HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2010-05-20, Page 7THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2010. PAGE 7.
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Letter to the Editor
NEWS
FROM WALTON
The weather continues to be a
source of frustration for the farmers
of the area. The ground was dry,
but cold. Not great for seed
germination. A little rain was
needed, because there wasn’t much
moisture in the ground and so we
have rain. Lots of rain in some
places. Then we have wind.
Spraying needs to be done, but not in
the neighbour’s fields. The windreally dried up in the ground afterthe rain, but it still isn’t very warm.The wonderful weather we enjoyedback in April, needs to return for thespring planting. Soybeans arewaiting.Belated congratulations to Steveand Marni Knight on beinggrandparents for the first time.
Shane and Stefanie Dingman are the
proud parents of a son, which
they are calling Jack. Congrats to
all.
Congratulations to our future son-
in-law Adam Jarosz, who celebrated
his 30th birthday with a surprise
party. Our daughter Kelly arranged
and surprised Adam with the party
on Saturday evening with 28 family
and friends. Everyone was hiding in
the newly-finished backyard when
he arrived home from work onSaturday. We enjoyed a barbecuesupper and a chance to get to visitwith Adam’s extended family.Happy Birthday Adam.Howard and Audrey Hackwell hadcompany on the weekend. Dean andKelly Hackwell of Cambridge spentthe day with the Hackwell’s catchingup on news and a few odd jobs for
the folks.
Our wishes for a speedy and full
recovery go out to young Monica
McNichol who has been in
hospital. She has had her appendix
out.
The Grade 8 students of Seaforth
Public School were away last week
to Camp Celtic near Wiarton for four
days. They report having goodweather, better than ours with just abit of rain on Thursday. Coolweather but just dress warm. Thekids report having a great time.Some of the area kids included ColeGlanville, Shawna Gagnier, EdwardGlanville, Austin McClure andRebecca Holthuysen.Celebrating birthdays this past
week were Jeff Grobbink, Lynn
Love, Jennifer McClure, Cathy
Melady, Joyce Williamson, Jason
Pennington, June Vietch, Ryan
Butler, Leanne Armstrong, Luann
Bennett, Phil Blake, Dwayne Pryce,
Ron Strome, Wendy Glauser, Gerald
Ryan and Valerie Shortreed. Happy
birthday to all.
THE EDITOR,
Some time ago, I sent a letter to
North Huron Council commenting
on my concern over the imminent
closure of Blyth Public School and
the resulting economic fallout of that
decision on the village of Blyth.
I realized it was futile, since I
considered the decision related to
the closure a ‘fait a complet’ given
the manner in which the
stakeholders were “handled” in the
Accommodation Review Committee
(ARC) meeting held in Blyth. You’re
probably aware that the ARC used to
be referred to as the School Closure
Committee, but was changed by the
Ministry of Education because of the
negative connotation. Regardless, a
wolf in sheep’s clothing is still a
wolf.
The decision to close Blyth Public
School had been made long before
the meeting and the Avon Maitland
District School Board was merely
following the protocol as dictated by
the Ministry’s outline in their
directives (Ministry of Education,
Pupil Accommodation Review
Guidelines, October 31, 2006), but
with less respect to the economic
impact on the community, its
citizens and its taxpayers, than there
should have been.
Apparently, the economic vitality
is not a concern to the Avon
Maitland District School Board –
only that we will continue to pay
taxes to support schools which they
decide are viable.
While we cannot impact the
Board’s autonomy to close schools
(that’s been ceded to them by the
Ministry of Education), I do
challenge their right to singularly
determine the economic viability of
a community by virtue of a school
closure decision. This decision, by
the way, now rests with the North
Huron Council to determine whether
a new school in Wingham is a go this
coming week; again a predictable
outcome. I also can’t help but think
that this school is going to cost the
taxpayers more money than what is
being discussed behind closed doors
(since open information sharing has
not been transparent) and that we
will all be paying more for a school
which the province cannot afford
(remember we’re already in a $24
billion deficit, according to the latest
figures), and “on the hook” for
additional infrastructure costs which
the municipality can ill afford,
which means higher costs to us the
taxpayer.
I don’t know where public opinion
is right now, but if we aren’t really
fed up by now, we’ve got to be pretty
close, as a community and as
taxpayers.
I cannot help but think that letters
to the editor are a lot like writing
chalk graffiti on the sidewalk, just
before a rainfall. It’s easily washed
away and forgotten. Unfortunately,
the aftermath of this decision, both
personal and economics, will be
with us for a long time to come.
Greg Sarachman, Blyth.
Opinions lost in ARC process
By Margaret E. McMahon
The members of Walton Women’s
Institute went back to school for an
afternoon for their education
meeting.
They were welcomed to Howick
Public School by Principal Shelly
Blackmore who noted the students
were anxious to have the members
visit their classrooms to display how
the Smart Boards work.
She said that at least 98 per cent of
the student body has a computer at
home and a lot have access to the
internet. Many of the students in the
senior grades wear a Smart bracelet
in which they are able to store a lot
of information.
Walton members saw the younger
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Continued from page 1
other schools to make use of their
environmental learning grounds,
very few do, choosing instead to use
the educational facilities at the
nearby conservation authority,”
writes Versteeg in the response.
“This is one of the considerations
that (trustees) will need to factor into
our decision.”
ARC decision looming
Back to school for Walton WI
Continued on page 20