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3 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, November 6, 2009 Public board selling surplus WOSS greenspace By Tina Depko OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The Halton District School Board voted in favour of selling surplus land at White Oaks Secondary School (WOSS) on Wednesday night. The two portions of land deemed as surplus around the north campus include 7.3 acres north of the site and a 2.71-acre section east of the site. A sports field currently sits on the larger parcel of land, with the other portion occupied by a small baseball diamond. Besides the WOSS land, the recommendation passed by trustees included selling 14 acres at the former General Brock High School site in Burlington and 2.56 acres at McKenzie-Smith Bennett in Acton. Only Halton Hills trustee Gerry Ockenden and Burlington trustee Peggy Russell voted against selling the properties. The school board is selling these parcels of land to help raise cash for new projects. Board staff estimates the sale of these properties will bring in approximately $17 million, which will, in turn, help fund a portion of several capital projects the school board is currently undertaking, including new high schools in Oakville, Milton and Burlington, and renovations to Georgetown District High School. Ward 4 Oakville trustee Kathryn Bateman-Olmstead said it was the most difficult decision she's had to make since she became a trustee. She asked if there was a possibility that the board could work with the community to approach the Ministry of Education to find a solution that would benefit both those who want to save the green space and the school board, which needs money from the sale of that same land. "Should this motion go forth tonight, is there a way we can move forward with some of the community folks that we've heard from in the delegation night (and go) to the Ministry and develop a plan?" she said. Wayne Joudrie, director of education, replied that one way the green space could be saved is if the municipalities purchase the various properties. However, the municipalities would need to be the highest bidders and pay the full value of the land, as per the Ministry of Education's Regulation 444/98. "I'm hopeful we'll end up with some community municipal partners on that front. But the rules around 444/98, as they are stated today, is they are (sold at) market value." Wayne Joudrie, director of education, Halton District Public School Board Wayne Joudrie "If this is approved tonight and we go through 444/98, I'm hopeful we'll end up with some community municipal partners on that front," he said. "But the rules around 444/98, as they are stated today, is they are (sold at) market value." Several trustees, such as Milton trustee Donna Danielli, said they were in favour of selling the surplus lands if it meant reducing portables and improving the conditions in which students were learning. Board staff said students are currently learning in 280 portables in Halton. Bruce Jones, trustee for Oakville Wards 5 and 6, which includes WOSS, did not comment on the issue Wednesday evening. Two Oakville delegates spoke about the WOSS land sale before trustees made their decision Wednesday night. Karen Brock, a WOSS parent, asked the board to delay the decision and hold a public consultation on what should be done with the property. She said it is an important green space in the community. "This is not a plot in a new development that no one will miss," she said. "It is a well-used community space, day or evening." Dona Foucault, who lives in a home backing onto a wooded lot that separates houses from the east portion of land for sale, also asked the board to work with the community to find alternatives. "I'm here today to ask you to press pause, and implore you to take some time to take step back and re-examine the situation, defer the decision, make a working group that includes local councillors and members of the community," she said. Now that the board has decided to sell, a government-established list of buyers will have a chance to make bids for the property. Among the list of preferred buyers is the Town of Oakville. Buyers from the list will have 90 days to make an offer. There is also the opportunity for the bidders to ask the board for an extension. Board staff said talks would likely have to be made regarding boundary lines for the 7.3-acre parcel of land at White Oaks, depending on who is interested in purchasing it and what it would be used for. A list of bidders and how much they are willing to offer will go before trustees in private session. The details of the deal will not be made public until the land is sold. Lighting JEWELLERY FOR YOUR HOME Voted #1 Lighting Store 2 Years in a row Readers Choice Awards LIGHTING FROM · CORBETT · TROY · HUDSON VALLEY · STONEGATE DESIGN · ARTCRAFT AND MUCH MORE C O R B E T T 243 Speers Road · Between Kerr & Dorval · Oakville, Ontario · 905.849.LITE (5483) www.conceptlighting.ca CONCEPT LIGHTING GALLERIES