The Citizen, 1995-06-07, Page 1See page 9 See page 35
The North Huron
itizen
Vol. 11 No.23
Wednesday, June 7, 1995
61 40 GS,' 650
A tasty treat awaits
A young calf on the farm of Fred Meier, RR4, Brussels, eagerly eyes the waiting bottle as
junior students from Turnberry Public School offer a drink. Holding the bottle is Christopher
Nelemans while Curtis Grein watches intently and Milk Messenger Kim Baan gives a few
helpful hints. Pupils from many area schools visited the dairy operation on May 30.
9-1-1 field work underway
Special
Commemorative
issue celebrates
new fire hall
See inside
Government
Candidates take off
the gloves at
local debates
See page 6, 26
Education
Local students
among Madill's
top mathematicians
Entertainment
Rehearsals begin on
Blyth Festival's first
two productions
Area sec. schools
make the grade
After consultations with students
and secondary school principals,
Superintendent of Program with the
Huron County Board of Education
Gino Giannandrea announced to
trustees at the June 5 meeting, that
Huron County Grade 9 pupils had
once again topped provincial aver-
ages in reading and writing.
The (unofficial) 1994-95 results
show a jump of three per cent, over
1993-94 marks, to 97 per cent for
the number of students performing
at or above expected levels.
In the writing category, numbers
increased from 95 to 98 percent
operating at or above the expected
level.
Giannandrea said the marks
earned in last year's test were above
the provincial average yet the board
encouraged the teachers to develop
new ways to improve the scores.
It appears the motivation worked.
In perhaps one of the more
peculiar political developments of
the current provincial campaign in
Huron, three candidates said no to
the students at F.E. Madill and did
not attend their all-candidates
debate - despite apparent repeated
invitations.
Liberal John Jewitt, New
Democrat incumbent Paul Klopp
and Independent/Reform Associa-
tion of Ontario candidate Kimble
Ainslie were no shows, leaving
Progressive Conservative hopeful
Helen Johns and the Family
Coalition Party's Phil Cornish to
debate their respective view points
on education, job creation and the
future for today's youth. Some 300
students listened to the platforms.
An estimated one-third will be first
time voters tomorrow.
Cornish offered a unique idea on
the funding of education — unique
at least to this region. The concept
revolves around a voucher system,
in which each family with children
in school would receive a funding
voucher that could be used to
educate the child at a school of the
parent's choice.
According to the FCP platform,
the government would provide the
amount of educating each student
directly to he school of choice. This
would eliminate the board level
bureaucracy. Publicly owned
schools would have to accept each
applicant in its district.
How would the FCP arrive at the
cost per child? According to their
policy statement, the scholarship
would be calculated by dividing the
current cost of education in Ontario
by the total number of students.
The amount of the scholarship
would be increased for children
with special needs.
The only question not answered
is, in Huron for example, the cost
of transportation for a student
travelling from one centre to
another would be extremely high —
especially if that Wingham student
Individual results at all secondary
schools showed improvements in
almost all cases.
In reading: Central Huron Sec-
ondary School rose from 93 per
cent to 96 percent; F.E. Madill Sec-
ondary School went from 94 to 99
per cent; Goderich District Colle-
giate Institute rose to 97 from 96
and South Huron District High
School showed the largest increase,
going from 92 to 99 per cent.
Seaforth District High School
was the only facility recording a
decrease over 1993-94, dropping to
89 from 93 per cent.
In writing: CHSS, remained at 99
per cent; FEMSS, up two to 99 per
cent; GDCI, largest jump, going
from 89 to 98; SDHS, rose from 92
to 96 per cent and SHDHS, level at
97 per cent.
The official, province-wide
results are not expected to be
released until the fall.
wants to attend South Huron
Secondary School in Exeter. How
would this expense be covered
without current school bus links?
Cornish said the voucher system
has worked in parts of the United
States and New Zealand.
Johns said education is one area
that the Tories have targeted as
vital and will not cut funding.
However, they will not control the
increase in tuition fees, but instead
will provide greater access to loan
programs for post-secondary school
students.
Currently, students pay approxi-
mately 19 per cent of the total cost
of one year's study in annual
tuition.
Duncan Mowbray, a student at
the high school, drew a large roar
from the audience when he asked
the candidates why any of the first
time voters should trust the
politicians.
Cornish said that was a fair
question. In his response to
Mowbray, he said the biggest
problem with politicians today is
that they are "promise makers" not
"promise keepers".
"You have to recognize that
personal integrity. I governed
myself by not carrying a personal
debt and fought, in my profession,
for the principles of justice," he
said.
"You can't trust politicians
because policies change. That is
why we need a government that
governs by principle."
Johns said Ontario needs
politicians with a sense of
accountability. She said that was
exactly the reason behind her
deciding to run. A first time
politician, Johns said trust has
become a very big issue.
"It was a very big issue in
Manitoba with Premier Gary
Philmon. In Ontario, Harris is the
only leader who has said 'If I don't
By Bonnie Gropp
Meetings were held this past
week with municipal politicians
and employees and emergency ser-
vice people to bring them up to
speed on the process for municipal
addressing (9-1-1) in Huron Coun-
ty.
Approximately 35 people were
present at the meeting Wednesday,
May 31 in Blyth (the first was held
Tuesday in Stanley) to hear a report
from Project Co-ordinator Carol
Leeming, have questions answered
and take part in discussion.
Leeming said the field work is
almost completed in Howick and
they will be moving on to Tumber-
ry the next week. Bell Canada is
providing a driver for the field
work, who is accompanied by a
township and county representa-
tive.
The drive-bys used to help with
the conversion of property to
municipal addressing, should be
completed in the county by mid to
late summer, Leeming said.
One of the biggest issues at this
point is with regards to the concept
of continuous road. Each township
will soon begin the process of nam-
ing their roads. A continuous road
is one that crosses from one town-
ship to another, which will mean
consultation between the munici-
palities that share the road.
The purpose of naming the roads
is for more efficient identification
in an emergency. Intersection signs
will be placed at corners and each
property will have a number in
addition to its lot and concession.
"Most towns already have munic-
ipal addressing in place, though
they may have to improve it a bit.
The importance is that it be as easy
to find someone in Grey as it is to
find them in Blyth," Leeming said.
She added that many of the
municipalities have already estab-
lished their road naming commit-
tees and indicated that it is
important that the public be
involved in the process. "There is
not going to be agreement all the
time, but hopefully through the
consultation process things will
come along quickly."
Rather than naming roads some
counties have numbered them, she
said, adding that each has its pros
and cons. "The difficulty with num-
bers is that it is not as easy to deal
with a new road."
Leeming added that major high-
ways such as Hwy 4, will not be
named as they are readily recogniz-
able as they are.
With municipal addressing in
place, Leeming says basically the
only information people will need
to know is how use the phone and
ask for help, because all the emer-
gency information will be dis-
played on the dispatcher's screen.
"Children don't even have to know
their address," she said.
Things are "definitely off to a
Continued on page 31
Only 2 candidates
at Madill debate