Larger sehool sites consli*idered The Durham board of Educa- tion is consideing larger 'site sizes for future new schools due to the large number of portable-. and resulting decrease in park- land for school recreation. The board's site size require- ment is now five acres, optimail> located next to a five-acre park. Parkland is not as easily ac- quired for school use as there arc a number of separate school sites- competing for the saine parklands and some municipalities are reluctant to purchase park land beyond'the limits of their five per cent. dedications, said Jim Rus- sell, superintendent of plant. The provincial government now funds kindergarten-Gr. 8 sites with a maximum area of five acres, making any enlargement of K-8 sites only partially funded. The boardwould have te -pay the difl'erence. This. policy is now under review at the Ministry of Elducation. Russell says he has been in cýmmunication with the Province about the board's site probleins. "It's a real problei with increasing numbers -of ýportables and our mandate for child care," said Oshawa trustee Ruth Lafar- ga. A, board report is pposing six-acre sites for K-8 schos . In special circuinstances, such as- public elementary-park com- plexes, the report suggests -a site of a minimum of 10 acres in size should be located "in areas geographically distinct from separate elementary-park com- plexes." The report,. by planner Steve Edwards, also suggests that if the public elemenitary-separate ele- mentary-park sites be combined, the overaîl area should meet or exceed 20 acres in size. According te Russell, the Town of Wh-itby will stick- with their five per cent allocation, and >that they wiIl not bring the allocation up te 20 acres. Wihitby trustee Patty Bowman noted that Students cannot use parks unless supervised by school staff. There is supervision on the school grounds only, apparently." Russell replied*that the board is fully covered for liability if children use the parkland. "With declining enrolment 10 years ago, we didn't imagine we'd have this rnany portables," Rus- sell said. However, some trustees expressed concern that if the board increased site size, the municipalities might cut back in .the size of park allocations. "Particularly in the Town of Whitby, parks could be cut back in size if we increase school sites," said Bowman. I believe municipalities will downgrade (if school sites are enlarged)," said Oshawa trustee Gary Kitchen. Kitchen was also conicerned about possible costs to the board if provincial funding was not forthcoming for larger. sites. If the board approved larger site sizeti and the vaious municipalities accepted thern (for proposed sehool sites), the board runs the risk that the nnstry mnight flot fund the larger sites. Property and transpcirtrtion committee decided that the board would change lot sizes if midnistry grants are forthcoming for the larger sizes. Budget wil1 cost Town $ 50,000 more The provincial government's recent budget will cost the Town of Whitby an additional $50,000 in 1988, according to a report from the Town's treasurer. AI Claringbold reported to council that as a result of the retail sales tax increasie to eight per cent from seven per cent, goods purchsed by the Town will cost an additional $18,000. It will cost an additional $15)000. for the purchase of vehicles and equipment and an additional $17,000 for construc- tion projects. WHTYFREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1988, PAGE .3 HARIîoSON MAY SALE. On now until Tuesday, May 31 250/0 PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE DINING ROOM & BEDROOM FURNITURE-- J2z (46)OU903(4643-03 P o (Oe'o nrt6fDna ofBokS. r.Fr. kalmv ~4$ô .:4.'.~AA~AAiAAA~444dô4.$g*I4$fttt.~. SHORET TERM RATES ARE SORNG!0 j GUARANTEED RATES Guaranteed Term Deposîts $100,000+ 180- 364 days GUARANTEED RATES Guaranteed Term Deposits $5,000 + 270- 364 days & LIQUIDITY Total Money, Market Accouint $50,000 + Rates subjct 0 cangel. MenibeitCanada Deposat luroeCorporaion à WHITBY - 352 Brock St. S« 666-180à 308 Dundas St. W. 668&9324 AJAX - Harwood Place Malil S. 683-7344 OSHAWA .32 Slmnco. St.S. 723-5207 PiCKERiNG » Pickering Super Ceontre 831-6501 mi