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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2015-11-19, Page 9THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015. PAGE 9. Continued from page 8 has also been great. “So far, it has been excellent,” one of the men said. Knight echoed his sentiment, saying the school and those who run it have been great to deal with. He said that Huron East Council always hoped the building would have an educational component to it, whether it be used for college courses or re-training options, but he never dreamed that it would evolve into a full-fledged school. “It’s been a real co-operative effort,” Knight said. With the building’s needs always changing depending on the season, Knight says tenants within the school have always been accommodating. He cited an example of the co-operation during the recent federal election. The former Brussels school has served as the returning office for the last provincial and federal elections and the municipality had rented space to the returning officer well before the commencement of classes in September. Members of the Brussels Old Colony School contacted Knight in August, stating that enrolment was higher than expected and they wanted to rent another classroom. At that time, there was nothing available, but Huron East worked out a deal between the Brussels Community Bible Chapel and the returning officer to share one of the rooms rented out by the church and everybody involved worked together to make it work Later this year, in fact, the school has arranged to run its first school bus to Brussels every day. It has yet to make its first trip and already there are enough students dedicated to fill it. Knight says that from the municipality’s standpoint, he couldn’t be happier. When the school was closed and put up for sale, Huron East was in a unique position in that the process for the sale of surplus property required the Avon Maitland Board to give notice to a number of agencies, including the property’s home municipality. He acknowledges that there was considerable risk at the time and that it was a very unique idea that council had – to create a small business incubator out of a former public school. But it has worked and it’s now being emulated throughout Huron and neighbouring counties based on the success of the former Brussels Public School. The building is now turning a small profit for the municipality, despite the decision to purchase the building being far from unanimous at the time. He reiterated that it has been a “real pleasant experience” with the school, saying that it is a nice feeling to walk into the school and to see children running through the halls and artwork on the walls once again. Mennonite school board happy in Brussels Repurposed Here is the Kindergarten classroom in the Old Colony Christian Mennonite School, which is housed in the former Brussels Public School. The Kindergarten class is set up in the school’s former library. The Old Colony school currently occupies seven rooms in the building, teaching children from Kindergarten up to Grade 7. (Shawn Loughlin photo) THERE’S HELP FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS NEW Ontario Electricity Support Program. OntarioElectricitySupport.caApply Now.1-855-831-8151 ( toll-free within Ontario) You may qualify for a reduction on your electricity bill. It could be reduced by $30 to $50 each month. Here’s how it works: Low-income households can receive a credit on each electricity bill. The amount will depend on how many people live in your home and your combined household income. Ontario Energy Board Clearance Sale Winter Boots LOFT 1 mile south of Blyth ~ 519-523-4595