6 - Wednesday, February 7, 1990 - North Shore News ‘User-pay’ best way in **REVOLTING’”’ IS the word for the uproar over Victoria’s INSIGHTS school tax referendums new school-funding formula, designed to avert a taxpayers’ revolt. Now, trustees, teachers and parents are all threaten- ing revolt too. But hold on a moment — let's think with our heads as well as our jungs! Trustees and teachers are enrag- ed by the plan that would force schvol boards to hold referendums if they wanted to supplement Vic- toria’s average grant of $5,259 per student with local taxes. Teachers fear that pay increases not covered by the grant would be rejected by taxpayers. Trustees and parents fear an end to province- wide standards — with rich districts getting better teachers than poorer ones. There’s talk of a joint trustees-teachers protest strike. Amid all the noise two points are being overlooked. Point number one — the basic grant per student is pretty realistic. The $5,259 figure is a provincial average based on last year’s AC- TUAL expenditures in individual school districts. Some get more, some less, according to their al- ready established spending pat- terns. TONY Brummc: backs.”’ Education Minister Tony Brummet has promised ‘‘no cut- backs.’* So Stikine’s 419 students spread over an area as big as France will still get some $10,000 per student. Vancouver may get extra to cope with its mushroom- ing ESL requirements. And the grant will obviously be geared to annual inflation. There seems no reason, therefore, why most school districts cannot live on the grant alone — aside from excessive sala- ry demands by teachers or unusual capital costs. Point number two — referen- dums to approve such extras would be likelier to succeed if conducted on the ‘‘user-pay’’ principle. Op- position to school taxes can be ex- pected primarily from non-involv- ed senior citizens, childless couples and singles. So cross them off the schoo! tax voting list altogether. The referendum voters list should be confined strictly to parents with school-age children. They alone would be taxed if a majority voted ‘‘yes.’’ And their school tax, like income tax, would be a PERSONAL tax, entirely separate from any property tax. Parents approving a referendum would, of course, pay more than if the cost were shared by taxpayers with no school children. But the latter already share the bulk of education costs through their pro- vincial taxes. When it comes to “exiras,”’ the only logical deci- sion-makers are those with a direct personal stake in the quality of local schools. If parents are prepared to pay the piper, they alone should cail the tune. Give them a hand ANADIAN SPORTS fans are often unfairly characterized as an apathetic bunch, too fair- minded to cheer on the home team or just too reserved to cheer on anyone at all. But last weekend’s Davis Cup tennis victory led by North Yancouver’s Grant Connell should help lay that stereotypical image to rest. Crowds ai the Vancouver Trade and Convention * IT'S HEART MONTH and if — being aged between 35 and 70 — you've ever had minor or major heart trouble of any kind, Febru- ary is the perfect month to talk to West Van's Renate Griffiths, RN, RPN, With an extensive coronary care background, Renate is cur- rently one of an international team researching hidden contributory factors in heart disease. Her number is 926-0642 and what you might tell her during a relaxed half hour’s chat, with confidentiality assured, could help save lives in the years ahead. If you ‘‘qualify,”’ call her and make it your Heart Month good deed! WRAP-UP: Joining forces in con- cert Friday, Feb. 9, at 8 p.m. in Mt. Seymour United Church are the Cap College Community Choir, the Cap Singers and Argyle Concert Choir. To reserve tickets ($6 and $3) call 929-1336 ... On display — and sale — all February at West Van Memorial Library, and well worth a leisurely peek, are “‘Colour Connections,’’ watercclor and mixed media works by West wednesday world © welcome to the “‘OAS Cheque Club”’ two popular West Van citi- zens — Ambleside Inn’s Wil'y Brueckel and Park Royal’s Hugh Addison — who both celebrate their 65th birthdays tomorrow, Feb. 8. eat WRIGHT OR WRONG: Success is getting up just one more time than you fall down. lo Ni FOR THOSE “‘SPECKAL KIDS"'...Bob ‘‘Suds*’ Sudbury stays on the mark during the recent “Dart-A-Thon” at Queen's Cross Pub, North Van. The 10:36 a.m.-10 p.m. event raised pledges from Dart League players and pub patrons totalling ever $11,000 for the Variety Club children’s charities. BOY... WE OURE GOT TAKEN 10 THE CLEANERS - ON THIS DEAL... NO, YOU GOT TAKEN TO THE CLEANERS. Centre struck an effective balance between sportsman- ship and patriotism as they watched Connell and the rest of the Canadian tennis team register a 4-1 winning record in a best of five series. Vancouverites came out in record numbers — more than 8,000 over the three-day tournament — to watch the Canadian team. At crucial points in the matches, the crowd en- couraged the Canadian players, and during breaks in play, some of the crowd, including a !one Brazilian, waved slogan-bearing flags. Playing in front of a home crowd definitely helped the Canadian team. But the high-spirited crowd stop- ped short of sports jingoism. Though enthusiastic about Canadian wins, they remained the gracious hosts of the Brazilian team. Reserved Canadian sports fans may be, but that reserve is infinitely preferable to the hooliganism of soccer fans in Europe. We can only hope that Canada reccives the same welcome it gave Brazil when it plays in Paraguay, a country once banned from hosting Davis Cup com- petition because of unruly crowds. 980-0511 986-6222 985-2131 986-1337 986-1337 985-3227 J20 WREE OF NONE AMD WEST VANCOUNER WEDNESDAY © 8 6nKAY Display Advertising Classified Advertising Newsroom Distrbutron Subscriptions Publisher Peter Speck Managing Editor Timothy Renshaw Associate Editor Noel Wright Advertising Director Linda Stewart North Shore News, founded in 1959.48 an mdependent SUDUT DAN ewspape! YY quahthed andar Sonmdule Wt Parageaph I of the Excise Tae Act 1 published each Wedbesday, Friday a Sunday by North Ghote Free Press Lid and distibutea to every door an the Marty Shore Second Class Mul 1 3885 SuUNUAY 1139 Lonsdale Avenue. North Vancouver, BC MEMBER sm. & North Shore owned and managed V7M 2H4 Supscupnans North ar §9,170 (average. Wednesday Maing rates avaitapte Friday & Sunday) weicome bul owe Cannot Unsoboted maternal inctugins manusenpts and pictures s which shauid be accompanied by a stanped aditlessec SHA DIVISION envelope —. —_ Entire contents <<) 1990 North Shore Free Press Lid All rights reserved.