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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-10-22, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2009. Fore! Gary Price, a Canadian Professional Golf Association teaching professional stopped by Hullett Central Public School last week to show the students there a thing or two about the game of golf. Tanner Boven was ready to hit under Price’s watchful eye. (Shawn Loughlin photo) It’s was a good year for bad weeds, according to Mike Alcock, civil engineering technologist with the county. The numerous weed complaints received in early September regarding noxious weeks on public right-of-ways were too late to effectively control weeds now, Alcock told council at the committee of the whole meeting, Oct. 14. It was decided instead to look at the future. For now the county roads department would write municipalities and inform them of the complaints. They could then work with weed inspectors to develop a strategy for controlling weeds in the future. “We hope to work with road supervisors and come up with a plan that works for everyone,” said Alcock, saying that noxious weeds can cause a 10 per cent yield reduction in crops for farmers. “We can help other municipalities with our weed plan,” said Alcock. “It’s not illegal to spray roadsides and it helps agriculture.” Warden Ken Oke of South Huron wondered if a landowner could spray noxious weeds on the lawn. “That’s not cosmetic use,” he said. Alcock said only if the lawn’s weeds would impact agriculture was the answer yes. “The last round of complaints we had were very broad so what we look for is that the problem has to have a connection to agriculture,” said Alcock. He added that orders will be written next year if there are complaints so he wants municipal councils to be prepared for that when they consider their budgets. Mapping weeds is a responsible method for dealing with the problem, Alcock said. “You spray what While members of thecommunity and municipalcouncillors are outraged at the prospect of losing two more area schools, those at the head of the class remain confident those involved will do what’s best for the students in question. Superintendent of education for the Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) Mike Ash says the two schools involved in the board’s most recent accommodation review situated in Huron East, Brussels and Grey Central Public Schools, served as triggers for the review. “Brussels Public School required a significant capital investment for long-termsustainability,” Ash said.“And it’s close to anotherschool [Grey Central] that hasan enrollment at 50 per cent.”Ash, however, is insisting that no decision has been made and he’s encouraging members of the public to come out to the meetings and have their voices heard. The first information meeting will take place tonight (Oct. 22). Because the graduating students from Grey Central tend to migrate to Listowel for secondary school, Ash said, is why schools north of the two trigger schools have been included in the review. At the first meeting, Ash said, options will be presented, something members of this year’s Accommodation Review Committee (ARC) in North Huron asked be delayed in itsreview, as to approach thesubject with an open mindand no pre-conceivedoutcomes presented.With concerns being voiced by Huron East council, Ash says that fairness amongst municipalities is certainly a concern of the board’s, but that it needs to focus on education without borders. When asked about the potential closure of Brussels and Grey Central Public Schools, which would leave Huron East with just one public school in the whole of the municipality, Ash said it’s a concern, but not the priority. “Certainly that’s a concern. We have to do what’s best for the board and the community. However, we’re charged with the task of providing education to students across two counties,” he said. “We have to look at the big picture, not just a particular municipality.” Huron-Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell agrees with Ash, saying that she has four school boards that govern throughout her riding and that she is focused on delivering the best education to the students within her riding. Mitchell says her government was instrumental in implementing the accommodation review process and she believes itworks.“What I want to see iscommunity engagement and aprocess that acts in the bestinterest of the kids,” she said. Mitchell says she wants to see the various levels of participants enter the process on the same level. She wants parents, school councils and municipal councillors to all have the information the school board has so the best possible decision for the area’s students can be made. Ash said there have been preliminary discussions that would involve possible closure of Brussels and Grey Central Public Schools or a potential amalgamation of the two schools on one of the sites, which would involve some expansion at whichever site would end up receiving the other’s students. After the process, however, he says the final decision will be made in May or June. Ash also points out that in the last two accommodation reviews, the board trustees have not decided to go with the staff or the public’s recommendation in either case, saying that no decision is final until the trustees cast their final vote. One major point of contention during the North Huron accommodation review was an application thathad been made on behalf ofthe AMDSB to the provincialgovernment prior to theprocess even beginning. Ash says no applications have been made. “We have to look at a number of factors,” Ash said. “We have to find a balance and it’s never going to be the best solution to 100 per cent of the people.” One point of concern with Brussels and Grey Central Public Schools has been the threat of declining enrollment over the years. This, however, is a point that Huron East mayor Joe Seili contests, saying at a recent council meeting that Brussels Public School was supposed to be under 50 per cent enrollment by now, but it’s nearly at 100 per cent. Ash defends the system, however, saying that the board employs a demographer who has proven to be extremely accurate over the years, taking into account factors such as current enrollment, birth rates and figures received from the Huron County Planning Department. Mitchell backs up Ash’s comments, saying that in her years as an MPP, Ontario has lost 90,000 students, saying this is one of the many challenges school boards inher riding are facing everySeptember.Brussels Public School wasalso included in this year’sNorth Huron accommodation review as a potential feeder school for the proposed new school. Despite the fact that Brussels has been directly named in one accommodation review and indirectly named in another, Ash reminds the fate of Brussels Public School is not sealed. Ash knows everyone will not be happy with the decision that comes out of this accommodation review, no matter what the outcome. He is confident, however, that the trustees will make the decision that benefits the board’s students the most. “The trustees will not make a decision that will satisfy everyone,” he said. “Regardless of how open the process is, there will still be people who are upset.” Mitchell agrees, saying the school closures are difficult, but that people need to keep the big picture in mind. “Any school closure is tough, but what we can do is ensure voices are heard. We changed the process to give people a voice. We’ve mandated more community consultation,” she said. Good year for bad weeds Mitchell defends accommodation reviewBy Shawn LoughlinThe Citizen By Bonnie Gropp The Citizen Continued on page 9