Delta Optimist November 8 2013

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Vision for Paterson

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Proposal to be presented to civic politicians

Decade in books ElderCollege Delta marks anniversary

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Lest we forget Parade & service set for Monday

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Optimist

Champs rolling

Sun Devils taking aim at another volleyball tittle

Ageless artist

Delta

Newsstand $1

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YOUR SOURCE FOR LOCAL SPORTS, NEWS, WEATHER AND ENTERTAINMENT! WWW.DELTA-OPTIMIST.COM The Voice of Delta since 1922 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2013

See Page 16

FHA agrees to meet on health unit changes

Circle of crimson!

BY

SANDOR GYARMATI

sgyarmati@delta-optimist.com

Cranberry harvesting at a flooded field near Ladner Trunk Road and 112th Street in East Delta this week created this colourful spectacle.

PHOTO BY

GORD GOBLE

End of road on bus efforts

Province won’t be providing Delta school district with any more transportation funding BY

SANDOR GYARMATI

sgyarmati@delta-optimist.com

The Delta school district’s effort to convince the province to restore funding for the school bussing program has hit a dead end. In a letter to parents this week, board of education chair Laura Dixon admitted that despite continued efforts to amend a new transportation funding formula by the Ministry of Education, which resulted in a 47 per cent reduction for Delta, the province won’t provide another dime. To make up for the phased $728,000 funding cut, the school board eliminated service for rural

students this year, although it has been maintained for special needs students for now. The move angered many parents, especially those in rural East Ladner that doesn’t have sidewalks, as well as Panorama Ridge and Boundary Bay. Saying their kids’ safety will be jeopardized, parents complained their areas are poorly served by public transit. Dixon met this summer with Education Minister Peter Fassbender, asking him to revisit the new funding formula, explaining the unique geography of Delta. The minister responded by saying a technical review committee would examine Delta’s case,

but he gave no further Delta school district assurances. will have to continue District staff with met to find efficiencies with that committee last in our transportation month, explaining how services for students Delta is a spread-out rural with special needs. The and urban area, consistchallenging geography ing of vast farmlands and of Delta continues to Burns Bog. make these services The committee has very expensive. The Laura Dixon since come back with a Delta board of educaBoard chair recommendation not to tion is committed to change the funding forfinding efficiencies mula. Therefore, Delta will not that will have the least effect on have its student transportation students as possible,” she stated. funding restored nor receive any Parents upset over the board’s new monies for student transpordecision to eliminate the bus tation, Dixon said. See BUS page 3 “As a result of this decision, the

The Fraser Health Authority will meet with a group of concerned residents to discuss the future of the South Delta Public Health Unit. Several weeks ago Fraser Health acknowledged plans to amalgamate the staff at the health unit in Ladner’s civic precinct with the health unit in North Delta, with the South Delta centre to be maintained as a “satellite” location. The FHA recently agreed to meet with residents who raised concerns about the move. The South Delta Public Health Unit is one of 18 operated in the region, offering a variety of services ranging from breastfeeding clinics and HIV/AIDS/hepatitis support to chronic disease prevention and tuberculosis testing. The amalgamation, which will result in several nursing layoffs, is to take effect January 2014. About 200 residents held a rally last month outside the local health unit, concerned South Deltans will be forced to travel to North Delta for many of the services now available here. It’s not clear if the FHA could make changes based on what is discussed at the meeting set for Nov. 22 or if it ends up being more of an information session. Niamh Plaxton, who organized the rally and helped gather resident input that was forwarded to the health region, told the Optimist FHA CAO Dr. Nigel Murray contacted her, agreeing to arrange a meeting with officials. She said it was encouraging the region was willing to engage them and discuss their concerns.


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