MAILBOX School trustee indignant. over Dear Editor: The provincial government has decided to impose an ill-conceived teferendum system on the B.C. school system. I’m indignant because the refer- endum concept implies that school trustees lack integrity and respon- sibility. In my 50 years of direct contact with the school system, first as a parent-teacher association member of many years and latterly as a school] trustee, I have never heard of a single instance of misap- propriation of school funds or of any scandal involving the use of office for self-aggrandizement. This cannot be said of any other level of government in Canada. Yet no other level of government will have its budget held up to such public scrutiny followed by a ref- erendum. I'm indignant in the second place because all referendums are set up to be shot down by the local taxpayer. Already the government with its TV ads is telling the public that the newly-introduced block system for funding education will be pro- viding ample funds for school purposes. The ads falsely imply there will really be no need for taxpayers to supply extra funding through referendums. Not only is the government de- veloping a climate for rejection of Teferendums, it also reserves for itself the right to a continuing role during the referendum process. This constitutes outright vio- lation of local autonomy. It im- Poses a referendum system on school boards and then presumes to become part and parcel of local referendum campaigns. Millions of dollars that could be better spent directly on students will go into referendum cam- paigns. One of the most pernicious ef- fects of this referendum system is that a referendum once passed will have to reappear in all subsequent referendums, a sure guarantee of failure. . School boards will be required to inform loca] taxpayers of the amount to be raised, provide a genera! description of the pro- grams to be funded by the monies raised, and indicate the tax conse- quences that will result from passage of the referendum. Should the school board wish to place a referendum for 1990, unless there are changes in all past proceedings, it is extremely unlike- ly that we would have the neces- sary time to compile information from Victoria to meet the re- quirements mentioned above. A ludicrous situation to be sure. The referendum system pits tax- payers against school trustees, trustees against teachers and civic workers and vice versa -— a return to a situation of continued conflict and confrontation. Referendums will guarantee ine- quities between the rich and poor districts. . Referendums will make it im- possible to do long-term planning. Good education will be continually at the mercy of the referendums. Referendums will completely pull the rug from under the pro- De velopers Should respect plan Dear Editor: The mayor and council of West Vancouver recently permitted a developer to erect a building on Bellevue Avenue that exceeded the limits set out in the Ambleside District Community Plan in both height and number of floors. The results of that misguided decision showed themselves in the two development permit applica- tions that came before the public meeting of Feb. 26, at which it became obvious that both devel- opers were treating the Community Plan as a dead letter, something they could ignore in their designs. If the council circumvents the wishes of Ambleside residents by permitting these applicants to ex- ceed guidelines, then they are pro- claiming open season on oversize development from Marine Drive southward, effectively blocking from view the restored ferry build- ing and the new pier, both struc- tures built with local taxpayer funds. The developers know the ground Metcalfe brings joy OPEN LETTER TO JOY MET- CALFE Joy, I want to mention to you that my enjoyment of the North Shore News has increased im- mensely since the advent of your Cocktails and Caviar column. The format is great and the gossip is fun. You have hit upon a style that I’m sure intrigues all those West and North Van- couverites anxious to see their neighbors, if not themselves, in print. Not only that, but we get to find out what we’ve missed last week. Keep up the good work; your column has become required Sun- day reading with the morning cof- ee. Lyall H. Markham, General Manager New World Harbourside NORCO “ NISHIKI "89 STOCK BLOWOUT Mountain Bikes & 10 Speeds, Accessories, Cycling Clothes & Shoes 20-50 % off Sale Extended to April ist DON’T MISS IT! 988-1800 \ (Across from 7-Eleven) rules; they ignored them; they should be sent back to submit designs falling within legal limits. David Macaree West Vancouver 7 - Friday, March 30, 1990 - North Shore News referendum system grams that could be made as a result of the Sullivan Commission on Education. School trustees are responsible citizens who are dedicated to the educational! welfare of our children and we have never betrayed that trust. Let the provincial govern- ment accord to school trustees the level of dignity, integrity and re- sponsibility that they accord to themselves and return local taxing authority to school boards so they can get on with the job for which they were elected — the education of our youth. . Dorothy Lynas, schoo! trustee North Vancouver School District -PARK: ROYAL | TOWERS 935 - 945 - 955 Marine Drive, West Vancouver, B.C. The finest rental accommodation the North Shore has to offer: © beautiful large suites © spectacular views ® superb location © great value Rents start at $735 (one bedroom) and $1,050 (two bedroom) and include heat, hot water, electricity and cablevision. 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