News

TheReview

Wednesday, October 7, 1992 — A118

ati ene

TAKING ONE STEP at a time are Grade seven students from
North Saanich School. About 190 students took part in

Fridays ‘Dizzy Olympics. °

PAUL WYKE photo

Parents group to poll opinion
on school-based daycare

by Dorothy Hartshome
Special to The Review

An informal survey of parents of
elementary school students in
School District 63 is being con-
ducted by COPACS (Confedera-
tion of Parents Advisory Councils
of Saanich).

Parent delegates at individual
schools will gather information on
the need for elementary school
daycare, before and after school,
the COPACS executive agreed at a
meeting Thursday.

The district’s board of trustees
has been approached by various
organizations asking for space to
conduct private daycare centres
within district elementary schools,
said Hans Schneider, superinten-
dent of physical plant

Because of the liability issue,
the board prefers that any daycare
should be administered by the
parents involved, Schneider said.

The board has requested that
COPACS investigate the need for
this kind of daycare in the district.

The executive discussed hiring a

professional daycare instructor for
care to be provided at the school.

The informal survey will be
conducted by Parent Advisory
Council members in the district’s
eight schools.

Parents wishing information
about their individual PAC rep or
to register an opinion can contact
Lee Dennis at 727-9566 or their
individual school delegate.
COPACS FOR COUNSELLORS

“Prevention is less costly than
treatment” was the motion made by.
Verna Popejoy, requesting that
COPACS write letters of concern
regarding the lack of school counse-
lors at an elementary level.

“This failure to attack problems at
an elementary level escalates the
problems later found at high school”
said Popejoy.

Mary Skinner, vice-principal of
Sidney School, recommended taking
this issue directly to the Ministry of
Education. Members of the execu-
tive agreed.

The next COPACS meeting is Nov.
5-at 7:30 p.m. in Saanichton Ele-
mentary School. The meeting is
open to the public.

Arrival of specialists expands
hospital’s orthopaedic ability

Specialists in orthopaedics, uro-
logy and anaesthesia recently
joined the staff at Saanich Penin-
sula Hospital, the director of
development and community rela-
tions said.

Orthopedic specialist Dr.
George Gerrie joined the staff in
mid-June making it possible,
again, for members of the com-
munity to receive orthopedic treat-
ment at the community hospital on
Mt. Newton Crossroad in Central
Saanich.

Gerrie’s expertise is wide-
ranging, including the treatment
and management of fractures, soft
tissue and other muscular-skeletal
problems and a variety of diagnos-
tic services with respect to joints
and related areas, said Marylouise
Wakefield.

Dr. Donald Grace, urologist,
arrived at the end of June and has
commenced work in urology.

“We are most pleased to be able
to offer urological services to the
people of the Saanich Peninsula,”
she said.

The diagnostic and treatment
work related to prostate problems
is a major portion of Grace’s work,
but services are also available with
respect to bladder and kidney
problems and male reproductive
disorders.

Finally, Dr. Mare Coneys will be
joining the anesthetic staff in mid-
September.

The arrival of a second anesthet-
ist provides stability in the provi-
sion of anesthesia and helps
ensure the 24-hour availability of
providing a wide range of anaes-
thetic services including various
local and regional anesthesias, epi-
dural anesthesia (used particularly
in obstetrics) and general anesthe-
tics, she said.

Minister questions learning assistance cuts —

Cutbacks in the Saanich school
district’s learning assistance pro-
grams are being questioned by
Minister of Education Anita
Hagen.

But without an additional
$337,448 from the Ministry of
Education, the local school board
cannot increase learning assis-
tance, secretary-treasurer Ross
Ingram noted in a report to the
ministry.

In a letter received Sept. 28,
Hagen asked board Chairman Gra-
ham Hill to send more information
on the program cuts, adding that
she wanted to ensure all students
are receiving appropriate pro-
grams.

Under the School Act, budget
cuts in special education programs.
must be approved by the ministry.

The 1992-93 District 63 budget
contained cuts in three areas —
special health services, identifica-
tion planning and leaming assis-
tance — all of which were
questioned by the Ministry.

Ingram explained the cuts in
learning assistance were made to
comply with the class size clause
of the teacher collective agreement

‘negotiated in March, 1991.

Given insufficient funds to hire
new teachers and yet maintain the
class sizes required under the con-
tact, the district was forced to
reduce learning assistance to stu-
dents, Ingram noted.

“There is in fact a reduction in
services to students,” he said.

Additional funding of $337,448
from the Ministry of Education
would resolve the problem, he
added.

Another alternative would be to
breach the contract by increasing
class sizes, which would free some
staff to offer learning assistance
programs.

Ingram said the third alternative
is to allow the board to adhere to
the existing budget with schools
providing learning assistance as
well as they can with existing staff.

After receiving Hagen’s letter,
trustees expressed concern that
learning assistance was now being
subjected to the same restrictions
as special education.

However, they agreed to send
more information on the cutbacks
to the minister.

After Ingram advised the minis-
try a $12,411 reduction in identifi-
cation planning was for supplies
which had been covered elsewhere

in the budget and the reduction in
special health services was for a
speech pathologist to serve off-
shore students — who will now be
paid through offshore student fees
— Hagen approved both of those
reductions.

Saanich North and
The Islands Constituency
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Telephone: 656-0488
Fax: 655-4906
Open

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Other times by Appointment

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Femily Restaurent
invites you

THANKSGIVING
DINNER

This Fri, Sat, Sun, & Mon
Reservations Welcome

652-9500

Soup or Salad
Fresh Roast Turkey
Dressing
Mashed Potatoes
with Gravy
Brussel Sprouts
Pumkin Pie
Tea or Coffee

58%
At The Intersection

of Pat Bay Hwy &
Mt. Newton X Rd.

Date:

spot.

businesses.

they service.

SAANICH PENINSULA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Comming Events and Notices

* ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Thursday, October 15
Time: 6:00 p.m.

Place: Travelodge, Sidney.

@ SPEAK YOUR MIND! Let us know what
you would like to see your Chamber do. Six
5 minute segments will be made available
for members to speak. Call Gary at the
Chamber office (656-3616) to book your

x SHOWCASE ON
SMALL BUSINESS EVENING

Date: Thursday, October 22
Time: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Place: Theo’s Restaurant,

@ Representatives from the Ministry of
Economic Development, Small Business &
Trade will be on hand with information for

@ Local Hi-Tech industries will be making
presentations on their activities and markets

Sidney