Loading...
The Lucknow Sentinel, 1976-05-26, Page 17WEDNESDAY, MAX 20, 1976 Reports On Seminar Allen* In Cpylity Of:Sanilac In Michigan: . 39 43c 43c 43c 43c •••04...• C 14 OZ. YORK FancylPeas 2 9 2 LB. BEEHIVE, BY MARIAN ZINIV In .,x report .to the Sentinel • a couple of weeks ago, Alan Whicher of the Bruce County Board, of Education very capably explaihed there,asen fora Very high increase, in.education tax in Bruce County: This is true in Huron as well as nearly every County Board in the Province , of Ontario, the' reason being of the decision -to transfer funding from the province to the local taxpayer, by giving only an 8% increase in the grants. I thought that it might be of interest to the ratepayers of Ashfield and West Wawanosh as well as those in Bruce County to tell you about the seminar in which I attended a week ago in the Stafes. Six members of the Huron Board were guests of the Huron County Principals and, Vice-Principals As- sociation for two and a half days at the Creswell-Lexington Community Schools in the County of Sanilac (across the lake from Huron County). This district was chosen for its similarities in size of farins, villages with Sandusky being the county seat. They . have a great -deal more of urban sprawl than we Neighbours Held Work Bee LOCHALSH NEWS Neil MacKenzie is progressing favourably in Wingham Hospital and the barn he was' -repairing, when' he had the accident, has been completed by friends and neigh: bours • who held a work bee.. Preparation's were 'then Underway 'by the neighbours to hold a work bee to plant the corn for Neil as soon as weather permitted. On Monday, May 24th as early as S a:m., neighbours of Neil, were on hand with tractors and corn planting equipment. Planting of 150 acres of corn was made in short order under the direction of Jim Bradley and Ernest Gibson. Mrs. MacKenzie and neighbour ladies provided food for lunch, and dinner. Mrs. Robe 't McIntosh entertain- ed on•Tuesd y afternoon in honour Of her mother Mrs. Sallina Hunter; who has been spending the winter with the McIntosh family. Those present were '.Mrs. Nelson Ray- nard, Mrs. Olive Smith, Mrs. Cliff Murray, Mrs.' Wraith,. Mrs. Lyla Ritchie and Mrs. Walter Dexter - all neighbours of. Mrs. "Hunters. • Mrs. Alma MacKinnon of Kincard- ine assisted her sister Lois with th6 afternoon's activities. • The W.M.S. of Ashfield Presby- terian Church 'held their regular monthly meeting on' Thursday evening at the home. of Mrs. June Wylds, Mrs. Emile,MacLenttan returned home after spending five months in hospitals in • London, Owen Sound and Wingham. The funeral tor Mr. W. J. McKenzie of Glamis was held on Tuesday with burial in Lochalsh Cemetery. Relatives of • Mr, McKenzie lived at one time on the former Henry Barkwell farm. Recent visitors with Mr. "and Mrs.' Frank MacLennan were Mr. and Mrs. Rod MacLennan of Detroit and, Mr. and. Mrs, Jim Ainslie and Jane of Toronto. Congratulations to David Farrish on having been the first choice of Safi Diego Mariners in 'the. World Hogkey Association amateur draft. David has been playing with the Sudbury Wolves as a defenceman ,for the past five years. Mrs. Doug Martyn has been a patient in Kincardine Hospital for the past week. have. The farms are mainly beef, dairy and .cash ,crops. (corn and white beans), , , • The County of Sanilac is divided into, , 7 school diStriets, 'each controlled separately with 7 school trustees and a supetintendent and assistant superintendent. CrOs-. well-Lexington covers an area of 13 miles by 14 miles and is the largest district in the county with 14 miles along Lake Huron, but is smaller in' size than that of Ashfield and West Wawanosh. There are 2858 students from • Kindergarten to -Grade 12 in 8 schools (Kindergart- en, -Elementary, Junior High ' School and High School). There are approximately 850 students registered in 4 schools (Brookside, Kingsbridge, Gbderich D.C.'. and F.E.M.S.S. ,Wingham) from Ask- field and West Wawanosh. Perhaps the most interesting of comparisOns' is the structure of their system in financing educa- tion. They receive 60% from the local ratepayer, 30% from the State of Michigan 4 and 10% from Federal, while our revenues are based on 70% from the Province and 30% from the local taxpayer. Interestingly enough, any state aid is subject. to the requirements that the state of Michigan balance its. budget at the end of each fiscal year, June 30th. What this meant in case 'Of the Croswell-Lexington school system was a state demand for the return of $61,600. in state funds, ,previously given th& school system: Therefore' some 20 teachers were pink-listed (laid' off) because of the uncertainity con- cerning the availability of funds for next Septeinber. Because so much of the education financing is in the hands of the local ratepayer, any new program can only be introduc- ed so long as the ratepayer is , prepared to vote for an increased mill rate. As a result of voter' control of the purse, good public 'relations between the public and its educational team is part of everyday living. Just as much a part of this living is' the frequency of the appeals to the voter for increased tnillage. Croswell-Lex- ington could have in the space of Six months this year, three elections - one to vote for two trustees, another to renew the mill rate and another one to raise the mill rate for continued, programs in the school. • Each 'election 'in a district costs $1,100. and the response of the voter at the polls is 'anywhere ,from 30% to ' 40%, depending upon the weather.. This contrasts with the Ontario Situation In which trustees are elected every two, years and are empowered to raise the local education levy. The 30% of state aid guarantees $317. per student (unless the state needs it), whereas the Province of Ontario pays a grant of $1,000. for an elementary student and $1',500. for each secondary student. In some cases, the state' haS subsidiz- ed certain ,programs 100%, but have subsequently reduced their support. Again if the local people want these programs continued in their schools, they must support them by paying more taxes. In conversation with the trustees, it was stated that an average 100 acre, farm (they are• assessed on both land and buildings) would have taxes arranging from $600-$700. However they receive no subsidy, on the education, portion such as Ontario farmers receive. Another marked difference .in the school system was that their High School's were mostly academic with a very modified part in technical courses and commercial subjects. However, they had built a large Career in the centre of the County last year and students specialize in certain courses on. the setnestered system. They must howeyer, spend a half a day in their home school taking academic -subjects. This entails a great deal' of travelling -'to the Career Centre from the home School and return- ing back again in time to get the bus to their own, home. From Croswell-Lexington to. the Career Centre is 20 miles. At, this. new Career Centre only two subjects were' offered that are not on the curriculum in Huron County, that was Chil&Care and Graphic Arts (printing, 'lithography and press work).; In comparison, to our three sChoolS for the Trainable Retarded, which are integrated with 'our public , schools, they have one school for the trainable at Sandus- ky. Because of the long distance, some of these handicapped stud- ents are on the bus for two hours in the morning and another two in the afternoon. This special bus which could carry wheel chairs had a bUilt in hydraulic lift to raise and lower the chairs. Principals and vice-principals do not belong to a Teachers' Federa- tion. They have a difficnIt time in supervising the halls of the schools' at noon hour as well as the school • yards; as the teachers do not do this work. Here. in Ontario, the Education A:ct States clearly that a PHONE 528-2903 Died At Age 66 WILFRID JOHN mcKENziE Wilfrid. John McKenzie ,passed, away on • Sunday, . May, 16th . at Happy, Hours Boarding Horne, ',R..' R. 3' Walkerton.; where he was a resident. He was 66, • " • Mr.' McKenzie, formerly' of OlatniS,- was born in •Goderich on Octobei -16,1909, a son of William McKenzie and -Edith Htitchinson. • He 'never married. The.. late Mr: McKeniie was , a veteran Ofthe 2nd World, War and a ,member of the .4-11.ighiand Light- Infantry: • • He is , survived by his mother, Mrs. Edith. McKenzie of Grande, Prairie, Alberta;. two sisters, Mrs. • Henry (Wilda) Lunatti of Beaver- lodge., Alberta and Mrs. Ted (Jessie) • Ha-Milton of Calgary,. Alberta; and one ,brother Melvin Bell' of:Goderich.-.. • The fitneral service was held on Tuesday, 'May 18th at MacKenzie Memorkal..Chapel,' Lucknow. • Rev. George .Garratt was minister. Interment 'was 'was in Lochalsh Cem- etery. Pallbearers 'were John MacKen- zie, Tom Gilchrist, Wilmer Griffith, Campbell McLennan, Janies Mor- ris, Robert. Ferris, FREE DELIVERIES 690 THE LUCKNOW SENTINEL, PCKNOW; ONTARIO PAGE SEVENTEEN teacher shall accept responsibility assigned by his or her principal,, Salaries of. teachers, principals and superintendents are approximately one-third less than our staff receives. It also appeared that the custodians who- belong' to the teamAters' union did only What was required and soine• of the schools lacked good hbusekeepirig. Some of the valuable points that we • noticed 'were 1. MUsic was given top priority as an option in many schools (vocal, instrumental and especially marching bands), 2. Social Studies (History and Geog- raphy) is, a compulsory subject.-'3.. The ;obvious quality, of their educational system. 4. A Senior Citizens group in the Croswell- Lexington school had their own resource room where they were not only offered a well-balanced meal for fifty cents a day but a chance for socialization with many planned activities, such as craft making, musical entertainment and trips. 5. A nutritional hot meal program in all of the.schools both fovstudents and 'Seniors' and both " heavily. subsidized by the State. We also. noticed metric posters on the walls of the classrooms, and a wooden paddle 'in the principal's office. Two witnesses must be present when this paddle is administered to a ,student. 14 OZ. BRIGHTS CHOICE Peach Halves 1202. HEINZ Barbeque Relish Sweet Relish Hamburg Relish Not Dog Relish COWANI GROCERY STORE jvcic.Now Corn Syrup 2's KLEENEX Paper Towels $1.09 24 OZ. SOF-TWIST WHITE WE ALSO INVITE YOU TO VISIT OUR ANNEX STORE CEDARHILL GARDEN. CENTRE (Indoor and Outdoor) EVERGREENS -- TREES — SHRUBS — ROSES — TOMATOES BEDDING PLANTS — SEED POTATOES — ONION SETS WIDE SELECTION OF HOUSE PLANTS — RUBBER TREES FANCY AND PLAIN POTS -- PLANTERS — FERTILIZERS SEEDS — DUSTS — LIME SULPHUR — PEAT MOSS BONE MEAL — WEED KILLERS — INSECTICIDES FUNGICIDES 7- ETC. "COME GROW WITH US" 4. •