which a young Inuit man learned about his cultural background while acting as a. court interpreter in the Yukon. At the end of the program he walked off into the wilderness to die in the traditional manner. When | enquired how this was racist, she advised me that the pro- gram gave her children the message that if they had been deprived of their culture, their only option was suicide. (3) A man told me that the exami- ° nation process for those wishing to become court translators of Farsi into English is racist because a pass mark of 75% is required. He had failed twice. (4) The discussion group | was observing concluded that the North Shore News is racist because it “only ever carries stories on the front page about Immigrants or refugees”. (Later in the day | supplied ail of the March issues of the North Shore News from the previous four weeks, 3 of which carried front, or page 3, stories about crimes committed by white males. | was told that | had selected issues that suited my argument.) (5) A woman told me that she can never get the North Shore News to cafry announcements about events in the Iranian comrnunity. | asked her to call me next time if happens so that ! can investigate whether this is racially motivated. : ' In my opinion there is only a very remote possibility that racism was actually invelved in the above reiated cases. They al! seem to be everyday events that can be experienced by anyone ~ regardless of race or gender. RECOMMENDATIONS During the wrap up session, a number of recommendations were prepared for the 8.C. Government. The recommendations included: (a) Enforced employment equity in the media - (b) New taxes to fund Heritage Language training and ESL (c) A new agency to investigate the media and penalize biased report- ing (d} Government grants to Study . media unfairness (e) A monthly Government bulletin to be printed listing a selection of items from the media deemed to be racist in nature (} Break up of news media monopolies and stiff sanalties for racist reporting (g) Mandatory reporting of racist incidents in schools : {h) Funding for a new community newspaper on the North Shore (i) A system to ensure that teach- ers marking papers cannot .see the names on the papers - (j) Enforced use of gender neutral, sexual orientation neutral, and ethnici- ty neutral terms in the media (k) Funding of theatre groups to promote understanding and education (i) A’ schoo! curriculum which reflects the cultural diversity in’ the community (m)Enforced employment equity in’ the legal profession : (n) A government funded monthly “mediawatch” publication to be distrib- uted free (0) Employment equity programs to ensure more athnic diversity in man- agement of the public service A HOSTILE CROWD | came away from the forum with the sense that it had been dominat- ed by people from special interest groups which rely on taxpayer fund- ing for their existence. They know. that they can only garner more fund- ing and stay in existence by promot- ing the idea that there is widespread racism in our society, Many of those | came in contact with seemed to be hostile, angry people who had difficulty identifying real examples of racism. They were - more interested in promoting the idea that there is widespread racism. in our society than in having a ratio- nal discussion. | am still waiting for some actual recent examples of racism in my Riding and ! invite you to write to me if you can give me | some. raci ism: a belief in the superiority ofa particular race; prejudice based on this; antagonism towards other races, especially as a result of this. (Concise Oxford Dictionary 1992) we. “ i Aitenticon Home | Sewers! Learn at this Saturday seminar with Kian Samet how the professionais make pants thar fit. Drafting a Pattern for Perfect Pants will introduce tips and techniques to help you meet onc of sewing's greatest challenges. Sucarday, May 6, 9am. co 4p.m. ($80, including lunch). Call Extension Programs at 984-4901 for more information or registration. :- Become Your Own Boss Interested in turning your skills and experience into income? Learn how to capitalize on your marketable skills as an independent consultant te government, business, and the public in How toe Succeed in a Consulting Business. This popular ‘and practical two-evening seminar, taught by Douglas Gray, starts on May 10 ($135). Contact Extension Programs at - 984-4901 for more | be information or registration. Creative Careers in Media | Resources’: There will be an information meeting on, Tuesday, May9, at 7 p.m. in the Library. building, room 145, for persons aa interested in the two-year Media Resources Program. . The program begins in Be September 1995. Summer Sports: Camps with Professionals The Capilano College Sportsplex is hosting a series of sports camps this summer for youths from grade.5 to 12. Top professional coaches will be running development camps in rhythmic gymnastics, golf, volleyball, basketball, soccer.and badminton. Camps begin July 10. For more information, call 984-4901. CAPILANO COLLEGE 2085 Purcell Way. North Vancouver. - British Columbia 986-1911