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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2010-04-15, Page 22PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2010.Board trustees to take final vote June 22Continued from page 1trustee vote on the recommendationsis scheduled for Tuesday, June. 22.The accommodation reviewprocess began in September, 2009with the creation of a community- based Accommodation Review Committee (ARC), in keeping with the board’s school closure policy. The review was spurred by a combination of unused student spaces in Grey Central Public School in Ethel and Wallace Public School in Gowanstown, as well as a scarcity of space in Brussels. In the staff report presented at the April 13 meeting, a total of eight different scenarios were analyzed: four brought forward by the “Majority” membership of the ARC, two from the “Minority” – representing supporters of Grey Central and Brussels – and two from Avon Maitland staff. They cover a wide range of possibilities, including calls for closure of all five elementary schools and the construction of two brand new replacement facilities. The report’s authors acknowledged support for “a solution that would see the overall reduction of schools in the review area by two to three schools.” There appear, however, to be two main roadblocks to such a proposal: the relatively up-to-date condition of Listowel Eastdale Public School; and the unlikely prospect of securing Education Ministry funding for two new buildings as opposed to just one. “Given that Listowel Eastdale is for all intents and purposes a new facility, it would be unlikely that the Ministry . . . would approve the removal of the school from the board’s inventory,” the report states. Further into the report, instead of a new school in Brussels and Grey Wards, is a suggestion for the adjustment of boundaries for both elementary and secondary students in Huron East, as well as seeking financial support for a four-room addition to Brussels Public. “The use of existing capacity in neighbouring schools would further reduce the projected enrolment for a new school in Brussels or Grey. What may well be more palatable (to the Education Ministry) from a funding perspective is an addition to one of the existing schools in Huron East.” Ministry funding of any type, however, may represent a more complicated challenge than the board has faced during other recent school consolidation processes. That’s because, during recent decisions to close schools and undertake new construction or major renovations in Goderich, St. Marys and North Huron, aging elementaryschools qualified for replacementfunding under the Ministry’s former“prohibitive to repair” program. Thistime, not only does the program notexist, but it’s unlikely any of the five elementary schools would have qualified anyway. As a result, the staff recommendations presented on April 13 have conditions attached, related to when – or if – the board can secure government funding. The report identifies Sept. 1, 2011 as the make-or-break date for pursuing staff’s preferred path. “Assuming that the board receives capital funding from the Ministry of Education,” the document states, “close Grey Central and send its K-6 students to Brussels . . . Close Wallace PS and Listowel Central PS and build a new K-8 school.” Complications arise when considering Grades 7 and 8 students. The F.E. Madill campus will accommodate those from Brussels and the portion of the Grey Central catchment area from which students traditionally attended high school in Wingham. Without a similar option for the traditional Listowel District Secondary School portion of theGrey Central catchment area,however, the report proposessending Grades 7 and 8 studentsfrom that area to Elma TownshipPublic School. Elsewhere, boundaries would be adjusted to send all Morris Township students to the Wingham schools; and to realign the catchment area and grade configuration for Listowel Eastdale – which is currently K-6. This would give it “sufficient enrolment to be sustainable for program delivery. The report adds that “the current boundaries have students who reside very close to Listowel Eastdale bused to Elma Township. As residential development unfolds in this area (of Listowel) the current boundaries should be re-examined.” If funding is not available by Sept. 1, 2011, the report proposes moving ahead with the Grey Central/Brussels Public/Elma Township portion of the changes, but holding off on the new North Perth school and Eastdale addition. The public can register to make a public delegation to trustees during any upcoming regular meeting. The board aims to make it easier for arearesidents to do that, by moving itsnext regular meeting, Tuesday, April27, to Elma Township Public School. Blyth Festival Theatre 423 Queen St., Blyth All Seats: $20 (incl. GST) www.BlythFestival.com AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT GET YOUR TICKETS EARLY! Tickets ON SALE NOW the Theatre Box Office Or Charge by Phone at (519) 523-9300 or 1-877-862-5984 (toll free) ONE SHOW ONLY! Sunday, April 18, 2010 3 pm Londesborough Lions Club’s 1st Annual Fish Fry Saturday, May 1 4:30-7:00 pm Londesborough Hall $12 per person ~ Preschoolers free Take-out available Tickets available at: Londesborough Restaurant, Langford Lumber - Clinton, Walton Inn, Winthrop General Store, Scrimgeour’s Food Market, Blyth Join Us! Limited tickets available at the door All proceeds to Clinton Salvation Army Fire Relief Fund Old Tyme Country Breakfast Sunday, April 18 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at Londesborough Hall • Eggs • Bacon • Sausage • Pancakes and Homefries Adults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6.00 Children Under 12 . . . . . . . . . $3.00 Sponsored by Londesborough Lions Club Proceeds for Community Betterment Wow! Look at all those candles Good job there is a fireman handy!! Happy 50th Birthday Girl Buck & Doefor Kyle Elliott & Paula Bowles Come party with them before the BIG day! Saturday, April 24th Mitchell Arena 9 pm - 1 am Tickets $7 in advance, $9 at the door For tickets please call Caitlin 519-291-8255 or Rob 519-229-6606 Age of majority. Sweet prizes. Late lunch provided. Great job! Jaidan Grisdale was honoured at Blyth Public School last week for her Remembrance Day poster that went as far as it could go over the past few months. Her poster won first place in the primary colour category in the area, then in the zone and then in the district. Her poster ended up coming up just short, earning her second place in the province and a healthy day’s pay with nearly $200 among the three wins. From left: Blyth Legion youth education chair Andy Lubbers, Grisdale and Crystal Taylor, Blyth Legion president and District C youth education chair. It had been 10 years since a Blyth student placed at provincials, Taylor said. (Shawn Loughlin photo)