. 4 - Friday, May 12, 1989 - North ‘Shore News ; _ ‘ Montessori school oo gets one-year lease MONTESSORI SCHOOL direc- one each at Bowen Island and | tors have accepted the West Van- couver School Board’s offer of a one-year lease on two rooms at Cypress Park Elementary, beginn- ing in September, Montessori chairman ‘Sandra O’Brien said Thursday. . The agreement comes after ‘angry Montessori parents packed the schoo] board’s meeting April 10 to protest that the board had given them only until June 30 to vacate Westcot Elementary School, and that the board had not offered alternative space elsewhere. The West Vancouver Historical ’ Society and the West Vancouver Teachers’ -Association will have to vacate the space they presently oc- cupy at Cypress Park to make room for the Montessori School, trustee Michael Smith of the fi- nancial planning committee toid the board on Monday. Montessori spokesperson Jan Mansfield said that one year will at least give the independent school time to organize a more permanent home. “If we can get a long lease on some land we’d like to put up some’ portables,’? Mansfield said, emphasizing that “longevity of the lease is the important factor.” O’Brien said Thursday of the 18 independent pre-schools in the’ West Vancouver. area (including ono . i j i? oboe eo roe 3052 ST. JOHNS ST. PORT MOODY 461-1108 PROWLER FORCE 1903 TROPHY CENTRE CONSOLE ree ll MARINE Lions Bay), 12 rent space from the } This weekend, your local realestate agent: can show yo public school board. “We (Montessori) are the first to be asked to move,”’ she said. Schoo! superintendent Bill May told the Montessori parents on April 10 that the new provincial policy of dual-entry kindergartens — starting one class in September and another in January — has created new space - pressures throughout the district. *‘There’s nothing malevolent about what we've done,’? May said, adding that several other community groups are also being asked to vacate rented space in district schools. The increase in elementary enrolment and the reduction in class sizes are additional reasons more space is needed, May said. May was responding to a pres- entation by ‘Montessori parent Randy Hordo, who accused the board of not honoring a verbal commitment made to Montessori director Raymond Huget-Penner that at least one year’s notice would be given if Montessori ever had to vacate Westcot. Mansfield said the West Van- couver Montessori School pres- ently educates 18 children in kindergarten and 32 in pre-school. ’ Fifty children are already regis- tered for the 1989-90 school year. 1570 MAIN ST. NORTH VANCOUVER 983.3083 REAL ESTATE BOARD OF GREATER VANCOUVER Fora few special days, real estate agents will try to move you ina different way. In shopping malls and on street comers, “they'll be selling carnations to fund research into the cause and cure of a terrible disease that is crippling over 5,000 young - adults in British Columbia. It's called Multiple Sclerosis, When they approach you, give what- ever you can, and then proudly wear a carnation to show that youtoo are working hard to find che answers. Make this cernific investment during the MS Carnation Drive, May I-14. Carnation Drive We're standing up for those who cartt. you -aterrific | investment witha lotoft — yotential for as little as two dollars.