WHEN HE became principal of Seniiael high school where Chartwell’s rich kids ‘‘rough it’? during daytime hours, Doug Player prepared himself for guerrilla war. He was sent in to restore discip ine. The teachers had just about given up. Sentinel reassembled a Borstal institution, with the delin- quents in charge. For every distressed parent de- manding orderly education for his or her child, there was no short- age of Martini Slopes debris: the affluent but wayward children, often neglected by joy-seeking, - self-serving parents, and frequent- _ ly the chattels of broken homes. . The first victim of the ‘‘new order’’ was the principal’s car. Time after time, Player arrived at the parking lot to discover scrat- ches, dents and broken glass. Undeterred, he went to the nearest used car lot, ultimately purchasing his war machine: a small, demolished, Japanese car that was barely mobile. This vehicle, belching and wheezing along, was used solely for going to work. Player defied the school thugs to add another dent to the several hundred battle wounds already displayed. Something must have gone right. Doug Player has been the West Vancouver school superin- tendent for the past several years. He is currently at war with an angry, highiy motivated and well researched citizens’ group. Will he win this time? My comments may serve as a warning to the citizens thal. they are not dealing with an individual who lacks in spirit. In the same sense, I would advise Player and the elected school board that I would not want to be in the crosshairs of any gun held by Catharine M. Szibbo of normally sedate Ottawa Avenue. She is the rebel leader. The issue is Hillside school, for 30 years a central West Vancouver landmark, a racility housing 1,000 students. West Vancouver wants to abandasi the school, replacing it with a modern 750-student school and community centre in the Caulfeiid area. Through some extraordinary misfortune (friendship with Jack Hamilton?), Ms. Szibbo and associates found me. Since then envelopes and faxes have invaded my premises. We tried not to notice, rather like standing in a snowstorm without seeing the flakes. Finally, we read one report. And another. And another, with ever-increasing merriment. The West Van school board is still at the ‘‘let’s ram-it-through”’ stage. But the next phase — *tnervous imbecility’’ — is about to begin. Gary Bannerman OPEN LINES Judging by the performance of the previous Ms. Szibbos in my professional life, my guess is that she'll soon have the entire West Vancouver political scene in an uproar. This will be a gooa diversion for West Vancouver. In recent years, the municipal hierarchy has been busy blasting trees off hilltops, trying to create moonscapes. We now have a Sudbury, Ont. urban plan high in the hills over Horseshoe Bay. Closer to the core, someone must be proud of Westhill. We guess it was the solution to a planner’s quiz: ‘‘Take 100 homes worth a million or more, and see how ugly you can make the result?’ I digress. Back to Ms. Szibbo and friends. There is logic in the schoot board plan. Although a remark- able rejuvenation seems to be tak- ing place in central West Van- couver, future projections indicate greater need in western ex- tremities, from Westridge to Lions Bay, including Bowen Island. West Van claims that the new school and recreation centre at Cauifeild will cost $13 million. The opponents ask why a simi- lar-sized facility in Richmond is budgeted at $25 million? The schoo! board reply was a series of mumbles leading to inde- ciphcrable gibberish. The critics suggest that the rec- reation centre is simply a carrot to woo public support. When I suggest the school board is now entering a phase of “‘nervous imbecility,’’ it is based on clues. While Ms. Szibbo and associates have assaulted the af- fluent scheol board (where no one spends their own money) by themselves, the board has hired professional public relations help. The officials wilt under pressure. The first step in this endeavor is called The Caulfeild Plateau Mid- dle Schoo! Action Plan. Naturally, Ms. Szibbo snatched a clandestine copy. Under headlines such as “GOAL,” “STRATEGY,”’ and “TACTICS” the grand plan urges supporters to ‘‘mobilize public opinion."* West Van council, MLA David Mitchell, North Vancouver MLA, Jeremy Dalton (Opposition educa- tion critic) and others are to be mercilessly hounded. The school board scheme would select official ‘‘spokespersons.”’ (I wonder if they will hire a person- nel agency to make the selection?) Supporters are to be encouraged to write letters to the editor of newspapers, including the North Shore News. The grand plan would have the school board contact editors, edi- torial boards (do we have one of these on the North Shore?) and columnists to ‘‘inform’’ them in Sunday, Apri! 5, 1992 — North Shore News - 9 Save Hillside schoo person of the message. {You're too late, guys. Ms. Szibbo got there first. She manag- ed to do it without stopping to prepare a grand plan.) The school board hopes to meet all MLAs and even the minister. (Why stop there: surely the premier should be consulted?) The best section is advertising. it is proposed that a two-page bulletin be conveyed to every household. Then it says: ‘‘Place concurrent ads in North Shere News.”' This is good. The PR scheme concludes with this thrust: ‘‘Arrange public speaking opportunities for board, superintendent and spokespeo- ple.” This sounds like a dynamic lunch at Rotary. : We know not the members of West Vancouver’s Mercenary Ar- my, the hired flacks who prepare grand plans. But we do know one of Ms. Szibbo’s soldiers. I would wager that Jack Hamilton, most notably of the in- surance business, has done more radio and television shows, and authored more print articles, than the entire assembly of. elected and appointed West Vancouver of- ficials combined. it was he who rudely asked at a recent meeting that all relevant fi- nancial data concerning the sale of the existing school and property — including an impending private consultant’s report — be made public. Superintendent Doug Player replied that the policy is not to make this information public. Ratepayers suggested the policy must be changed. The board mumbled. This one answer alone prompts this closing: Save Hillside school. Dump the school board. A Place To Go When | You're Pregnant And Need Support: | GIRTHRIGHT | | call 987-7318 « Free Pregnancy Test + Oi 229 Lonsdale in Vancouver Cail a North Vancouver 687-7223 . NOTICE TO MOTORISTS LIONS GATE BRIDGE SINGLE LANE TRAFFIC The Ministry of Transportation and Highways announces that there will be Single Lane Traffic and Single Lane Alternating Traffic on the Lions Gate Bridge from Sunday March 22 to Wednesday April 15, 1992. Single lane traffic is needed to replace the stringers on the bridge and will be in effect as follows. Single Lane Alternating Traffic 11:30 PM. — 5:30 A.M. (March 22-26 and April 6-15) 12:00 Midnight Saturday ~ 11:00 A.M. Sunday (March 28/29, April 4/5) Single Lane Traffic (Singie Lane Traffic in Both Directions) 8:00 P.M. - 6:00 A.M. (March 29-April 5) Motorists should expect delays or plan to use an alternate route. For further information, please call the Ministry of Transportation and Highways 24-Hour Road Report at 525-4997 (Greater Vancouver); 938-4997 (Whistier): 855-4997 (Abbotsford); 380-4997 (Greater Victoria); 371-4997 (Kamioops); 860-4997 (Kelowna); *4997 (BC Cellular and Cantel). In all other areas, please call 1-800-663-4997. Province of British Columbla oe ee wo PAinistry of Transportation and Highways.