The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

L UTwisted Pine Farm % Trussler Road z. Call 632â€"7887 * + § * MOONLIGHT MADNESS ~ package of Riding Lessons & Horse Care A perfect gift for equine enthusiastics of any age Twisted Pine Famm offers an infroductory Semiâ€"private & private sessions available Certified. experienced instructors Fully insured _ OPEN _ UNTIL _ 11lpm § _Friday, t Dec. 22n & Catholic school board and teachers reach agreement Continued from page 3 31,2002, the top rate for eleâ€" _ labour peace for the board. "We‘re trying to work on "This will â€" guarantee Mentary teachers will be _ The only cost savings necesâ€" _ issues together," he said. "It‘s through scheduling and the $69,629. The starting rate for _ sary forthe deal will comein problem solving as one hiring of some lunchtime 4 NDEW teacher will be â€" some paring down of inâ€"serâ€" _ team." nmervigars 4 chance ‘tar $30.004 vice training sessions. Schnart said the new deal "This â€" will â€" guarantee through scheduling and the hiring of some lunchtime supervisors a chance for teachers to have their own time." The wage increase and extended â€" lunch benefits were achieved with no job losses and not cuts to proâ€" gramming, unlike earlier deals reached between the public board and its two teachers‘ unions. At the end of the twoâ€"year agreement that expires Aug. Out of the Cold program faces increasing demand Contirued from page 1 anything, it‘s been that." Savage agreed the proâ€" gram has successfully built a reputation as a warm enviâ€" ronment, _ respectful _ of everyone and their privacy. "During the first three weeks, people talked about everything but themselves," he said. "Then they started to really open up. walk of life." "They are from every CcONnESTOGA _ MALL Turnout for the ratificaâ€" tion vote, held last Thursday at Bingeman Park, was low due to weather difficulties, but 73.6 per cent of those who did show up voted in favour of the deal. Dave Schnarr, superinâ€" tendent of human resources for the Catholic board, said the twoâ€"year deal bought some cost certainty and Savage also said there is a common _ misconception that those who make use of the program are or have to be homeless. "Often times it‘s the working poor that we see," he said. "We don‘t just get people who live on the streets. "Recently I met a man who had just moved into a new place and had to pay his first and last month‘s rent up "Even though our rates have gone up, our costs will be either equal or less to the provincial funding," said Schnarr. Schnarr said it was also a successful experiment in interestâ€"based bargaining that allowed both parties to get a better handle on the issues that were facing both sides. front. Well this pretty well cleaned him out and he didâ€" n‘t have enough money for food. Make no mistake, howevâ€" et, Savage said Out of the Cold is not the answer to the larger problems these peoâ€" ple are dealing with day in and day out. "The thing to know is that we highlight the problem," he said. "We are trying to put a human face to the issue." And they are not alone. According to the coordiâ€" nators there are a number of community members and businesses who would also like to help those in need. The program has seen many donations which help to offâ€" set the cost of $75 per night to feed the guests; while the churches who host the proâ€" gram donate the space for "That‘s how we were able to help him." s "The community has been great," Hills said. "But there‘s also the other side of the coin. How do we But, they agreed, the proâ€" gram could always use added support. â€" Schnart said the new deal will also make the board more competitive in aftractâ€" ing new teachers to fill in for ones who are taking advanâ€" tage of an early retirement option. â€" "Gertting _ teachers _ is tough right now," said Schnarr. wake up the community to the fact that these people are also their responsibility." "Keeping us in that comâ€" petitive group is really important." And it‘s not just monetary help the program is seeking. While over 1,000 volunâ€" teers pitch in to run the proâ€" gram each winter, more manpower is always welâ€" come. "If you can swing a mop, do I have a job for you," Savage added with a chuckâ€" le. "People are great to help when they know there‘s a need," Hills added. "But if they think it‘s being taken care of, they tend not to step forward. "Volunteering _ doesn‘t have to be an every week commitment," Savage said. "Any time a person can spare is appreciated." Volunteers are needed for shopping, cooking, serving, supervising during the night and cleaning up in the morning. "We want people to know the need is there." For more information on the program or volunteer opportunities, contact Hills at 886â€"7616 or Savage 579â€"5268.