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The Lucknow Sentinel, 1978-11-29, Page 19Squeeze more miles out of buses BY JEFF SEDDON The Huron County Board of Education may attempt to squeeze a few more miles out of board owned, school buses to alleviate financial pressures that are cramping the board's capital expenditures and equipment replacement -. programs. Board chairman John Elliott told the board at its final session Monday night the practice of automatically renewing six board owned buses every year may be un- necessary pointing out that some of the money spent on new vehicles could be funnelled into other areas. The suggestion was made when the board was asked by John Cochrane, director of education, to approve a five year capital expense forecast. Cochrane explained to the board that the five Winghctm Voice for Life: Voice for Life group met at the 'Wingham Bible Chapel on. November 15. In her education report, Sally Campeau spoke about teenage pregnancy. She said that teenagers accounted for 31 per cent of the- 57,564 4bortions committed in Can- ada .in 1977. Pro -abortionists argue that pregnancy is a risk to young teenagers and abortion is less dangerous than . preg- nancy. Risks to the teenage moth- er and the baby, if the mother is -in the 15 to 17 year age group, is .no greater, than for women in their 20s said Mrs. Campeau, provid- ed the teenager receives regular prenatal, delivery and postpartum care. In his article, .Managing the Teenage Pregnancy, Dr. John Dwyer said, "We have analysed 231 pregnancies in patients aged 12 to 16, who have been seen .at our teenage pregnancy clinic, at Roosevelt Hospital, New York, between , 1966 and 1971. But; even though only girls in their early or mid- teens were included, we found no statistically signif- icant igniiicant increase in complica- tions, except for a slightly above normal 'incidence of premature births. This held true when we studied only the 37 girls in the group who were 14 or younger. 'Hard Surfaca and Carpet Phone 395.5894 after'6 prn. 5284432 during ring day year program is required by the ministry of education for Ontario to permitthe province to set down a provincial spending forecast. The director said the province has met the requirements of the Huron board with the exception of one major area, additional home economics and industrial arts facilities in elementary schools. Cochrane told the board that considering the ministry's record of ignoring Huron county's request for funds to establish industrial arts and home , ec centres at Turnberry, Hullett and Exeter Public Schools the board could consider not asking any more. Cochrane said the futility of the request indicated that perhaps the board should just ask for money for the continuance of replacing six school board owned buses each year. The bus replacing practice is done due to ministry guidelines that totally depreciate school buses over seven years. Elliott suggested that the board's habit of replacing six buses a year may notbe necessary. The chairman said some of the buses replaced may be worthy of more mileage and that the board could attempt to keep the vehicles on the road using the money savved to establish the home '' economic- industrial arts classrooms. • Brussels trustee Donald McDonald noted that it . may not be possible for'tbe board to transfer that capital as easily as that. Hesaid the ministry might simply keep the money itself and give the Hilton board only enough for five buses. Wingham trustee Jack Alexander said it ap- peared as though the six buses due for replacement were "let go" by the board's transportation depart- ment so that by the time they are due to be taken off the road they are "shot". Alexander suggested that by taking better care of the vehicles the board may get more mileage from them. Elliott said that some of the buses may indeed be scrap but felt sure some should not be replaced. He said there may be four buses due for replacement and two that could be kept on the job, saving the board the cost of two new vehicles. He said in the past two years three of the busesthe board has replaced have been put back into ser- vice by bus contractors. The board tenders for the sale of the vehicles, a contractor buys them and keeps them on the road to transport students under a contract with the board. The chairman said two years ago two of the six buses the board soldwere put back on the- road, by contractors and this year one of the buses was put back in service. He suggested that the board consider the policy before it automatically agreed .to it. Seaforth trustee John Henderson felt that a delay could put the board in a financial dilemma it faces in other areas. Henderson said if the board "lays off a year or two it may be facing the same problem it has in replacing equipment in technical classroorns in the county high schools". He said the board could not afford to "keep up to the situation to avoid facinglarge expenditure it can't handle". Wingham trustee Murray Mulvey suggested undercoating the new buses to get more mileage out of them. He said rust seems to be a problem the buses are victimized by pointing out that in many cases the vehicles "rust out before they wear out". Mulvey said the board could consider getting the buses rust proofed when they are new. The board agreed to drop the provision of industrial arts -home economics classrooms from its five year capital expense forecast and make provision for the replacement of six board 'owned buses. The budget committee hopes to sit down with transportation manager to review the practice;of automatically replacing six buses a year. 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