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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1994-05-11, Page 1PUBLISHED IN LUCKNOW, ONTARIO Wednesday; May 11, 1994 • 5,50 G.S.T. Included Bruce County Board of Education Tag surplus for teachers: Ciavaglia An auditor's report showing the .Bruce County Board of Education has a surplus of $749,563 in 1993 could be the answer to stalled contract talks, according to the , president of District 11 of the On- . tario Secondary School Teachers' Association. Mark Ciavaglia at the board's May 3 meeting said if the board has a surplus,," it should earmark the money for teachers who've taken $1.2 million worth of pay cuts and unpaid leave under the social contract. Ciavaglia said teachers have "taken their lumps just like every body else" under the social contract, but the board refuses to discuss precise figures onenrollment projections or social contract ,tar- gets. "Part of the reason for the ' strike vote is the board won't give that figure and won't put it back to the teachers against the social contract," Ciavaglia said 'after hearing the auditor's report and enrollment projections. , Layoff notices in March, in- dicating 33 teachers could lose their jobs by September, were based on the board's projection that secon- dary school numbers will decline by 230 students this fall. Figures in last month's draft budget projec- tions show a drop of only 31 students for the coming year. The draft budget also called for a 2.7 per cent mill rate increase to compensate for a 4.8 per cent drop n grants. It would take another $750,000 in spending cuts or the same amount in extra revenue to give take taxpayers the 0 per cent rate hike some trustees want to achieve. Following its meeting, the board requested mediator Doug Lawless to call another round of negotiations as soon as possible. Trustee's negotiations team mem- ber Gord Thompson said there was progress at the• April 28 talks, but the two sides "ran out of .time". "We were extremely optimistic at different points in the day. The, social contract seemed to run it off the rails," Thompson said. Speaking on behalf of the board after an • in -camera session, Thompson said the board "regrets secondary students and teachers will be 'subject tosanctior.s on account of the social contract." He added the social contract "is clearly a provincial matter that won't be settled in Bruce County." P Meanwhile contract talks between the board and another group of employees have been referred to a conciliator. A. Naples has been appointed by,' the province to assist in talks bet- ween the board and its Education Assistants, secretaries and clerical workers. Those employees are part of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Association. No settlement after `16 hours of tajks between board and teachers The Bruce 'County Board of Education and its secondary school teachers spent 16 hours in mediation sessions Friday, May 6, but again failed to reach a set- tlement. "We did make some movement on , one issue," said trustees' negotiating chair David Inglis, referring to surplus teacher. cal- culations. "But we're still a long. way apart on what the board con- siders' big monetary issues." The social contract is the major hurdle, according to both the board and the teachers. The board says cuts have to come "over and above the normal way of doing business," Inglis said. But teachers say the board should consider the 12 1/2 jobs lost in September 1993 when it makes calculations on social contract tar- gets. "The board doesn't want to recog- nize the reduction of staff in '93," District 44 OSSTF president Mark Ciavaglia said. Jayme Sutherland, Alicia deBoer and Carrie Moffat watch attentively as Corey Kranenburg, playing choir director Mrs. deBoer, leads them during the LCPS musical Readin', Ritin' and Rockin'. (Marg Burkhart photo) Ciavaglia said the board intends to cut another 14 secondary teaching jobs by the end of 1996 under the• social .contract. "We made an Offer toward comprdmise," Inglis said of Friday's negotiations. "But we're a long way apart. The bottom line is the number they're requiring to come up with (under the social contract)." 'Inglis said the teachers' •See Reality,page 2 The Grades 5, 6 and 7 presented "The Trial of the Big Bad Wolf" at Brookside's spring concert last week. Corey Rintoul played the part of Hogney Dangerfield, with Rachel Mcauail as Patience Pig, Melissa Brown as Prudence Pig,' and Sarah Menary as Propriety Pig. (Pat Livingston photo) , Huron County Board of Education' Receive' awards of excellence Five F.E. Madill students, a teaching assistant and a Wingham company were recipients of the Huron County Board of Education's excellence in public education awards recently. Tanya Sutherland, of Lucknow, is an active OAC student who serves as the Student Councils' athletic convenor. She has been involved in sports at Madill, has acted as a volunteer teacher of aerobics for physical education classes, has been a prefect, and has been a member of the drama club. One of her biggest challengeshas been her role as student co-or- dinator of Madill's Peer Mentoring program, as well as being a peer mentor herself. Barb Redmond, of the Lucknow area, has been a teaching assistant,. working with CLN students for the past 13 years, and at Madill for seven. She is a cooperative, hard worker, who enjoys working with and cares about her students. She is known for going out of her way to be helpful to those with whom she works. Using her own judgment and seeing what needs to be done, and when, make her an invaluable asset to the quality of education at Madill. Western Foundry plays an impor- tant role in Wingham, as a major employer and industry. It has traditionally been very involved in the quality of education at Madill, providing scholarships to graduating students, readily accepting co-op students, and providing tours and guest speakers. Many Madill students have turned to the Foundry for part-time employment. Western Foundry' has. long realized the importance of a Tanya Sutherland, daughter of Syka and James, was recently. presented with the Huron County Board of Education's excellence award In recog- nition of . outstanding contribution to public education. well-educated workforce, and is• always willing to provide input about what industry looks for in secondary school graduates., Other Madill students receiving the award were Patty Bennett of Gorrie, Sarah Buck of Gorrie, Chris Eigenheet of Brussels and Erin Taylor of Gorrie. At Goderich District Collegiate Institute, Lisa Cairncross and Amy Olson, are two recipients whose names will be recognized in the readership area. Lisa, an OAC student achieved over 90 per cent for five years, won the Memorial Scholarship for the highest average in Grades 9, 10 and 11 and the Medal of Distinction in, the Euclid Math Contest in Grade 12. She is currently the co-chair of the student Writer's Guild and the editor of its. book. Lisa is especially sensitive to the needs of new and aspiring writers. She is this year's district winner for the Marion Drysdale provincial writing contest and zone champion of the Legion remembrance Day 'writing contest. As well, school reach, debating, peer tutoring, public speaking, track, and cross country running keep her busy. Amy, an honors student, is an enthusiastic leader of the school. As Minister without Portfolio on the Student's Council executive, she has contributed endless hours to •See Education, page 2