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Elated Separate school officials thrilled with announcement of full funding Pat Arbuckle Chronicle Staff Still feeling much of the initial elation, members of the local separate school board and their public school counterparts are beginning to take a hard look at implications of the province‘s decision to provide full funding to Ontario‘s separate schools. Premier William Davis announced last week that the government will equalize the funding to the province‘s separate and public school boards. The move is expected to cost $40 million in the first year. Indications are that Waterloo could see significant changes in the next five years, as a result, according to local school board officials. An expected shift of secondary school students from public high schools back into the separate system could mean that additional facilities will be needed and Ron Kirvan, principal of St. David‘s junior high school in Waterloo, feels that his facility is the obvious choice for a catholic high school in Waterloo. "‘There is a feeling of joy. The teachers are happy, the students are happy â€" they are optimistic they will be able to finish their high school education at St. David‘s," he said. And Frank Clifford, secretaryâ€"treasurer of the Waterloo Separate School Board, confirmed that St. David‘s will be considered as a future secondary school facility for Waterloo. Although members of the board have not actually sat down to discuss the possibilities, ‘"‘one of the priorities of the board is to establish a full catholic high school in the city of Waterloo," he said. Clifford emphasized that no changes are planned for the 1984â€"85 school year. Since the province has made it clear that no grants will be available for capital expenditures, the board will have to consider in coming months several possibilities for accommodating the expected influx of high school students into the system, using present facilities, he said. _ One alternative that could be considered is a restructuring of the city‘s elementary schools to include grades seven and eight. Senior high school levels could then be phased in gradually at St. David‘s, at present a Grade seven to 10 facility, he explained. Clifford admitted that he was at first "overâ€" whelmed" by the sweeping nature of the government announcement. While it is too early to tell what the decision will mean to Ontario taxpayers, he expects that students in the separate school system will see a significant expansion in programs offered, particularly in technical areas. ‘"We will also need to continue to offer the religious education and family life courses that have made us different (from the other system). Our guardianship of those courses is just as important as accepting the money,"" he said. Waterloo trustee Mac Zettel foresees dramatâ€" ic changes both in programs offered and facilities in the Waterloo region. e "For the kids in our system, it will be tremendous. They can start off and finish in the system with no financial hardships to their parents,‘" he said. _ _ Still Zettel feels that a lot of study and responsible planning will be needed to ensure a smooth transition and avoid excessive duplicaâ€" tion between the two school systems. We don‘t want the taxpayer to suffer within Westmount Place Waterioo (behind Mr. Grocer) WASH & SET $6 WASH & CUT $6 SHAMPOO, SET & CUT $12 Mahlers Hairâ€"a monium Senior Citizen Days Mon., Tues., Wed. & Thurs. Hairstyling Limited {includes styling) 886â€"7520 Distinctive Hair for Men & Women the public or the separate school board. The education price is very high now. We can‘t afford and the people can‘t afford to spend more money," he said, adding that public and separate school boards will have to work closely together to ensure that changes are phased in systematically. Feelings of happiness are shared by officials of the public school board. Twyla Hendry, chairman of the Waterloo County Board of Education said that her first reaction after hearing the government announcement was to congratulate her separate school counterparts. Hendry added that although problems may arise during the coming transition period, she is confident they can be worked out to the mutual satisfaction of both boards. "I won‘t say there won‘t be any problems or difficulties, but trouble, no," she said. "The whole foundation of both boards is the student. Whatever else happens, we have to make for a smooth transition for the sake of the student â€" their learning can‘t be trified with." _ Waterloo trustee Elizabeth Witmer said that she expects significant changes locally as a result of the government decision. _ c Since no government funds will be available for additional building projects, empty schools within the county may have to be shared or exchanged within the two boards to accomâ€" modate an expected influx of a large number of catholic students into the separate system, she said. "There will be negotiating going on between the two boards and we may lose one of our high schools." Adding that she is thrilled for the separate school supporters who are ‘"most deserving," Witmer said that she foresees no problems between the local separate and public school boards. (boside MiWay Market) 1335 Weber St. E., 7M4â€"116 A P I 3 Nours: * a° Mon.â€"Wed.; Brasstique Sleep Shoppes [ ‘«« & 40 | . sfi Thurs., Fri. 10â€"9 WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESOAY, JUNE 20, 1984 â€"â€" PAGE 9