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November 5, 2013
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E N T E R T A I N M E N T abbotsfordtimes.com
Mission high school consolidation?
District ponders possibility of going from three high schools to one CHRISTINA TOTH CToth@abbotsfordtimes.com
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he Mission school district may combine its three high schools into one in order to offer secondary students a greater range of subjects, said Edie Heinrichs, board of education chairwoman. It would also establish two separate middle schools. Parents of high school and ele-
DIWALI
mentary students, educators and students are encouraged to discuss the idea at a public meeting on Nov. 7 at Heritage Park Secondary. “We’re just seeing if there is a taste for it,” Heinrichs said on Thursday. “But I’m excited, I’m curious to hear what they have to say. Students at the higher levels have very strong opinions, so we hope to hear from them, too.” In the new configuration, Grade
7 to 9 middle schools “Some high schools (out- School Distr ict may have 500 to 700 side the district) offer reconfigured its students each, while schools, moving three levels of calculus the Grade 10 to 12 Grade 6 and 7 stuschool would have and we have only one. dents into each 6 0 0 t o 1 , 0 0 0 s t u - And that is a virtual class of the three high dents. schools – Misled by one teacher for all sion Secondary, Howe v e r, He i n richs stressed any three schools.” Heritage Park and figures at this point Hatzic – creating – Edie Heinrichs a “school within a were “really rough” and the idea is at a school” format. very early stage. The board will just Middle school grades are run on be taking comments at this time, slightly different schedules and she said. younger students are kept genThree years ago the Mission erally in their own area at their
Net income for 2013 pegged at $2M ROCHELLE BAKER RBaker@abbotsfordtimes.com
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– ROCHELLE BAKER/TIMES
Young dancers perform at the Diwali celebrations at the Abbotsford Community Library on Saturday. For more photos of Diwali celebrations around Abbotsford, download the Layar app onto your smartphone, then scan the logo to the right of the photo.
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see SCHOOL, page A4
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respective schools. Hatzic has successfully separated the two populations, said Heinrichs. However, the format is not well received by everyone. “We’re getting a lot of complaints about the high school configuration, with the [middle] school within a school,” as some parents don’t like younger students in Grade 7 mingling with older Grade 11 and 12 students, she said.
rowth at the Abbotsford International Airport may not be rocketing skyward but it is experiencing a slow and steady rise. Mike Pastro, Abbotsford airport general manager, said jumps in passenger numbers and development at YXX aren’t expected in the near future, but money is being socked away for future growth. “We don’t anticipate any dramatic increases . . . but we are expecting slow but steady growth of two per cent as we’ve had over the past two years.” However, the airport is projected to earn more than $2 million in net income in 2013, up from $1.8 million in 2012, said Pastro. “It’s a natural progression of slow growth. Our revenues are up and our expenses are down,” he said. As of Sept. 30, the airport’s operating income exceeded 2013 budget expectations by $431,483, according to a financial performance report set for presentation to city council on Monday. Around $97,000 of the $125,484 in surplus revenue was due to income
from fees and sponsorships during the 2013 Aerospace, Defence and Security Expo in August. Expenses were also $306,000 lower than budgeted for 2013. Most of the savings were the result of a staff member being on longterm disability and a reduction in consulting services, said Pastro. Budget projections suggest that operating income will exceed 2013 expectations by $568,406 by the end of December. see YXX, page A4
– ROCHELLE BAKER/TIMES
The Abbotsford International Airport is projected to generate around $2 million in net income in 2013, according to GM Mike Pastro.
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