The Weyburn Roman Catholic Separate School Division joined an education battle in Ontario which may have ramifications for other Catholic school boards in Saskatchewan.

At the centre of the dispute is a law passed in Ontario which removed local school board power to levy property taxes to supplement their provincial education grants. Instead, the school boards would be funded solely on a per pupil basis. The board's spending powers were also curtailed. TheCatholic Section of the Saskatchewan School Trustees Association has asked its members whether they would be willing to support their request for intervener status in a case now before the Supreme Court of Canada between the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association and the Government of Ontario.

At their monthly joint meeting on May 23, the Weyburn, Estevan and St. Olivier Roman Catholic Separate School Divisions retroactively approved a $0.75 per student levy to help pay for the legal costs to support the Ontario school division's view the law is unconstitutional.

Director of education Al Boutin said he consulted the board chairs before the May 23 meeting on whether to approve the levy before the meeting. A decision was required by May 15. Boutin added the board chairs also informally contacted their trustees who agreed to the idea in principal. No board members in attendance at the board meeting opposed the motion.

If they are granted intervener status, the Catholic Section would be allowed to present arguments during the trial in support of the school boards.

"Our boards felt their presence was needed there so their views would be acknowledged," said Boutin. "We wanted to be pro-active, that's why we have asked for intervener status."

A new infusion of technology will be headed to both St. Michael School and St. Dominic Savio School.

St. Michael School will have about 25 new computers in their main lab when the 2000-2001 school year begins. The computers currently in the lab will be moved into classrooms.

St. Dominic Savio School has already ordered 15 iMacs and may add more if the technology budget permits. In all, the Weyburn Roman Catholic Separate School Division will have spent between $65,000 to $70,000 in technology upgrades.

As the technology budget is currently $25,000 per year, Boutin said the remaining funds will be taken out of existing reserves and paid back over three to four years.

Boutin also gave details about the new joint alternative education program between St. Dominic Savio School and Queen Elizabeth School.

Students in the alternative education program at St. Dominic Savio School will now take their math and language arts classes at Queen Elizabeth School. The rest of their program would be taught at St. Dominic.

Queen Elizabeth School was the designated location for the alternative education program because there are more students in the program attending that school on a full-time basis.

Boutin said the program is designed to offer more flexibility in each student's academic program to combat their individual challenges.

A new staff position has been created at St. Dominic Savio School.

Kelly Christopherson was hired as the new vice-principal at the school. Christopherson comes to Weyburn with 10 years teaching experience, the last seven in Lloydminster. This will be his first administrative post.

Christopherson's contract was among five other contracts approved. Susan Benning, Valerie Choo-Foo, Gloria Miller and Bonita Larson all had their contracts accepted by the board. Randy Morrison's contract amendment, from 61 per cent to 79 per cent was also approved. Two resignations letters were received and accepted.