PAGE 18, WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, SEFPEMBER 28,1988 Board faces bus driver shortage The Durham Board of Education has been forced to give two bus routes to some. drivers because of a shortage of bus drivers. "We are scraping the barrel at the moment for bus drivers," said Jack Upton, the board's manager of transportation, at last week's property and transportation committee meeting. "We are going to have a rough year for drivers," he said, noting that some drivers left the board to work for a new manufacturing plant in Whitby. He recommended staggering school hours to allow more drivers to double up. Currently, some drivers are running late and early to make up for the lack of drivers. Upton said, for example, that school could begin at 8:45 a.m. for spme bussed students, 9:15 a.m. fôr others, at two schools in the same general area. The number of buses has also increased over last year. A committee report said there were 350 buses this year (328 last year) but Upton said that has since inreased to 360. "And we are going up more every day," he added. He mentioned overload and special education situations as reasons for the increase. "I really see it as being a major problem," said Oshawa trustee Ruth Lafarga, who chairs the committee. She said discussion of the problem *should take place with parents. Pickering trustee Lorna Murphy said there may not be as many problems with parents as might be anticipated because of the transportation changes. "I think you'll find that they have a fair amount. of under- standing," she said. Upton also said parents should contact the board rather than bus operators if information is re- quired. The board contracts for 107 school buses from Durhamway Bus Lines, 84 from Simcoe Transit Co., 71 from Laidlav transit Ltd., 71 from Stockway Transportation, nine from Scugog transit, four from Lee Bus Lines, three from Wilfred Vine and tw from George Freeman. Safety inspections of buse began Sept. 13. By Feroneh Neil Anderson CVI students are involved in their own Olympic excitement. A group of students in Alec Hamilton's health class are pubhicizing the Summer Olympics as an assignment. Included are Gr. 13 students Chris Donnelly, Juhian Hoffman, Mark MacLeod, Donna Petri, Clayton Self and Nancy Water- man. 'We ý.have fact cards about every sport," says MacLeod. "People seem to know a bit more about.the Oympics now. Inthe front foyer are posters andîa videotape about the events. Liz Aruta 7 Iy )e w Y "Mr. Hamilton had sent away for the information and thought that it would be a goodidea," MacLeod says of the project. The students also are running a quiz as a part of their assignment. A question regarding any sport in the Olympics is asked over the public address system every day. The homeroom that answers the most questions correctly wins a pizza party. The assignment will be running until the end of this week. "It seems to be low key right now. Hopefully it will pick up," MacLeod says. New contract approved A new two-year agreement has been reached between clerical employees and trustees of the Durham Board of Education. The agreement, ratified by CUPE Local 218 (clerical) on Sept. 18, will mean wage increases of 8 per cent effective July 1, 1988 and 7 per cent effective July 1, 1989. The increases are to recognize an economic increase as well as the needs of the pay equity program, according to a Durham board announcement. One-third of any further adjustment toward pay equity Invit t the to vieu iabli Sthe ronà l' Nvew1989us on Sept. 28,29 & 30th e e • : • • • .: . :.:. . (maximum2.5 per cent for any individual) will be made on each of July 1, 1989, Jan. 1, 1990 and July 1, 1990. Any remainder at that time will be made at six-month intervals beginning Jan. 1, 1991. Other changes to the contract include an increase in shift premiums in each of the two years; an increase in Vision Care coverage to $150 from $100 every two years effective Oct. 1, 1988; single and family OHIP coverage for part- time employees effective Oct. 1, 1988; dental schedules will be updated to 1987, effective Oct. 1, 1988, and to 1988, effective July 1, 1989. A committee made up of administration, principals and secretaries will be established to look .at staffing formulas for elementary and secondary scho- ols. The contract will represent an increased cost of $399,482 to the Durham board, or 9.22 per cent in the first year of the agreement, $388,557 or 8.21 per cent increase in the second. It seems like only yesterday when I signed off for the last time in anticipation of the long awaited summer holidays. Exams were just coming to a close and hours upon hours of liberated sun-filled days lay ahead. But now school has just begun and the only thing we have to look forward to is that in nine months time it will be summer, Meanwhile, if we are going to have to be here at Denis O'Connor High School, why not enjoy it? And I have a feeling that this year we will. First of all, I'd like to extend a big welcome to our new staff and students, especially the Grade 9s. And to all those veter an DO'C'ers, welcome back also. I sincerely hope that everyone had a wonderful vacation. Three weeks have already passed and a lot of things have happen- ed at DO'C. As usual our athletic teams have begun preparation for their respective seasons. In usual DO'C fashion, our boys' soccer teams have staited off with a bang, easily defeating their first two opponents. Last year's silver medahists at OFSAA opened their season with a 14-0 win over Port Perry High and then beat Harwood hand- - ily with a score of 15-0. The junior boys followed suit overcoming weak-sided Port Perry and Harwood teams, 10-1 and 5.-0 respective- ly. Let's hope these strong openers will be a sign of another winning season. Good luck boys! & Field hockey has come to a new age here at DO'C. More girls than ever have come out and for the first time, DO'C is sporting two girls' teams. In a recent tournament, the "B" team played three strong games. Though they played aggressively, the girls were unable to win a game. Coach Spotswood is certain her girls will become as success- ful as last year's varsity team - the 87-88 LOSSA and DYSSA champ- ions. Other teams such as the basketball and volleyball teams have also begun training for their upcoming seasons. Our band, choirs, councils (student and athletic) have all begun their year early. All these extracurricular activities are optional and it appears that this year everyone wants to be involved. It looks as if òur newly elected student council executive will see one of their promises come true. DO'C spirit is alive and well and it's arrived in good time. Our annual walk, appropiately named the DO'C-a-thon, is fast approaching. Students are in the process of collecting pledges in order to gain a minimum quota of $30. The walk wiiI take place on Oct. 6, the Thursday before the long weekend. This year our student council were able to pull off the impossible - a successful first dance. It was a great start to the school year, and it provided us with hope for future school events. I'm sure that if the rest of the student body had a say in the matter, they would like to see this executive in power for more than one school year. But for now, we will have to settle with them for the next nine months. Not a bad fate for DO'C. ACVIstudents to hold bike-a-d'tion Saturday On . Saturday, Oct. 1, the. Anderson Music Students' Associ- ation will - hold - their seventh annual 50-kin "Bike-a-thon." Funds from the event go -towar'd the purchase of sound equipment as well as band activities such as an excursion and participation in the Oshawa Kiwanis Festival and MusicFest Canada competitions. The bike-a-thon begins at ACVI at 9 a.m., following a route through Whitby and Brooklin and finishing at ACVI where partici- pants and supervisors will be treated to a barbecue lunch. Music Students' Association members will be canvassing their neighborhood to seek sponsors for their 'ride. For more infor- mation call Andrew Uranowski of the Anderson music department at 668-5809 or 686-2431. ' I LIGHTER AND MORE POWERFUL THAN THE COMPETITION, NOW THAT'S PERFORMAMi Students publicize Games WINNER, MRS. S. HA NNA N of Whitby, is the Sept. winner of Oshawa Garden Service, Garden Gallery $100.: Monthly Shopping- Spree. Draws to continue until December to celebrate O.G.S's 35th year in Whitby.» E 7h7LAUiLUTools available at: TOOL SHACK -OWN E '1543Bayly Street, Pickering 839-2364 i Mon. -Fri. 8 - 6 pm, Saturday 9 - -5 pm $Ati Y SI. -