Pagu 26, Whitby Frec PrOss, Wudnusday, August .- 450 to work in new ed. centre By John Dujay Drive along Taunton Road, just past Anderson Street, and you will-see a massive new brick and glass building taking shape. This is the new Durham Board of Ëducation building. Almost completed, the project's original cost is $24 million (with an additional $24.9 million allocated for Sinclair Secondary which is attached to the building). The 165,000-square foot, four- storey structure is supposed to save taxpayers money in the long run. The Durhan board's communications manager Mary Brown says that an estimated $1.282 million will be saved each year. This will be accomplished by amalgamating all of the board's operations into one building. She mentions a number of expenses that were previously billed as a result of having many different buildings throughout the region. Such costs as leasing, duplication of services, couriers between the different offices, phone equipment and utilities are the major items that the board will no longer have to include in their budget. In the past, there were a number of facilities throughout Durham, including the old 555 Rossland Road headquartere, which served the region. Now most of the services will be conducted in the new building, which will have 450 employees. The exception will be the maintenance department that will continue to function out of its facility in Ajax, that was built last year. How will Durham pay for it all? According to Brown, there is a $20-million mortgage, financed over 20 years. Taxpayers will have to foot an extra $7.34 each year on their local assessments, says Brown. However, she emphasized that this figure was a previous estimation and it may have dropped according to the latest figures. Walking around the magnificant circular building, Brown explains some of the modern features that will save taxpayer dollars. There are more meeting rooms than were previously available to board staff. This will save on room rentals, as well as travel time throughout the region. There is an abundance of natural light, especially from the front foyer, which has a massive pointed skylight. This will save on heating costs. The cafeteria will serve as part of a food school, where Sinclair students enrolled in food studies will "practice on board staff," according to Brown. Also included in the building is a daycare centre, which is run by the provincial community services ministry. This is not specifically for Durham staff, but is available to working mothers. Construction on the massive structure was started in November 1992. The project has employed an estimated 165 workers, of which a good portion are local, Brown says. The original estimate was for a June 1994 move-in. Instead, illustrating that the estimate was accurate, the first employees were in the building in July 1994. Overall, the move has encountered only minor problems, says Brown. "It has been quite spread out over several weeks. That has been a bit confusing because you're really not sure who is here and who is still in some other location." For herself, she says her office was moved on a weekend. 'We went home Friday (from the old building) and came back Monday morning to tbis building. Hopefully, they've got all your furniture in the right place." Sinclair Secondary FROM PAGE 1 titles as Computer Awareness, Writing and Essay, 3 on 3 ·Basketball and Phantom of the Opera. Phantom of the Opera? According to Egan, 'There's no rule that says you have to sit in a room for the entire period." She encourages teachers to get the students out in the community for field trips to participate in what she calls "optional enriched experiences." Another unique part of the Sinclair curriculum is what is known as the Teacher Adviser (TA) program. It is similar to the homeroom in high schools of the past because students meet their TAevery morning for 15 minutes. However, then the similarities end. Unlike past homerooms, there will only be approximately 15 students in each class. This will increase the student-teacher ratio in the students' favour as they will be able to interact easier. As well, it will not be a chance to just sit and chat with other kids, said Egan. Teachers will be challenging their students. However, it will be up to the individual teacher to decide what he or she wishes toteach. "We don't want to hand a book and say, here's the book you cover in your TA time. "It's a real chance to consolidate learning," she said. As an example of the high tech atmosphere that students will be exposed to, Egan explained the media retrieval system. She said that each classroom will have a television monitor hanging from the ceiling. When the need for a videotape or laser disc is required, no longer will the teacher have to lug a VCR through the halls. Instead, one room will house all of the equipment. In the morning, the teacher will hand in the tape or disc to a person in the room. Then, at the correct time, the teacher can access the VCR or laser dise machine via the classroom's telephone. Each number keypad will correspond to various remote control functions such as play, fast forward and pause. It's examples such as these that illustrate the leading edge of classroom technology, both in physical equipment and curriculum. "It's a work in progress, "Egan said of the present schedule, adding that it will be modified as the need progresses. Asked if the school, which still remains to be fully fnished, will be ready for Sept. 6, Egan said heartily, "You bet!" A WORKER puts some finishing touches on meeting room at the new headquarters build- trim in the Durham Board of Education ing. Photo by Mark Reesor, Whitby Free Press Trustees have their own room By Mike Kowalski Durham Board of Education trustees will have a room to call their very own in the school board's new Whitby headquar- ters. That's because board chair Patty Bowman is getting one all to herself. In a first for Durham Region, the political head of the public school board will have his/her own office in the recently opened Taunton Road administration building. A 200-square-foot office bas been set aside for the chair. Trustees will have a smaller room in which to work on board business. All trustees, including the chair, shared an office in the board's former headquarters in Oshawa. But while the board bas drawn criticism for some of the accoutrements found in the $24- million facility, Bowman insists a separate office for the chair is no n new building luxury. Stressing that "it's the chair's office, not Patty Bowman's," the Whitby trustee said a special room or the chair is not meant to be "symbolic" of the position. Rather, it's a reflection of the responsibility that goes with heading a government body which has more than 5,000 employees and a $368.8-million budget, Bowman said. , "cHow many business officials don't have an office?" she asked. "Ask any head of a corporation whether they could be effective when working from home or in a, car." Although the chair has never had his/her own office, "in my mind it's always been essential for the chair to have one," said Bowman. In the past, trustees usually felt obligated to defer to the chair and move elsewhere if the chair came in when the old office was being used, she explained. Separate offices eliminate that problem and guarantee the chair will always have a place in which to meet with board staff or rate- payers, Bowmai said. Whether or lot she occupies the office after the Nov. 14 muni- cipal election, it will not sit empety most of the day, Bowman said. While it will depend on «who the chair is," the office will be used "on a regular basis," she said. "I put in 20 to 80 hours a week on school board issues,» said Bowman, a commercial design artist. "It's not sitting behind a desk at all times," she admitted, «but people would.be quite surprised y the number of hours.» Bowman added that she feels there is no need to defend or apologze for including an office for the chair in the new head- quarters. "I would see a greater concern if the chair was not working, instead of having an office and someone working in it.» CI By Nancy Cotter, head library resource SINCLAIR SECONDARY SCHOOL The student ambassadors have succesfully completed a one-day training session, enabling them to lead the Aug. 31 tours we premised you. Al managed to scour the building, learning shortcuts to certain stairwells and hallways in order to help you make it to class on time. Just a reminder to you of the times for our sessions next week (Wednesday):' Grade 9, arrival time, 9:30 a.m., tour 9:45 a.m., lunch 11 a.m., departure, 11:30 a.m.;'Grade 10, arrival time 11:15 a.m., tour 11:30 a.m., lunch 12:45 p.m., departure 1:15 p.m.; Grade 11, arrival time 11:45 a.m., tour 12:30 p.m., lunch 12 p.m., departure, 1:45 p.m. IResidents of the Sinclair School community can take tours from 2 to 3 p.m. Many thanks to our parent volunteers for offering assistance at the barbecue and for our many community sponsors. Al students should receive a call from their teacher advisor this week for that personal invitation to the Sinclair barbecue and orientation tour. Don't forget to plan your school spirit outfit for the first impression of Celtic spirit. Student ambassadors will be awarding Celtic coupons for those of you selected as outstanding on your first day at Sinclair Secondary. To qualify, your must wear school colours of green, navy with accents of red and gold. Until next weel, get ready, get set, cause we're ready to go! . ew..o. p.. 31 Emotions Anonymous sup- port group meets Thursday, at 7 p.m., 110 Ash St., Whitby. For more informa- tion, call Marge at 728-6484 or Gloria at 576-4769.