rs: cen Benefits AL eee not too rich, union says Dear Editor: D.S. Jamieson, in his Feb. 6 let- ter “Benefits package far too rich for District 44,” accuses me of avoiding any discussion regarding teachers’ benefits. I didn’t. I was dealing with a reference to teacher salaries found at the conciu- sion of an article about. our fired - board’s deficit. If the article had mentioned benefits I would have. dealt with that as well. Further, Mr. Jamieson states that our benefits are 20% to 30% of » salary. This figure is wrong. They are, on average, 16.8% of salary. In addition, he states, that if our benefits were cut 10% to 15%, addi- tional income would be available to our school district. This assumption "0 38 wrong. : The money realized from any . decrease in teachers’ salaries or benefits goes into the provincial : government's coffers, not the dis- .. tict’s. Given that the provincial government's funding formula. is ’- the cause. of ‘our present difficulty * .we would be worse off. “<" - In addition, Jamieson states that North —Vancoiver- teachers’ ~ “employment conditions” will not , withstand ‘comparison to the private “+ sector and should be lowered. “4, He does not, however, provide’ | any -information regarding which - ~ private sector employees he is com paring to..~ : On the. other hand, an’ actual ~ North . Vancouver comparison to the salary packages of people with similar training and responsibility in the private sector would show that our salary and ben- efits are not out of line and that, indeed, we are probably underpaid for the work we do. Mr. Jamieson, for his own part. does not dea! with the actual reason why the North Vancouver School Board has a deficit. MLA — David Schreck and Minister of Education Art Charbonneau both agree that the funding formula short-changes North Vancouver. Nevertheless, the provincial government refuses to fund us equitably in relation to other school districts of similar size. We must all strive to protect the quality of education in North Vancouver rather than weakening it further by underpaying teachers. * Given the responsibilities that are demanded of teachers, the tra‘n- ing and skills that are expected of us and the excellent results we deliver, North Vancouver students and par- ents get very good value for the money we are paid. If there is a viilain here it is the * government, not teachets, and I would ask Mr. Jamieson to demand that the provincial government ‘immediately correct the inequitable funding situation it has created in North Vancouver. ~ Chuck Dixon’ Teachers’ - Association president : like most people, you, u could be’ doing: better. oy here ican help. Pl sit 3 down ‘wtth® you and build a com- _ prehensive, solid: financial plan; including what . you should be looking for in your RRSP. “Tam ‘a’ ‘trained financial planner, Call me at advising on tax-sav- return on invest- ments and retire- ment planning. Jim Ballantyne investors Group ing strategies, better i 987-1002_& Sunday, February 18, 1996 - North Shore News -9 - _ New Directions in Health Care Health services are moving closer to home and the North Shore Health Board, one of 20 regional boards in the province, has been set up by the Ministry of Health to achieve this goal. t Whistler AAA Howe ~X sound Bowen Island West | Vancouver North Vancouver The North Shore Health Region is bordered by the Coast Mountains, Burrard Inlet and Howe Sound. The region's population is 173,000 and includes Lions Bay, Bowen Island, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, the Squamish Nation and the Tsleil-waututh (Burrard) First Nation. The North Shore Health Board will plan, coordinate and manage health services currently delivered by the Ministry of Health. Gradually, the Board will become responsible for allocating the $160 millicn heaith budget designated to the North Shore region. |. There are 25 agencies on the North Shore which receive some or all of their funding from the Ministry of Health. Discussions are currently underway with Lions Gate Hospital, North Shore Health, Notth Shore Home Support Services and North Shore Intermediate Care Society (Cedarview. - Lodge) to plan for amalgamation or transfer agreements. The Board is developing ways for citizens to give input and participate in local decision making. The Board hopes to form links with existing advisory groups and is working to initiate advisory processes with the seven populations (identified by the Ministry of Health) who have not always had equal access to health services and decision making (women, children and youth, people with disabilities, First Nations, seniors, multicultural groups and people with mental illness). Annual Regional Meeting March 14 North Shore Health Board The Board is made up of 21 Health Directors; seven from lo- cal governments (municipalities and school boards) and 14 ap- pointed by the Minister of Health. Diana Hutchinson Chair Tony Angel , Vice Chair Bowen Island Ross Carter City of North Vancouver Victor Bennington John Braithwaite: Margaret Jessup 7 District of North Vancouver 7 Faye, Cooper’ : i. Murray Dykeman Jack Gerow. Bill Kessel “Win Miller, District of West Vancouver Dolly Cartwright : Derek Gellman Kim Louie... Michael MacDougall - Molly Murray / Sheida Ramji Susan Thomas - Squamish Nation ” Donna Billy Village of. Lions Bay Michael Reigh Tsleil-waututh (Burrard) Nation . Vacant The public is invited to the North Shore Health Board’s first Annual Regional Meeting, Thursday, : March 14, 1996 at 7:30 pm, in the North Vancouver District Chambers. The Board will report to » the community on its accomplishments since its designation, October 1994. Presentation on February 22 Come and hear Dr. Werner Pankratz present on Psychiatric Services at Lions Gate Hospital at our next Boas. meeting Thursday, February 22, at 6:00 pm. % You are invited North Shore Health Board meetings are open to the public. Please join us the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 6 pm in the North Vancouver District Chambers, 355 West Queens. You are important to us - We want to hear from you. Please write, fax, or call our 24-hour Community ~ | Response Line, 984-3844. SUITE 105, 200 EAST 23RD STREET, NORTH. VANCOUVER, B. C. v7 aH A (604) 984-3841 FAX (604) 984-3840