Vetransehool trustedme byboard for poattendano.i.e LORI STRONG was recognized at Whitby Council laet Monday for her achieveme its from, the Com- monwealth Gaines. The local ymat who 'cap- tured four golde and two silver nedals ie pictured above receiving an honourary plaque from Whitby Mayor Bob Attereley. reas mPhoto By Trudie Zavadovies' The Durhamn Public School Board has two weeks to find a rep lacemient after ousting Whitby's John Buchanan from his position as trustee Monday Cuchanan, a Whitby trustee since 1980 was foroed to forfeit his position Ibecause b0 niissed three conseciitive board meetings without board authorization.' The Education Act says that if a board inember absents himself from three cdnsecutjve meetings, the board then must pass a. resolution whether or not to authorize ýthose absences. B uchanan missed the Dec. 11/89, Jan. 8, and <tan. 22 board meet- thairman, Ian Browrn then sent him a r'gistred letter stat- ing tat, acrding to the Ed 'uca- tion At, Bucçhanan had vacated his seat by; his absence. The letter went1 on to say that Buchanan could appear before the board at the next meeting to make his 'excuses, for being absent. 1 uchanan appeared before the board; Monday_.night -but, they chose not to'- authoriýze'ý his absences. "He. left the meeting within m inutesof the decision. Late*- Monda afternoon, Buchanan told Ye Free Press that *he was surprised that he wasiii that position. "I -didn't realize it was three times.» He said that he was sick the first meeting, out of town the second, and, his car brQke down ini Toronto the third. «Circum- stances do occur," said Buchanan. This is th;e second time Buchanan has missed three consecutive board meetings but before, had been excused for his absences. When contacted by the Whitby Free Press Tiaesday morning,1 Board Chairman and Whitby trustee ' Ian Brown, said that this was'the first time te his knowledge that a Durhamn board seat hadi been declared vacant for this reason. He aise indicated that it was a rare occurence with other boards as well Under the Education Act, the vacant seat maiy be filled b appointment or býy by-election. ef arpointed, the seat must ho filled at theet regular Board meet- ing which ýis scheduled for Mon- day, February 26. Debate over how to MIl the vacant position began. im- mediately. One motion was te appoint one of the six people who lost to Buchanan in t he last election starting with the ciosest runner up on doyn. Tat motion was, defeated wth the consensus that it was ufi not te give those, - presently interested, the right to apply for th, position. i The second motion, te hoid a by-election! i Whitby-was defea- ted'-due, tdl high costs and anti- cipated Io w v oter turnout. The cost for a by-eiection wouid run between 500 to $90eOQO.! The third- motion,,, which was passed by j4 vote of 17;,2 Was'te advertise jýhe position and te interview applicants3. Applicants are not restricted te WJlitby. According te the Education'Act, there is no geographicai bound- ary when replacing a trustee. Applicants must ho 18 years of age or over, Canadian Citizens, (one truste ost his seat becaus hoe was a British subject), reside in Durham Region, and supprt the public sehool system. Appli cants can cail the board office at 576-4600 ext. 317 te get further information. Plans* are that interviews will ho heid by the board on Feb. 26 prior te thefr meeting. Inter- views wiii ho held publicaliy. The new trustee wili ho sworn i that evening. Buchanan was unavailable for comment after the meeting -or up until press time. Ki"ght s- of Columbus looking back 30Oyears My Scott Laurie Feb. 1 marked the 3th anni- versary of Whitby's St. John the Evangeiist Council of the Knights of Columbus, an organi- zation founded almoat 100 years ago in the U.S. te proMote frater- rnty.and faith among Catholic mingrats. Since its beginnings in 1882, the Knights of Columbus has steadily grown te 10,061 coun- cils. Whitby's St. John is the 4,895th council. The founding meeting -teok place in a basement room of the church of Saint Mary's in New Hayon, Connecticut, where the 24 charter members proclaimed Father Michael J. McGivney as founder of the Knights of Coi- umbus. McGivney's parents were Irish immigrants who had come to America in the wave of Irish immigration during the l9th cen- tury.Hle was one of 13 chiidren, six of whom died in infancy or childhood. T'he organization was founded te heip Catholic immigrants remain steadfast te their faith through mutual encouragement, te promote doser ties of frater- SEE PAGE 16 Pull Ouf Centre Section ]MARfl:TURMIN ili gmid -imight1 of ae)cue of the Kihso Cl the ê ft..-John the . Evagehut-(Whit.b.y.umbus, no imthefir3OhTarrf