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Parents ready to tight to keep COPE tnthttttllltt Though the board made its formal rec- ommendation during a public meeting last night to close Brighton and Harold Wagner schools at the end of the 2001- 2002 year, parents of students who attend those schools are not giving up without a fight. {Waterloo Region District school board Iplanners believe it will be an easy task to close two of Waterloo's core public schools. they should think again. "They (board) cannot expect us not to provide offense," said Tracey McGinnis, chair of the Brighton public school parent council, before the meeting at Lincoln Heights school. "What they would be doing is changing the make-up of the neighbourhood. Right now it's diverse with seniors, young mar- ried couples, students, you name it. But if you take the school out of that make-up, how are we supposed to get families here?" The issue of school closures reared its head last year when the board announced it was looking at potentially closing at least one of four schools in the uptown area. The list of schools at that time included Brighton, Harold Wagner, Elizabeth Ziegler and Linco]n weigh}; According to the board, an accommo- dation review was necessary after changes were made to the way the provincial gov- ernment finances school construction. In order to qualify for a grant, school boards must determine which schools are most valuable, and which can be consirr ered surplus. Also. a closure of two core- area schools would make more room for a new larger facility in the Iiastbridge area, which is to open in September 2002. But since then board planners have narrowed the options lo the two schools in question, citing a shift in neighbour hood demographics and a lack of children to fill the schools as their reasons. Board planner Chris Smith explained WATE'RLO 2,i2 RONICLE BY ANDREA BAILEY GNOME/e Staff Continued on page 4 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2001 . WATERLOO, ONTARIO Rebecca Butler. 11, and her sister iiue, Butler. 13. get into the swing of things last Saturday at Elmira secondary school as the members of the Ventures Colour Guard junior team prepared for the Dancestraea9anza event being held at Waterloo collegiate institute this Saturday staring at 5:30 pm Serving your commynity since 1856 Getting into the swing of things $1 INCLUDING GST BO. ViIAMA( "€074 A Waterloo couple celebrates 70th anniversary this week. The WCI Vikings still undefeated in volleyball action. Viewpoint You said it Arts Calandar l9 Etassitted “‘ Icanada.com| Saturn Saab Isuzu of Kitchener Waterloo 663 Victoria St. N. 744-5811 WHAT'S INSIDE RPORT.‘ Page 12 Page 23 27