strict’s deficit Funding increase, salary cap help NV BY SAN NOBLE News Reporter THANKS TO increased funding and a government-imposed cap on wages, North Vancouver School District 44’s financial picture for this year is not as dire as earlier anticipated, But government-appointed trustee Bob Smith warned changes in the district still need to be made. He said the district’s budget picture is now rosier than the $4-million deficit he origi- nally predicted for the 1996-97 fiscal year. That $4 million assumed the board would not get any extra cash this year. But the district received almost $2 million above fast year's funding for 1996-97. Smith said, however, that about $400,000 of that funding will be eaten up by increased enrolment. Also, Smith's initial predictions anticipated salary increases for district employces. Victoria, however, has said no salary increases other than” yearly experience increases will he avuilable to employees this year, which will save the dis- trict about $1.7 million, said Smith. Waces and benefits for District 44°s unionized teachers and employees account for approximately 90% of the dis- trict’s entire $100 million oper- ating budget. Smith said he needs a couple of weeks to determine the effect the additional money will have on the budget. but even with the extra cash for the school dis- trict, changes still need to be made, he said. “This is an organization that has quite severe- ly compromised the infrastructure,” he said. Money must be reallocated to areas that have suffered in the past, Smith said. pointing to ren- ovations, computer systems and building and maintenance. which has been the victim of past cuts, as deteriorating areas that now need a cash infusion. Administration staff are drawing up a detailed budget that will be buiJt around Smith's final report to Education Minister Paul Ramsey. That report included unpopular measures Sunday, April 28, 1996 ~— North Shore News - 3 own NORTH VAN school trustee Bob Smith says a budget is in the works. A draft ver- sion wilt be available soon. such as proposals to transfer Grade {1 and 12 Seycove sec- ondary students and reductions in elective courses. The report) prompted a groundswell of opposition from parents, teachers and CUPE workers. They called for increased funding to what Smith acknowledged is an underfund- ed school district, rather than the implementation of cuts and increased charges outlined in the report. Smith hopes a first draft budget will be finished in early May. He intends to ask for input from a budget advisory committee that includes parents, teachers and CUPE members before a final budget is drawn up for a June 1! board meeting. But some parents say Smith has been hired by the provincial government to enact cuts that will damage education in the district. “He has already proven he listens to the com- munity but he doesn't in fact change anything,” said parent Barb Scobie. Call made for new land count From page 1 dialogue between the various departments supplying the infor- mation and the participating mem- bers of staff did not work as a team, which would have avoided the this problem.” - Palmer promises that this will be done on future major projects. His investigation reveals three basic staff errors in: the original CMP: ; : ‘M3113 properties worth $15.7 mil lion were double-counted because of a mix-up between the planning - and finance departments; ; @ the value of 35 properties worth $5.5 million sold in the six-month: period between the time the CMP was put together and its adoption was never deducted; : ® only residentially zoned land was considered; commercial and industrial properties worth $25.5 million were never included. Palmer also concludes that the district's development costs were over-estimated by $4.6 million. He emphasizes that while the $176-million figure is reliable it would change instantly in the event of any rezoning by council. Coun. Ernie Crist wants the whole issue of Jand inventory valu- ation reassessed by the district’s new municipal manager, Gord Howie, when he takes over May !. “All our major decisions are based on the accuracy of our iand inventory: the capital management plan, the business plan and our capital budget. “We now have several different figures by different members of staff who are so-called experts. They go up and down like a yo-yo and J have lost all confidence in their accuracy.” said Crist. Deportation hearing likely From page 1 sewing factory. In earlier bail breach procecd- ings, Straith pointed out that no lawyer had appeared on behalf of Tran on two previous tial dates. ‘YT submit he is playing games with this court,” said Straith. Hoang and Tran are Vietnamese refugees who came to Canada as a couple in 1992. Tran is likely to face a deportation hearing. NEWS photo Terry Petora GENERAL PAINT store manager Bruce Charles displays the store’s bylaw-contravening mural. ad art irritates sity council Paint store exec says people enjoy murals BY ROBERT GALSTER Contributing Writer GENERAL PAINT’S attempts to win a reprieve from North Vancouver City council for the mural adorning the store’s eastern wall are coming up short. Last Monday, councillors voted unanimously to have staff prepare a bylaw separating art murals from consideration under the city’s sign bylaw. However, the same motion states that commercial murals should be dealt with under the existing sign bylaw. This leaves General Patat in the unenviable posi- tion of having to cither alter the mural at ifs 133 West toth St. store or remove it altogether, A mural on the East 3rd Street Lumberland store is also affected. Although it depicts a representation of the Lascaux Cave drawings, it also sports the words “Lasts For Ages” across the top and a General Paint logo at the battom. Because of the text content, council decided the mural is a commercial one and as such should comply with the sign bylaw. In a notice of motion before council on Monday, Coun. Stella Jo Dean tabled a proposal that the General Paint murals be approved retroactively so as to predate the city’s sign bylaw and as such be ‘flowed to remain upon approval of a variance permit. The motion comes on the heels of a survey con- ducted by General Paint which asked people for their ‘opinion of the mural. The resulis, submitted to coun- cil, show virtually no opposition with 96% of the 601 people par- ticipating favoring the mural as is. In her motion, Dean stated that the murals “made work for an artist to the tune of $5,000 at the West both store and $6,500 at Lumberland.” Roger Barnes, General Paiat’s vice president of marketing and merchandising, said the survey shows no grounds for council continuing ils insistence that the mural be removed or altered. “The general public is very much in touch as to what is happening there.” said Barnes. “The choice is quite simple here, the public said it’s fine, thank you." Councils take week off AS IT is the fifth Monday of the month ail three North Shore municipal councils will take a break and next mect on Monday, May 6. North Vancouver School District 44 will meet on Tuesday, April 30, at 7:30 p.m. West Vancouver School District will meet Tuesday, May |4. The North Shore Board of Health will meet next on Thursday, May 9. See Page 11 for North Vancouver City budget story. Parents seek school board election BY IAM NOBLE Mows Reporter NORTH VANCOUVER Schoo! District 44 par- ents want an elected school board to represent them, and plan to seek a byelection to get one, “We want the trustees back so thal we are democratically represented,” said parent and on- call teacher Barb Scobie. She added a person — in this case, interim trustee Bob Smith — who has a full-time job cannot provide the same services the seven fired trustees did. “He's the only person and he's very busy and | very unavail- : able. How can one man — and he doesn’t real- ly have to — get input from the community for what should be a priority?” asked Scoabie. Smith, who recently took the full-time position as president and CEO of NewStar Medical Services Corp., agreed he can’t provide the extras but said board “governance” is within his capa- bility and he intends to bring down a budget for the school district by June 11. And that worries Scobie, who says Smith’s appointment was extended to December so he can make the cuts outlined in his controversial report to Education Minister Paul Ramsey. Smith acknowledged the report will be a blueprint for the first draft of the school district budget. : Scobie said parents are can- vassing school parent advisory councils in the district to support their call for a trustee byelection. If that support is forthcoming — and Scobie expects it to be by early next week —— a letter will be sent to Education Minister Paul Ramsey asking fur a byelection. She hopes North Vancouver voters will be voting in a new slate of trustees during provincial elections some time in late May. Scobie said teach- ers, administrators and CUPE workers support the demand for a byelection. But) = North — Vancouver- Lonsdale MLA David Schreck, who twice called for the heads of former trustees before they were given the beot for not dealing * with the district’s deficit, said new trustees will be elected in November as originally sched- uled, He said overtapping an election for trustees with a provincial election is not feasi- ble. Schreck added school board administration needs stability to implement a spending plan con- sistent with board funding. Another change in gover- nance would delay that process, he said. Scobie said parents want a full slate of elected trustees so they could serve on committees and receive valid input from the community.