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WEDNESDAY
cloudy “ith showers
THURSDAY
cloadicnith showers

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Optimistic despite funding limitations for area education

1984 PROMISES to be another turbulent year in
the schools on the North Shore, but officials in
both West and North Vancouver School Districts
say they can see some light at the end of the tunnel.

Despite Minister of Educa-
tion Jack Heinrich'’s U-turn
over the issuc of turning over
funds saved during the recent
political yob action, there ap-
pears to be some cause for
optimism

Stil, as North Vancouver
Vice Chairman
Jessup points out, ts) the
kind of optimism that could
only be held by pcople who
have suffered a ‘‘serics of
shocks."’

“We arc now in a position
of knowing what 1s coming
down the road, we now know
what we will be facing in the

Margarct.

By BILL BELL

next’ three years,”’
said

West Vancouver Chairman
Dawn Sikula agrees it was the
uncertainfy surrounding the
budget cuts which caused
many of the problems in the
district

‘‘As long as the goal posts
are not shifted, we should be
able to maintain the quality
of education,”* Sikula said

However, Sikula 1s still
cautious, pointing out that
the board is facing cxtremely

Jessup

tight purse strings.

She pornts to the $180,000
strike savings being kept by
the Ministry.

‘“*Had we received § that
moncy, it would have been
possible to keep Glenmore
Open, now that is almost im
possible .”’ Sikula sard

In North Vancouver,
Jessup says that all the fat
has been chopped out, ‘‘now
we are cutting the meat.””

That, has Jessup very con
cerned for what she terms
“responsible education’’

**What we have done in the
school system has been good
and sound as we face
restraint we must maintain
quality cducation in a respon
sible mannes,"’ Jessup said

But that task will not be

very casy as North Varn-
couver's budget is axed.

“1 regrec that we will have
to cut some very good pro-
grams, and if I had one hope
for the New Year it would be
finding some way to avoid

cutting these programs,"'
Jessup sard
“‘Ahernate methods of

funding may be a possible
way of alleviating some of
the problem,"’ Jessup said
She would not be specific on
the kind of alternate funding
open to the school district

Sikula says that if there
was any One action the board
took which kept i out of
trouble, it was the closure of
three schools this fall

“it ts almost inevitable

that in September we wil! be

MARGARET JESSUP

closing Eagle Harbour
Glenmore,’ Sikula said

and

DAWN SIKULA

See School
Page A4