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On the news front:
A look at teen violence
| ..on the North Shore.

Weather

Saturday: Rain and windy
High 11°C, low 3°C,

Creating !ocal color

NEWS photo Mike Wakefield

ARTIST NICK Threndyle sketches out a mural on the wall of Chellow Restaurant in North Vancouver. Threndyle says the
North Shora’s changeable weather will dictate how tong the job will take. _

NORTH AND West Vancouver school
board chairmen aren’t applauding the
possibility that their two school boards
will be amalgamated.

By fan Noble
News Reporter

North Vancouver-Lonsdale NDP. MLA
David Schreck confirmed the amalgamation of
some B.C. school districts is being considered,
ostensibly to save cash.

However, Schreck added he’s not sure how

-the amalgaination discussion will affect North

Shore districts.

“The information {’ve got is still rather
broad and it’s most appropriate to wait for the
minister's announcement.” Schreck said.

Schreck said he foresees administrative sav-
ings, as some well-paid administrators become

“redundant when boards ainalgamute.

He added savings could occur in instruction-
al expenditures, where fixed costs mean
expenses are similar for a variety of student

Province considers joining districts

population sizes.

Schreck expects Education Minister Art
Charbonneau's amalgamation announcement
by Christmas, and possibly by the end of this

* month.

But West Vancouver board chairman Ken
Haycock said Charbonneau indicated Saturday
at a meeting with board chairmen that amalga-
mation will take place. Rumors say the number
of boards will be reduced from 75 to 35 and the
North and West Vancouver boards will be amal-
gamated. :

Haycock is not beside himself with joy at
the prospect. Haycock said he could only speak
for himself because the board has not met to
discuss amalgamation. He believes it won't be

helpful to amalgamate with North Vancouver, ‘
riddled with a $2.6-million accumu-

which is
lated deficit.

Hayeock said the West Vancouver board is
responsible with its budget. Although he
wouldn't say North Vancouver's administration
is irresponsible, he added his district does not

have a deficit, contracts it can’t afford, or pro-
vide sick leave buyouts to administrators as is
the case in North Vancouver.

“You draw your own conclusions,” he
added. “We're not interested in getting into that
financial mess.”

He said District 45’s collaborative labor-
management approach is different from District
44's tight, restrictive agreements with employ-
ees. District 45°s approach, he said, offers more
flexibility in addressing District 45's unique
needs. He doubts money can be saved in his
district's bureaucracy if the two districts amal-
gamate. noting his district has four administra-
tors for its $38.7 million budget and 6,562 stu-
dents.

“The cuts have been made. We're not talking

‘ubout armies of people running around,” he

said.
He added the culture in his district differs
from North Vancouver's,

See Board page 5