HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1987-03-11, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAUCH 11, 1987.$94,000 education shortfall forecast under new rule
A regulation proposed by the
Ontario Ministry of Education may
require Huron County’s public
school taxpayers to subsidize the
cost of educating separate school
pupils attending the county’s
public high schools by an estimat-
ed$94,000in 1987, according to
Bob Allen, the county’s director of
education.
The premise is based on a
shortfall estimated of $40 million
across the province, according to a
study just released by the Ontario
Public School Trustees’ Associa
tion (OPSTA) and announced to
Huron County trustees at their
monthly meeting on March 2.
However, Mr. Allen cautions
that the OPSTA “has an obvious
bias” in the matter, and points out
that the Ministry of Education has
rejected the Association’s figures,
saying that grants will be made
available to cover any shortfall in
funding that may occur. He added
that the Huron board was one of
only 16 across the province that
responded to the OPSTA’s request
for input into the study that
produced the figure of $40 million.
The regulation in question pro
poses that separate school pupils
continuing to attend public secon
dary schools under Bill 30 be paid
for by a payment from the separate
school board, and by grants from
the Ontario government, How
ever, the OPSTA claims these
grants will fall well short of
meeting the actual cost of educat
ing some of these pupils, and that
the shortfall will have to be raised
through public school grants or
municipal taxes.
Mr. Allen said that the shortfall
mayariseifthereisa difference
between provincial grants and the
actual cost of educating some
students in high-cost programs,
such as technical and special
education programs in the public
high schools.
Although there is provision
made for “weighting” the billings
for the education of such pupils
between one board and another,
the weighting factor applies to only
some of the separate school
students who will continue to
attend public high schools in
Huron County this year, Mr. Allen
explained.
He said the weighting factor only
applies to “open access” students,
the term which applies to students
who were enrolled in Grade 9 when
Bill 30 became law last January -
i.e., students who will continue in
Grade 9 or enter Grade 10 in
September, 1987.
Mr. Allensaidthe factor does
not apply to “grandfathered”
pupils, the Board’s term for
students who were not identified as
separate school students before
Bill 30 came iftto effect. He said his
office estimated there might be as
many as 400 “grandfathered”
students in Huron County schools
by next fall.
lhe Urol A, which represents i ting Dill JU.
Grey council budgets $20,000
for 1987 bridge maintenance
The OPSTA, which represents
Grey Township Council received
its Road and Bridge Condition
Survey and decided to budget
$20,000 for a bridge maintenance
program in 1987 when it held its
regular meeting March 2.
The work will be carried out by
Township staff and Owen King
Limited from Walkerton and will
include preventative maintenance
work such as re-caulking contrac
tionjoints, minor deck repairs, etc.
Council also accepted the quote
54 Ontario public school boards,
says that “public boards have no
obligation to subsidize these stu-
dehts, and that any subsidy would
be a breach of the government’s
commitment not to saddle public
boards with the costs of implemen
ting Bill 30.”
from Pollard Bros. (Calcium) Ltd.
for calcium chloride at $206.25 per
flake imperial ton. It is anticipated
that approximately $76,000 will be
spent on calcium chloride in 1987.
In other business, Council ap
proved road accounts totalling
$36,246.97 and general accounts
totalling $171,492.88.
The next regular council meet
ing is scheduled for March 23 at 10
a.m.
A
Km Only Have Until
March 31st to Act
Recently, Prime Minister
Brian Mulroney announced
the $1 Billion Special Canadian
Grains Program. This will help
farmers hurt by low world grain
and oilseed prices caused by
the trade war between the
European Community and the
United States.
Government Gouvernement
of Canada du Canada
Details are as follows:
1 Farmers who have
■ recently received a
federal corn, soybean or winter
wheat stabilization payment
have had applications mailed
to them. That form must be
completed and returned by
March 31st.
If you are a qualified
producer but haven’t
received an application form,
pick one up from:
• Offices of Members of
Parliament
• Feed mills
• Farm Credit Corporation
Offices, Agriculture Canada
offices and research stations
• Elevators
3 Eligible crops are:
■ wheat, barley, oats, rye,
mixed grain, grain corn, soy
beans, canola, flax and
sunflower seeds for crushing.
Pedigreed seed, high moisture
corn, high moisture barley and
farm fed grain (except silage)
are also covered.
For more information contact:
The Administrator
Special Canadian Grains
Program
Agriculture Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A1J3
Phone (613)957-7078
APPLICATION DEADLINE IS
MARCH 31st, 1987.
The Government of Canada is
committed to ensuring that
agriculture remains a strong
and vibrant part of our country’s
economy. The Special
Canadian Grains Program is a
part of that commitment.
Canada