Blue Jays strive for B playoff position
Finding fun un in fusion page 5
page 28
Thursday July 19, 2012 Serving Surrey and North Delta www.surreyleader.com
Fun in the sun is giving way to hitting the books
Meeting fees rise for Metro directors
Surrey summer school rising in popularity by Dennis Page WHAT USED to be considered punish-
Paid $346 for each face-to-face; double that amount if a meeting exceeds four hours by Jeff Nagel
MAYORS AND COUNCILLORS who sit on Metro Vancouver’s board or its committees are enjoying a nearly five-per-cent increase in the meeting fees they collect. Metro directors are now paid $346 for every meeting they attend, up from $330 in 2011 and $322 in 2010. The fees double if a meeting exceeds four hours. The 4.8-per-cent raise this spring came not through any vote of the board but from an automatic recalculation performed each year by administrators, who use a formula that increases directors’ fees in proportion with any rise in the median of Metro Vancouver mayors’ salaries. If a few cities raise their mayors’ salaries, the regional median rises and Metro meeting fees climb again the following year as a result. According to Metro figures, Delta Mayor Lois Jackson’s pay rose more than any other mayor in the region this year — a 16.7-per-cent jump from $100,523 to $117,360. Other cities where mayors got double-digit pay hikes that helped lift regional directors’ Lois Jackson fees were Abbotsford (up 13.3 per cent to $102,900), Langley Township (up 12.5 per cent to $105,456) and New Westminster (up 11 per cent to $91,015.) (Abbotsford is included in Metro’s calculation even though its directors only vote on Metro parks matters). But Jackson says Metro used the wrong number for her salary – she says her actual stipend is $110,653 but the regional district added in her car allowance for the first time. See 2011 / Page 3
“I talk to the students and not one of them says ‘I’m giving up my summer’.”
NICK GREENIZAN / BLACK PRESS
Let the Games begin Ben Chow (left) gave the beach volleyball courts at Semiahmoo Secondary School a test run Tuesday in advance of the 2012 BC Summer Games, which kick off tomorrow. Chow, who will coach the Zone 3 and 4 boys’ teams, was there with Nick Del Bianco, who will coach the 3 and 4 girls’ squads during the July 19-22 Games. Chow and Del Bianco, graduates of Fleetwood Secondary School, are one of Canada’s top beach volleyball pairs. For more about the Games, see page 3 and page 30.
Editorial 6 Letters 7 Sports 26 Classifieds 33
PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST O P E N T O P R O F E S S I O N A L , A M AT E U R A N D S T U D E N T P H O T O G R A P H E R S
Presented by Guildford Town Centre and The Leader
ENTER ONLINE AT surreyleader.com
Save time, save money.
SUNDAY, JULY 22 - 11am-4pm
SURREY SURR SU RREY RR EY 2012 201 12 BC S SU SUMMER UMME UMME MER R GA GAME GAMES MES ME S
OPEN TO PROFESSIONAL, AMATEUR AND STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHERS
See COURSES / Page 3
BBQ and Play Carnival Day!
WIN $1,000 CASH! SURREY 2012 BC SUMMER GAMES PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST
ment for students who didn’t pass their courses has become an increasingly popular way for students to get a jump on their education, as thousands of Surrey kids now voluntarily enrol in summer school each year. In 2007, summer school fees were removed after a B.C. Supreme Court ruling stated that all courses leading to Grade 12 graduation must be free of charge. That year, the number of enrolled students for summer courses in Surrey was approximately 2,200. For 2012, the summer enrolment is 4,200. Surrey now has the second-largest summer learning program in the Lower Mainland. “There has been steady growth in what we call full credit courses,” said Surrey School District Dave Paul Assistant Supt. Dave Paul. Forty-hour, remedial summer school classes are meant to help students pass courses they did not during the regular school year. Full credit courses are a minimum of 80 hours, with the most popular classes being Grade 11 and 12 biology, physics, chemistry and English.
Join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for savings throughout the summer.
Only $15p.p. (50% savings) - includes: - BBQ Hamburger and Large Fountain Pop - Playground Admission Air Conditioned! - One round of Laser Tag - Outdoor Bouncy Castle & Velcro Wall Coupon required! Not combinable with any other special offers or coupons. HST extra. Weather permitting
604-530-1400 | #104- 20645 Langley Bypass | www.thege.ca