The Citizen, 2008-04-17, Page 22PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2008.At a regular board meeting lastweek, community member DeanSmith and West Perth/Perth Southtrustee Carol Bennewies both
questioned recommendations from
staff of the Avon Maitland District
School Board that Mitchell Public
School eventually close.
And there will be further
opportunities for members of the
public to voice their concerns when
the board hosts a special meeting in
the town, tentatively scheduled for
Tuesday, April 29.
Smith spoke during the public
delegation section of last week’s
meeting – on Tuesday, April 8 at the
board’s Seaforth headquarters. He
questioned elements of the staff
report – delivered March 31 –
recommending Mitchell Public close
at a point in the future when there’s
sufficient space to accommodate all
students at Upper Thames
Elementary School (UTES) withoutconstructing a major addition.Of particular concern werereferences to the provincially-mandated “RECAPP” analysis ofprojected costs for maintainingschool facilities over a 10-year
period. Smith rejected the report’s
treatment of Mitchell Public’s
RECAPP needs as a “saving” under
a closure scenario, labeling the
approach “misleading.”
He argued that inclusion on the
RECAPP list doesn’t necessarily
mean money would have to be spent
within that 10-year period “to keep
the rain out and the heat in.” It only
means that such maintenance
projects are part of the “backlog”
associated with the building over the
long term.
Smith also wondered what
happened to an initial estimate of a
$20,000 increase in transportation
costs under the closure scenario –
presented to the board-mandated,
community-based Accommodation
Review Committee (ARC), of whichSmith was a member. The March 31staff report suggested no increase intransportation costs.Under board protocol, trustees andstaff are required not to respondimmediately to inquiries or charges
contained in a public delegation like
Smith’s. But, interviewed following
the April 8 meeting, business
superintendent Janet Baird-Jackson
referred to the $20,000 figure as “a
first-pass estimate” undertaken early
in the Mitchell accommodation
review process. Further investigation
into the possibilities for providing
transportation under a closure
scenario led to “an updated
message,” she said – a message
suggesting there wouldn’t be any
extra costs.
However, operations
superintendent Ted Doherty, who
presented the March 31 report and
chaired the Mitchell ARC meetings
on behalf of the board, conceded
Smith “has a good point” about the
effect of this discrepancy on the finalfigures for potential savings from aclosure.Finally, Smith explained the ARC“went through a lot of wordsmithingin terms of how do we want toexpress our comment” in the
committee’s final report to staff. And
he complained the closure
recommendation – which he referred
to as “open-ended” due to the
condition of waiting until Mitchell
Public enrolment decreases – “does
not meet the spirit of the ARC by
giving the community a clear
answer.”
He said a suggestion from staff
that enrolment numbers be analyzed
each January – leading to a possible
implementation of closure by the
following September – could affect
the viability of community-based
users of the Mitchell Public facility.
Such organizations, like Perth Care
for Kids, “will be constantly
wondering ‘when do I need to find
alternative facilities?’”
Bennewies, citing interaction with
community members subsequent to
the March 31 staff report, raised
additional concerns later in the
meeting. She urged staff to make it
clear the possibility of moving
Grades 7s and 8s into Mitchell
District High School is off the table.
“We already have congregated
Grades 7s and 8s in West Perth,” she
noted, referring to the current
scenario of Mitchell Public serving
Kindergarten-to-Grade 6 and theschool’s students then moving toUTES – a K-8 school – for seniorelementary levels.Trustees are scheduled to vote onthe Mitchell recommendation June10. Trustee questions Mitchell PS recommendations
Touring the collection
Henry Ford’s Dreams, a Ford collectors’ club out of Milton toured Bud Chamney’s shop over
the weekend. Collectors travelled by bus, but came from all over Ontario to arrive at
Chamney’s in Auburn. Chamney says he was glad to see them come, saying they stayed for
over two hours visiting and touring his collection of antique vehicles and service station
memorabilia. (Vicky Bremner photo)
Thanks to the combined effects of
new Ontario legislation keeping kids
in school until age 18, and
mandating alternative programming
for students who are suspended or
expelled, the Avon Maitland District
School Board is now projecting a
temporary turnaround in its trend of
decreased high school enrolment.
“In the past, long-term suspension
was a pretty good indication of
dropping out of school prior to
graduation,” explained education
superintendent Ted Doherty,
following a regular meeting
Tuesday, April 8. “Now, the culture
is changing.”
Doherty told trustees that, “up
until recently, if a student was
suspended or expelled, a letter would
go home saying, ‘you’re not allowed
on school property’.” But, in
accordance with Feb. 1 amendments
to the province’s Safe School Act,
alternative programming must be
provided for students subject to such
disciplinary action.
Education Ministry funding was
forwarded to school boards in
conjunction with the amendments.
Doherty says some larger boards
used that money to physically create
program spaces separate from
existing schools.
But the Avon Maitland board
chose mainly to strengthen
partnerships with social service
organizations, thereby placing
suspended and expelled students “at
the front of the line” for out-of-
school support.
The board also created a new
position – a director of student
support services – and redirected the
efforts of other staff. As a result,
many expelled or suspended
students continue to attend their
school and sometimes see outside
service providers on-site, but have
their days managed to limit
interaction with the rest of the
building.
“Now, with the new legislation, we
have some teeth to deal with those
students,” in a manner other than just
sending them home, Doherty
explained.
He added that a separate piece of
legislation, “Learning to 18,”
dictates that students must receive
some sort of education for a longer
period than in the past.
Also as part of Doherty’s
presentation to trustees, fellow
superintendent Marie Parsons
described Avon Maitland’s
participation – along with five other
boards across the province – in a
pilot project aimed at developing
new strategies for dealing with
disciplinary or relationship disputes
surrounding students with special
needs. Planning is ongoing for the
Avon Maitland version of the pilot
project, which will get underway
next September.
According to Doherty, the
combined effects of these provincial
initiatives means the board is no
longer projecting decreased numbers
of high school students over the next
couple of years. Instead, high school
enrolments are expected to rise
slightly.
“And I think the long-term impact
will be greater graduation rates,” he
commented.
AMDSB projects turnaround
Old Tyme
Country Breakfast
Sunday, April 20
9 a.m. - 1 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
Forthcoming Marriage
It is with great joy and excitement that
Cheryl and Harjinder Nijjar
and
Andrew and Twyla Rains
announce the
forthcoming marriage
of their daughter,
Jessica Sue Anne Rains
to
Ryan Daniel Montgomery,
son of
Maureen and Brad Montgomery.
The wedding will take place
Saturday, September 13, 2008
in Stratford.
Pork Roast for
JEN GROBBINK &
JON TAYLOR
Sun., Apr. 27, 2008 from 5:00-7:30pm at
the B.M. & G. Community Centre, Brussels
Social to follow
Adults $15, Children 5-12 $7
Children under 5 free
For tickets phone
519-887-6708, 519-887-8657 or 519-524-6437
By Stew SlaterSpecial to The Citizen
Continued from page 21
According to MacGowan, the
Minister had been interested in
assessing the structural integrity of
the bridge.
“She didn’t make any promises,
but she wanted to see why the dam
would be important to the area. I
think she’s trying to help us make a
case for funding.”
“By her own admission,” said
MacGowan, the project was too
much for a small municipality.”
“She was also very interested
when deputy-reeve Scott mentioned
that the dam was once used to
produce hydro,” said MacGowan,
adding that there was discussion of a
micro-generator.
“It was a very positive meeting
and I walked away with a much
better feeling than I thought I
would,” said MacGowan. “We’re
hopeful.”
Council
hopeful
By Stew Slater
Special to The Citizen