Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-12-10, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2009.Continued from page 1information when we started, so whycontinue on?” he asked. “Would you[the school board] have gonethrough the process if theinformation had been updated, because some of it has changed quite a bit.” MacLellan said he felt that perhaps the process should even be re-started with the correct information. MacLellan said that during the tour, the cost figures stated were $60 per square foot over the next 10 years. However, upon further research, he said he found just $258,000 in total costs over the next 10 years, including low priority items. “If we close both schools and have to pay over $100,000 per year for busing, that doesn’t make any sense and we don’t want to see the money wasted,” he said. Brussels community representative Jim Prior also supported MacLellan’s comments, calling the figures provided to the ARC “inaccurate and misleading.” Prior cited a figure of $600,000 that he said appears on one of the graphs that is absent in some other financial information on Brussels Public School. He said that number would need to be verified, because if it’s inaccurate, then Brussels Public School would have similar costs to the other schools in the review, he said, rather than being the costliest to maintain as the board has made it out to be. “Well which figure is right? If this is the data that was used to make the decision, then maybe [the trustees] were misled,” Prior said. Prior was told that was not a determining factor, but a snapshot in a series of things that were looked at going into the accommodation review. The numbers, however, were not double-checked. “I would hope you would do that and get back to me, because it is of great interest to us,” Prior said. Brussels representative Charlie Hoy echoed Prior’s statements. He formally asked chair of the meeting and superintendent ofeducation Mike Ash for anextension, which Ash said he wouldbring to the board of trustees for adecision at the Dec. 8 meeting. Healso said the request seemed reasonable, but that he didn’t feel the updated information would change views on the condition of the school. “I think it would be reasonable to look at an extension up to the March break and still meet the end of June deadline,” he said. “I don’t believe that recap data is going to inform your decision any more or less than the facilities review data that’s been updated.” Hoy, however, countered, saying that the two reports are “on opposite ends of the spectrum.” “There’s something missing here,” Hoy said. “Something big.” Hoy was also concerned about the portable-like additions in Brussels Public School. He said that when people discuss the school, that is the first thing discussed, but when looking ahead, the only costs associated with those rooms are some minor heating costs. “There are no major concerns with these units over the next 10 years except heating,” Hoy said. “So why are they handicapping us?” Hoy said he resented the implication that Brussels Public School is a “major money pit” and that a solution hadn’t yet been provided that would serve Brussels Public School until Bannerman spoke up. “What’s the solution for Brussels when everyone feels like we’ve got a crap school and we don’t have a crap school?” Ash told Hoy, however, that all factors must be considered, no matter how far down the road. “They’re a liability that we have to plan for,” Ash said. “In order to be fiscally responsible, we have to keep it in the mix. We have to keep it on the books and in consideration as we move forward.” “This is a financially-driven process, so the financial aspect is very important to us,” Hoy said. Grey Central representative Pam McLellan expressed her concernover the future of the environmentallearning grounds. She said that shehas a difficult time believing theschool board would make use of thegrounds, as in Bannerman's proposal, because, she said, the grounds have not been utilized to their full potential while Grey Central was on the same grounds. “That proposal kind of negates a marketable part of Grey Central later on,” she said. “The board has not utilized the grounds, so there is no way the board would make use after the school is gone. The grounds would be left to go back to the wild.” Grey representative Armand Roth was also concerned about the funding the board is awaiting, which will dictate if there will be space for Brussels students at the new school being built in Wingham. Ash said if the funding application was approved, he would have to present that option to the board of trustees. Roth said he didn’t see the sense in closing Grey Central and its award- winning environmental learning grounds. “The grounds could be utilized throughout the whole board,” Roth said. “This would be moving in the opposite direction of the rest of the world.” DEPUTATIONS Former Brussels Public School student Jacob McGavin presented a parable about Brussels Public School, its bond with the community and its disjointed relationship with the school board, which makes decisions for the community from their offices in “the tall, tall towers.” Huron East mayor Joe Seili also addressed the ARC. “The discussion is yours to have, but it’s the students and the community that have to live with it,” he said. Seili also cited the board’s “inaccurate” financial figures. He said that everything on paper cannot necessarily be believed, and that if the figures are to be believed, “we should all be wearing hard hats in Brussels Public School.” “If you see inaccurate figures, you will receive inaccurate results.” PUBLIC COMMENTS In a statement from the estate of Sterling Hood, the original owner ofthe grounds on which Grey CentralPublic School and its environmentallearning grounds are built,frustration and disappointment wereexpressed with the board’s handling of such a gift. The letter, issued by Hood’s wife, read that the family would like to see the gift of the land returned if the school was to be closed, as it will no longer be used for the purpose it was originally donated. Seili returned to call the board to action, insisting that the motion passed by Huron County and Huron East, which has been forwarded to several members of provincial and federal government, be voted on at the next meeting of the board of trustees. The motion called for the accommodation review process to be stopped until proper information has been received in 2010. Reid said it would be up to the trustees after a report on such a request would be received by Ash. BRUSSELS LIBRARY? One aspect of Bannerman’s proposal that piqued the interest ofmembers of the public andcouncillors alike was the potentialinclusion of a public library in anextension built onto Brussels PublicSchool. While no background information had been received on such a proposal, Ash said it was not an impossible partnership, but that additional research would have to be done. Both MacLellan and Seili said they would be open to evaluating the possibilities of such a partnership if it meant that Brussels Public School would stay open and in the Huron East community. A partnership could be considered, but a proposal similar to a 99-year lease would have to be employed. However, the school board would not contribute any of its money towards the library project, even if an eventual partnership was reached. The next scheduled ARC meeting is on Jan. 20 at Wallace Public School. Continued from page 4 duller than others. But I can't make heads nor tails out of this bafflegab. How in heaven’s name can the better public interest be served when policy decisions are being made under these conditions? The current decision-making process concerning our school closures is grievously flawed. It is flawed by distrust; by lack of a fair and transparent community engagement process; by a shortage of reliable information; by a false sense of urgency and by the disregard for the broader community impacts of school closures. Most importantly, it is flawed by a lack of respect for our intelligence as citizens of rural Ontario. For this reason I am respectfully asking the premier for his support and the support of his Education Minister for placing a moratorium on this School Accommodation Review until these deficiencies can be rectified. Paul Nichol Nichol, ‘can’t make heads or tails out of this bafflegab’ 9 Rattenbury St. E., Clinton 1-888-235-9260 Ph.: 519-482-9924 Res.: 519-524-9260 Lifestyle Financial Planning It’s All About “YOU” See Lawrence for a no charge consultation 15 Southwestern Ontario Hospital Foundations join together for “If we all give a little, We all get a lot” Seaforth Community Hospital Foundation THANK YOU $47,789.62 Raised for New Medical Imaging Unit (X-Ray) We’ve got what you need for a real Country Christmas WALTON 519-887-8429 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 6:30 am - 7 pm, Sat. 8 am - 7 pm, Sun. 11 am - 5pm Holiday Hours: Dec. 24 - closed at 5 pm; Dec. 25, 26 - Closed; Dec. 31 - closed at 5 pm; Jan. 1 - closed; Closed Sundays starting Dec. 27 2 L pop 2 for $3.50 + tax 8 pkg. Pepsi cans 3 for $10.00 + tax Peanut Packs & Munchies Candy Get your Christmas Tree here! Reps say figures misleading and inaccurate