Whitby FieefPie, Wecbisdy, Deoembor 283,19U4.,Page 23 Boards J'oint activities Trustees of the Durham Board of Education and the Durhamn separate echool board met Dec. 13 te roviow the activities and projects on which they have been working co-operatively. The aim of the joint services commià ttee is te maimize opportunities for both boards te, work together to save money. Activities currently underway include: Aduit snd CoetiuIng Educatioei -- Using pro vincialJ funding awarded in 1992, the boards have worked with Durham Colege and strengthen adult and continuing education opportunities in Durham. Two lcxosk operations, one in Oshawa and the othor in Pickering, have been opened te provide information about and access te appropriate educational programns. Computer Services -- The public and separate boards have beeýn sharing computer services since 1984, using the same financial system. On-lino student administrations systems were introduced on a shared basis in 19187 te support secondary echools. As of 1994, an on-line elementary' student administration system, electronic mail, a teacher personnel- systemi and a school kkeýeping system h ave been added, saving money for both boards. Transportation System -- The computerized transportation systom, entitled 'Bustops,' already in place at the Durham Board of Education, was purchased early in 1994 by the Durham separate board. The boards now are working on merging transportation data to, croate a parallel view of the transportation prvie in each municipa]ity se thtptntial cost savings may be determined. The system should be in place by September 1996. Educational Development Charges - Both boards have workeld together te establish and implement educational development charge bylaws. Partnership with General Metors -- In late 1992, the General Moters of Canada Durham Region Training Coundil met with the two local boards, the two neighbouring boards te the east and Durhamn College te review the council's training plan. Out of this meeting came a plan for staff exchanges among the parties, co-operative education placement opportunities for students, ~mtion of GM's World in oetion science and technology its, the development of the EDGE (Aduit Education for G?éempk!yees) project, and the additiono science screen videos te the media centre for hoth boards. HomneSehool Partnership = ..a * The Home School Prnrhp Program, for which provincial funding was given in 1992, was put in place by the two boards te help parents improve their children's development and school experience. Library and Courier Service services have been shared by the boards since 1969. Ail costs are shared annuaily on a ratio based on the number of fuil-time teaching staff employed each year by each board. York University - The professional development co-operative links theory and classroom practice through a combined staffing modal of board of education and York University personnel. Teaching staff from both boards benefit from the joint professional dovelopment opportunities offered through the program. Purchasing -. Purchasing for some items for the public and separato boards is carried eut jointly. Fuel oil bas heen tendered jointlyJ and with the municipalities for 24 years. Lamps have been tendered jointly for 15 years. The boards- are exploring expansion of this service te include other goods and sèrvices. Sale Sehools - The Durham Safe Schools Committee is a partnership between the Durham Regional Police and the four boards of education serving students in Durham Region. Its mission is. te, reduce the number of violent incidents among youth and assist staff-and students in creating and maintaining safe and secure school environments. Chistmas drive FATHER LEO J. AUSTIN Catholic Secondary Sohool students and staff col- lected around 50 boxes of food and toys and $1 ,400 cash for needy area familles. From Ieft, Jason Gusi, Lenny Romagno, Chris Staves, Chris Leahy, Fiona Scanneli, Sarah Goemans and Andrea Santos were amongi the students involved in the Christ- mas drive. Photo by Mark Reseor, Whilby Frm Pres Ihe Kumon compleme 1nt The Kumon math program is a way to complement the lessons learned at school and ensure a greater understanding of the problem-solving process. The Kunion method of learning was developed in Osaka, Japan in the late 1950s, by a high school math teacher concerned that his son was doing poorly in the subject. Designed for students between ages 4 and 15, the program cari help te reinforce à wide range of skcills -- fromn the line-drawing learned in pre-school te the calculus taught in university. The program emphasizes LEANNE DALRYMPLE and Steve Miles-Berry rehearse for Anderson CVI's production of 'Handcuffs,' about the Donnez family, which wiII be presented at the school Jan. 1 Photo by Mark Reesor. Whitby Free Press self-learning and repetition. Students begin at a level below their own capability, whià ch croates comfort and confidence. They complete a series of individual worksheets and progress at their own pace as each one is finished perfectly within a prescribed period of time. Kumnon math was brought te Canada 10 years ago by Japanese immigrants who began by giving after-school lessons te children within their community. Today, the mothod is used by more than 16,000 students in about 180 math centres across the country. FRE 1eO 729 ----sO sTr. LLk* @ (aTr mm U 666)m878~5 PICK-UP BONUS Mr-