4~- North Shore News ~— Sunday, November 19, 2000

LRB ruling solicited on issue

From page Y

also had trouble finding sub- stitute teachers for the pro- gram.

Ferguson believes the school board wants to expand the program and is struggling to find additional vice-princi- pals with the appropriate carly childhood education training.

“Now thev're up a. free without the teachers they'll need if they want to expand,” he said.

Stevenson said a full review of the pilot program will take place before any decisions are made about its future.

He said there have been some concerns about the pro- gram being, user-pay, but that he has heard positive feedback from participating parents.

Be said there are ao plans tu operate the program on an open-access basis. If parents did not pay fees for CHILD, “We'd need some sort. of funding.

So Fe the LRB has not called a hearing on the matter.

Ferguson said his organi- zation’s position is that the application to the LRB should be dismissed outright.

.- “Our position is that we don't really see this as a labour issue,”

he said. “We:

see this as an education issue, and it’s unfortunate — the emplover has ken this route,

He said that as CHILD was not pact of the praviacial- Ilv-regulated education cur- riculum, teachers mandated to teach the K-12 curriculum perceived the CHILD pasts as day care work, not teaching work,

He pointed also to the tength of time it took the school board to register their complaint with the LRE.

“Its not Kindergarten, and it’s not day care,” said Stevenson, who says the delay was a result of the school board exhausting ail other options, “I believe it’s a unique program that offers additional learning opportu- nities for children.”

Ferguson said the WVTA is prepared to keep the jobs in dispute unless the CHILD program is opened up to the general public.

“One of the — great

~ strengths of the public school

systeny is that whoever you are, you're welcome when you walk through the door,” he said. “We.don’t think the public school’ system = should be undermining itself.”

Karen Robbins Contributing Writer

NORTH Vancouver District council wants to borrow funds from one sports field to pay for another.

Councillors voted 3-1 last Monday for an amendment to Bylaw 6905, This would allow the municipality to borrow $1.5 million from the $5.5 million in funds allocated for Inter River Park sports field developments, se they can build an artificial turf soccer held in William Griffin Park.

The later River Park sports development project — which includes the building of sever- al fields in the park — was one of the developments given the assent of the electors in a 1996 municipal referendum.

Council is considering bor- rowing money from that pro- ject, since it will) nor begin until at least 2002. The area cannot be developed until the ground settles.

Coun. Ernie Crist, who opposed the recommenda- tion, said the district does not have a need for new soccer

20 Years Trial. Exe Reese

~ public meeting

looks for new turf

fields. Crist insisted that the funds were meant to go towards building fields in Inter River Park — not for an artificial curt in) William Griffin Park.

However, Coun. Janice Harris said the district, does have a need for an artificial turf field. “The district may already have several fields but we don’: have playable ficids,” she said,

With the level of

raintsll the district. gets through the winter months, current prass fields are not usable,

Coun, Bill Denault agreed. He said the district has had a shordall of suceer fields tor the last 10 vears. “That's the reason the Inter River project began,” he said, “to make up tor our shortage of fields.”

“The clecrorate wanted a soccer field” added Coun.

Lisa Muri. “That's why the money is there. Rorrowing it will not make that big of a dit: ference.”

Sports Council representa: tive Larry Wilson said) bar- rowing the money would be an eficient use of finds since development: in Inter River Park is on hold. “If you use the money for a field in

See Crist pane S

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Your source for West Vancouver District news and information

Watch for the next issue of Tidings December 3

750 17th Street, West Vancouver Tel: 925.7000 « Fax: 925.5999 www. v westvancouver net.

Floral clock - a West Van. legacy

: Council i is holding public hearings anda public : meeting at-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 28 in

consideration of the proposed redevelopment of

- the Hollyburn Medical Centre (1645 - 1695 Marine Drive). The District will take a speakers - ‘fist that evening, starting at 6: 00 p.m. For more ‘information, refer to the notice in the classified. -ad Section of this newspaper or contact the : : Planning Department at 925-7055.

a

5... Yescnedme . Due to the upcoming Federal election, the

~ regular Council meeting on Monday, Nov. 27 has

~.been rescheduled to Tuesday, Nov. 28.

HeeUs a IF you' ic interested in serving on the Library Board or any other advisory commission or

‘panel, the District is now accepting applications.

Simply submit your written application, afong with a resume, no later than noon on Thursday, . Nov. 30 to the attention of the Municipal Cler’,

Plans continue to ‘tick’ along for West Vancouver's Millennium project, the floral clock. For residents unfamiliar with this initiative, here’s a brief background:

The clock will be part of a new waterfront park on the site of the ofd compost demonstration park at the foot of 15th and Argyle. The clock itself will be 20-feet in diameter and set at a 25-degree angle (sim-

ilar to the display bed at the foot of Taylor |

Way). The whimsical design includes hands

- depicting the sun and the moon, with the

clock’s face featuring flowers and carpet bed plants. .

The District's initial request for a Federal grant was unsuccessful, which prompted ;

Santa Claus fun

Now is your chance to pla and reap the benefit of-gi

District of West Vancouver, 750-17th ST. V/V 373. -

: Council aormally makes appointments to’ these: groups each December.

Council to raise the funds itself. The $25,000 the District had to match for the grant application was a start. The West Vancouver Foundation donated funds, and a private citizen gave a substantial sum to cover the clock and its mechanism. Further funding is required for a stone walkway, plaza with ramps and a water feature sure rounding the clock.

The sod-turning ceremony was held on Canada Day, and the clock will be started at midnight on Dec. 31, 2000. This project will be a legacy for West Vancouver resi- dents and tourists to enjoy until the next. Millennium. The Project Committee thanks

- you for. yor continued i support for this.

Dundarave Park is just are the This brilliant showcase of uniquel decorat