The Brussels Post, 1977-03-23, Page 5Here's The Man to See
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' THE BRUSSELS POST, MARCH 23, 1977 —5
Separate school board sets .budget 07.5%
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(By Wilma Oke)
Without comment or discussion
the Huron-Perth County Roman
Catholic Separate School Board
approved a 1977 budget of
$4,287,512 Monday night — an
ncrease of $299,718 or 7.5 per
cent more than last year. The vote
was recorded at the request of
Trustee Ted Geoffrey of Zurich
who voted against approval along
with Trustee Vincent Young of
Goderich. '
Voting approval of the budget,
he subject of a special meeting
on March 2, in committee of the
whole, in camera, and of an
additional meeting, also
committee of the whole, in
camera, prior to the general
meeting Monday were: Donald
Crowley, Gadshill; ` Michael
Connolly, Kippen; Gregory
Fleming, Creditors; William
Kinahan, Lucknow; Ronald,
Marcy , Stratford; Ronald
Murray, Dublin; John
O'Drowsky, St. Marys; John
O'Leary, Staffa; Arthur Haid,
Listowel; Keith Montgomery,
Wingham. David Teahen of
Stratford was absent from the
meeting.
A press release, prepared prior
to the meeting, was approyed by
the board and handed to the
single representative at the
meeting.
It indicated that salaries and
fringe benefits account for 91 per
cent of the increase and 69 per
cent of the total budget for 1977.
A breakdown of expenditures
reveals increases of 10.4 per cent
in instruction, 11.4 per cent in
plant operation and maintenance,
6.1 per cent in transportation;
while capital expenditure has
been decreased by 12.1 per cent.
Included in the board's revenue
and expenditure, is $9,080 for the
Community School Development
program at St. Patrick's School,.
MR Rates
The 1977 mill rate for
supporting municipalities will be
as follows (1976 rates in brackets)
Clinton (35.17) 38.17; Seaforth
(31,39) 34.39; Brussels (33.54)
36.54; Hensall (31.80) 34.80;
Hallett (30.43) 33.43; McKillop
( 31,57) 34.57; Tuckersmith
(35.00) 38.00; Mitchell (28.00 )
31.00; Hibbert (30.73) 33.73;
Logan (33.20) 36.20.
As the board meeting was
adjourned at 11:20 p.m. the press
rep. chided the member for
holding all discussion On 'the
budget in committee of the wh ole
and not making any public
comments for their ratepayers to
know how they felt about the
budget.
A number of trustees gathered
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around the press table as Ted
Geoffrey said he welcomed the
opportunity to speak up.
"Unfortunately I am the only
trustee affected by a sizable mill
rate increase," he said, "This is
the reason I am opposed to
French in Grades 5 and 6 -- the
cost factor, and this is why I could
not support the , honorarium
increase to the trustees here
tonight."
Mr. Geoffrey said, "We have
had no capital expenditure in Hay
Township or :Bayfield (the two
municipalities he represents)
since we formed this board (in
1969) and we have always been
aced with a maximum increase
due to the equalization factor
being used. In future I feel there
must be some different factor
used."
Michael Connolly, said, "As
finance committee chairman, I
wish tä say that the rising. costs in
energy -- heat and hydro are
fixed costs that we cannot alter.
Also there are increased snow
removal costs which are a must
for the safety of our children.
These are costs we must meet.
The Anti-inflation board has been
a benefit to our system to stabilize
our costs, 7 he stated:
Board chairman Mickey Vere of
Stratford appeared to make some.
remarks, "The budget has been
studied in .great detail during
several meetings.
The board is determined to
maintain the quality of education.
There are no excess
expenditures.
Inflationary trends are evident
in all sectors of society and
education is no exception.
This is a " bare bones"
budget," he concluded.
Approve French
In other business the board
approved extending French
instruction from Grades 7 and 8 to
at least Grades 6 in the separate
schools in Huron and Perth
Counties, exclusive of Ecele Ste.
Marie which is a bilingual school,
In Grades 7 and 8 oral French
has been a part of the curriculum
in all the schools since the board
was formed in 1969, Superinten-
dent W.J.Mills reported as he
presented the feasibility report 'on
the teaching of French following a
study made by the administration
under his direction.
Director of Education, John
Vintar, said .this will mean an
increase of two itinerant Fench
teachers when the extension
comes into effect in September.
He pointed out this will only mean
one additional staff member as
one room is being phased out in
St. Michael's School, Stratford,
due to a declining enrolment.
Board members gave
themselves an eight per cent
increase in their honorarium,
effective January 1977. The
increase from $150 a month to
$162 a month for each trustee was
approved in a recorded vote asked
for by Ted Geoffrey who voted
against the increase, as did
Ronald Marcy.
Superintendent William Eckert
reported on the professional
development day last week on .the
reading program in the schoolso.
He said the teachers commented
most favourably on the
workshops. Trustee Gregory
Fleming, the only trtustee who
attended the session, said it was
well organized and praised the
program. Chairman Mickey Vere
attended the luncheon only as he
was working.
John O'Drowsky questioned
whether it would be possible for
parents to -attend some of the
professional development days.
He was told the auditorium was
filled with teachers at the last
P.D.Day. Mr. Vintar said a larger
hall could be considered.
Dublin.
Provincial grants and other
evenue will provide 85.77 per
cent of the 1977 budget,
compar ed to 85.14 per cent in
1976. Local taxpayers will be •
required to contribute 14.23 per
cent to this year's budget --
$610,000.
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