Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - October 17, 1995, Winnipeg, Manitoba A6 Winnipeg free october 1995 keep their schools taxes Low by Glen Mackenzie staff reporter Doug Button int keen on How the James Assini Boia school Board acted when it looked at closing James Wood where his daughter there was a lot of they brought graph Jeff free press Button holds Ashley is and people left the meeting feeling the decision had already been taken to close the says who Heads the schools Parent and some trustees even come out to listen to whether or not some trustees had decided in they did vote to close the which now has 118 children in kindergarten to Grade at the end of this school the three Ward division has 19 candidates seeking nine it was formed in 1969 with the amalgamation of the James and Assiniboine North which then had about parents seeking to keep schools open in the face of declining enrol ment Battle a Board which has made closing a school almost an annual with 17 closings since enrolment peaked in 1972 at students in 44 today figures Are students in 27 a 1977 study found 65 per cent of voters didst have children in division superintendent George Buchholz estimates that figure has passed 70 per the division has the lowest prop erty tax rate in the trustees and residents like it that but this Doest mean the Bottom line is All they worry Herb a former Winnipeg chamber of Commerce Winnipeg school divisions is concerned about discipline in the school his 11yearold daughter i see kids quite open on the school he i dont know if teachers Are disciplining them trustee Bruce who has been on the Board nine says people want Low taxes but also Quality and division sur Veys find there generally Happy with what there he says one concern is the provincial school boundaries which recommended amalgamation with some other Divi a move he said could boost the average homeowners property tax by a the older residents will see this As another and wont like he Keith who is running for the first says residents talk to him about the boundaries school closings and Inte Gration of handicapped children into regular but its hard taking positions when youre not on the Board and dont have All the he Ron a firs term trustee acclaimed in says he hears about two local Nei ther of which has anything to do with what happens in the class room the boards decision to sell Kirkfield Park school to a devel oper who wants to build a super and the decision to sell the Woodhaven school for a housing people Are also saying taxes Are still too High and talk about Vio Lence in Marshall they dont take too Well to tax increases if they see nothing for he Buchholz says the division is fairly homogeneous in that it is predominately much of it is Middle class and it has a decent commercial tax although Buchholz Points out the old James part of the division and Brooklands Arent As affluent so extra resources Are devoted trustee Pat who is vying for a seat on City Council after 15 years As a division says even if voters dont have children in they feel they should pay their fair just like their parents did for chair earns chairs Cam King Edwarf flair Lodi twirl Bruce Paul 8894228 Scott Eric Jim 8322517 8856017 so her Witri Hugh Norm 8898853 Craig 8322124 Ron Sandra 888 2627 Aldo 8322126 Robert 8854477 Chariot Ward Linda Gordon 8855897 Bruce Keith 8885793 Allan 8326907 Jan 8856538 i indicates incumbent f of Tver Ida Wacak canal Iannoa Lavaca orca Nadasan can and a Nao acan Sadac i an to h Eli easier Vav of the Duronio Dominion i ;