Private Schools p17? Special feature on private alternatives for education aN Pions Gari Prog d Urban That ate ne Denfge Goscres pommed: ter lus wavkemd An upabited closure schedule will be numacd shortis hor updates on brite cormstrus Tam ofornyariee fisten tg SPAS NOVEMBER 10, 2000 moe Auto oo 35 tea Classifieds owe 42 Coupon Clipper Crossword : Real Estate ¢ Taxing Personals VAN-NET a Sas” Caprk ie Bae Peat hes te Mae vee yew 100 Pages WY kids lop test results Katharine Hamer News Reporter khamer@nsnews.cam THE results of a province-wide basic skills assessment shows West Vancouver students topping the educa- tion league. In May, the Foundation Skills Assessment tested stu: dents in Grades 4, 7, and 10 in reading, writing, and arith. metic skills. Except for its see- ond place standing for the Grade 10 reading and writing level and third place in Grade 7 writing skills, | West Vancouver school district out- pertormed the Lower Mainland’s 10 other school districts across the board. The results were based on the percentage of students who met or exceeded expecta- See NV page 8 Katharine Hamer News Reporter thamer@usnews.com A final attempt by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to overturn a North Vancouver District rezoning deci- sion has failed. The CMHC has lost its bid in the Supreme Court of Canada to appeal the district's rezoning, of approximately 478 hectares (2,180 acres) of land in the Mountain Forest area of Seymour. The CMHC bought 255 hectares (630 acres) of land trom the Department of National Defence for $1 in 1968. The rest of the land is owned by the district. _ The district enacted bylaws in 1995 and 1997 that Kent p ightweight oluminum frame, precision eee 100mm red potyure: ake, Homebuilder: hand bra icabeiniciniat cweemrimets Ro 5171.19 915 West ist St., N Van = 5KU #6010112 F (behind Capitano Mall) 4 - 885-3600 itus at www homebuilders ca r Court refuses to hear appeal of NVD’s Mountain Forest zoning changed the land use at Mountain Forest from residential to Parks, Recreation, and Open Space zoning. The rezoning was welcomed at tbe time by anti-develop- ment group GUARD (Group United Around Responsible Development), who had a 10,000 name petition to maintain the second-growth forest as a wilderness area. The CMHC, a federal Crown corporation, claimed to have lost any use for its $100-million plot of land. The CMHC lost its lawsuit against the district in B.C. Supreme Courtin 1998. The lawsuit challenged the legality of the district rezoning bylaws. r = vie, j CORD PN | oe Gp =) Douglas Coupland helps celebrate WV library’s 50th This Wesk p16 FREE NEWS photo Mike Wakefield TOP of the class: West Vancouver public school students, like Grade 4 Westcot pupil Sarah Casey, left, with teacher Leanne Rasmussen, led the results of a provincial skills assessment test. Students were tested in reading, writing, and numeracy skills. In February of this year, the CMHC also lost a B.C. Court of Appeal case. The CMHC claimed the district was treating its land dif- ferently than that held by “private” owners. The municipality exempted 14 “private parcels” of land in the Northlands area not owned by the CMHC or the district from the rezoning bylaws. The B.C. Court of Appeal ruled the district had discrimi- nated against the CMEC, but was not unlawful in its actions. To press time, Supreme Court of Canada costs were not available. However, it is estimated the original court action alone cost raxpayers $80,000. The Supreme Court of Canada application for leave to appeal was dismissed with costs. “Pm not surprised, but I'm very pleased,” said North See Forest page 8 NOMA NET LIGHTS 150 lights per set. A net of lights fo pul ever shrubs 4'x6". Gives that snowboll effec. Reg $22.99 SKU #56451