THURSDAY
S I N C E
FEBRUARY 7, 2013
1 8 9 5 Smokies stay in the hunt
Vol. 118, Issue 22
110
$
Page 9
INCLUDING H.S.T.
PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
Pickets won’t disrupt service, says IH
DISC JOCKEY
TIMOTHY SCHAFER PHOTO
Jamie Fochuk makes a shot in Gyro Park on Wednesday as he trains for the upcoming national disc golf championships in Kamloops this summer. Along with Devon Gunn, the two regularly haunt the Blackjack course in Rossland for their weekly disc golf fix when the snows recede, but use Gyro in the winter.
School district considers reduction in trustees BY TIMOTHY SCHAFER Times Staff
The swinging axe of school district cuts could be turned on itself through a process to consider reducing its number of trustees. The board of trustees for School District 20 (Kootenay Columbia) voted in favour of setting up an ad hoc committee to explore the possible reduction in trustee numbers, electoral areas, and the Ministry of Education requirements surrounding each. Trail trustee Mark Wilson said the motion that passed Monday night is yet another attempt at reducing the nine-member board, something the district has been try-
ing to do for 15 years. I have stated it several “We are in a district times, this is a highly “... we can’t go that is losing enrolcharged political action and ask people ment ... and we have in its intent,” he said. to take cuts and to keep cutting as a He pointed to the result,” he said. “I potential closure of cuts to services think we can advocate two district schools— when we aren’t for lower numbers and in Castlegar and prepared to do still run a very efficient Rossland—as matters board,” that could divide the that ourselves.” Wilson called the region and alienate the MARK WILSON committee a proactive board in those comapproach to reduce the munities. number of trustees, “Put this aside. This since it needed ministry approval is not the time to be dealing with to do so. this. Let’s deal with what is going Castlegar rural trustee Mickey to happen within our communities Kinakin spoke against the motion. (with closures),” he said. “We need “Although it seems innocuous, to deal with this at a more appropri-
ate time.” Wilson called for a reduction in the number of trustees—from nine to seven or less—as well as a limit on the number of terms a trustee can serve, up to a maximum of three. The ward system could also be replaced by an “at large” format. Trail trustee Lorraine Manning said the issue has been revisited over the years and does require a fair bit of time and public consultation. In January 2010, a request that the board strike a committee to review trustee numbers and areas of representation did not pass. See REDUCTION, Page 3
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BY TIMES STAFF Picket lines will be going up today at the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital but Interior Health said it won’t impact services. The B.C. G o v e r n m e n t Employees’ Union announced earlier this week that it will stage job action at various locations throughout the province involving almost 500 members. In Trail, a total of 40 people are expected to take part in the action protesting government cuts. Picket lines are expected at the hospital from the Canadian Mental Health Association of the Kootenays and the Trail Family and Individual Resource Centre Society (FAIR) at 2079 Columbia Ave. “Striking workers want to send a clear message to the BC government: stop putting the squeeze on family services and other community-based social services,” says BCGEU Community Social Services Chairperson Patsy Harmston in a press release. “Proper government funding is needed for programs for vulnerable families and the workers who support them. See JOB, Page 3
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