Parking crackdown
Council approves changes for Ladner Village
3
Green practice
Local greenhouse aims for sustainability
4
On the move
Acupuncture clinic finds new home in Ladner
7
Optimist
Final heartbreaker Bandits edge Pioneers to win senior lacrosse title
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YOUR SOURCE FOR LOCAL SPORTS, NEWS, WEATHER AND ENTERTAINMENT! WWW.DELTA-OPTIMIST.COM The Voice of Delta since 1922 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2013
See Page 23
Airborne!
PHOTO BY
GORD GOBLE
Zephyr shows off his frisbee fetching skills with owner Gord Donhou Sunday at the fifth annual Delta Community Animal Expo at Ladner’s Memorial Park. The yearly event featured many activities for both people and pets. More photos on Page 12 and online at www.delta-optimist.com.
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Delta council set to enter school bus funding fray BY
SANDOR GYARMATI
sgyarmati@delta-optimist.com
The municipality is entering the picture in the school bussing issue. Council on Monday agreed with a motion put forward by Bruce McDonald to refer the municipality’s contribution to the crossing guard program to the council/school board liaison committee next week. It will be part of a discussion on the bussing program. McDonald, a member of the committee, said it’s clear provincial funding for the school district’s student transportation budget isn’t going to be restored anytime soon, if at all, so alternatives need to be discussed. To make up for a phased $728,000 funding cut, the district this year eliminated the walk
limit/safety program, although bus service for special needs students will be maintained. The move angered many parents, especially those living in rural areas, who said their kids’ safety was jeopardized. Board chair Laura Dixon recently met with Education Minister Peter Fassbender, asking him to revisit the new funding formula, pointing out the unique geography of Delta. The minister said a technical review committee would examine Delta’s case. McDonald told the Optimist it’s time to see how the municipality can assist parents, perhaps in some kind of partnership arrangement with them, as well as TransLink and the school board. He noted the crossing guard funding for this year, totaling over $93,000, was deferred only
because it all comes from the same pot. McDonald, however cautioned that parents shouldn’t expect Delta to pick up the tab for the bussing program, as was the case with the crossing guard program over a decade ago. “We’re going to look to see what options there may well be. We’ve done in the last few years more cooperative things with the school board than at any time,” he said. Coun. Robert Campbell supported the motion, but expressed concern the government is trying to do more downloading onto municipalities, as was the case when the school district had no funding for crossing guards. Acting mayor Jeannie Kanakos said she wants to ensure that any potential support from Delta wouldn’t come at the expense of crossing guards.
A SPECIAL SECTION BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE DELTA OPTIMIST
Ladner Village
Sunday August 18
Quilt Walk & Classic Car Show special section
For more coverage of this annual event see pages 13 to 22 in today’s issue of the Optimist.