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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1996-03-13, Page 21• • SINNITLISSIDOSS • GOODS • SERVICES • TRADES Blyth Decorating Centre Ltd. Drywall Hanging & Finishing Texture & Swirl Ceilings Spray Painting Painting & Staining TELEPHONE 523-4930 FREE ESTIMATES Vertical & Horizontal Blinds Carpet Hard Surface Marble Quarry Tile Ceramic Tile Wall Covering DON "BARNEY " STEWART JOHN H. BATTYE 188 Queen St., Box 151, Blyth, Ontario. NOM 1H0 SUNSHINE COUNTRY CONSULTING AGRICULTURAL & SMALL BUSINESS ACCOUNTING & COMPUTER SOLUTIONS INCOME TAX Ralph Watson Box 88 Bn.Issolo, Ont NOG 1140 Bus: (519) 887-6011 Res: (519) 887-6236 Stratford Cemetery Memorials Ltd. SPECIALIZING IN All Types of oticitc, and Memorials *MOM. Inscriptions Ross Ribey Seaforth, Ontario NOK IWO Tel: (519) 527-1390 PAUL COOK ELECTRIC Home, Farm & Commercial Wiring BELG RAVE 357-1537 Doane Raymond 76 Chartered Accountants Management Consultants Canadian Member Firm of Grant Thornton International 152 Josephine Street P.O. Box 1420 Wingham, Ontario NOG 2W0 Tel: (519) 357-3231 Fax: (519) 357-2452 Alan P. Reed CA Partner Log Specializing In: • Staircases • Railings • Interior Trim • Kitchen Cabinets & General Construction (519) 887-6507 omme Youngblut's PLUMBING and HEATING • SHEET METAL WORK • GAS FITTING DARRYL YOUNGBLUT TEL: (519) 523-9383 BLYTH THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1996 PAGE 21. Classrooms will be affected by cuts, says HWTFA Ares. Congratulations Erica Clark of Blyth, centre, received her Silver Duke of Edinburgh award at the annual Scout, Guide banquet on Feb. 21. The award, which originated in England is given out in recognition of achievement in specified areas — service, fitness, skills, expeditions and explorations. Erica is the first Blyth Guider to receive it. With her are Heather Jackson, District Commissioner, left, and Myrna Inglis, Beaver Division Commissioner. Seniors Centre must move Continued from page 1 increased. "The cuts announced will directly affect the classroom, though," says Laurie. "Sixty-five per cent of the cuts come from total operating costs. General legislative grants were cut $32 million, junior kinder- garten funding reduced $100 mil- lion and $18 million was taken from adult education. It cuts to the core of Huron's goal of life-long education." Referring to Snobelen's statement that local taxes should not increase, Baird-Jackson says, the province puts up the standard mill rate. HCBE has no control over rise in rate. For outside-the-classroom sav- ings, cuts are to be made in trans- portation, school board admin- istration and custodial and mainte- nance expenditures, says Snobelen. In terms of transportation reduc- ' tions, "our board is already cut to the bone," says Laurie. "We have students from four schools riding one bus to save costs." In a letter to MPP Helen Johns, HCBE Director of Education Paul Carroll points out that Huron administration is one-third smaller today and they have already removed $200,000 from that expenditure. In an effort to give boards more flexibility and enhance local ac- countability, Snobelen outlined three measures which will be intro- duced into legislation. The first measure will enable boards to enter into co-operative agreements with other boards and public agencies and to require pub- ic reporting on savings. Huron County has been sharing the services of a social worker with the Children's Aid Society and a neighbouring school board for some time, says Laurie. "There are not a lot of extras in this board." There is also co-operation with the Catholic school boards for transportation savings, says Carroll. The other pieces of legislation would give boards responsibility to negotiate local sick-leave plans by removing sick-leave entitlements from the Education Act, and enable boards to implement administrative structures to meet local needs by modifying appropriate regulations under the Act. A small working group will be set up to investigate and report on the feasibility of having qualified personnel without an Ontario Teacher's Certificate perform duties such as librarian, career counselling and computer-related services. "We have developed a reasonable solution for staffing in the elemen- tary sector," says Baird-Jackson, "but we are still working on the implementation of a practical solu- tion to protect staff in the sec- ondary sector. We don't want to lose a lot of people with tremen- dous creativity." Snobelen also announced a one- year moratorium on capital fund- ing, though HCBE has no money coming from the provincial govern- ment, for that purpose in 1996-97, says Carroll. "We know we will be hit with cuts again in 1997," says Baird- Jackson, "and planning ahead now is the only sensible way to manage (the finances), protect the staff and minimize the impact on the stu- dents." By Janice Becker Unsatisfactory negotiations with the landlord have resulted in the eviction of the Wingham and Area Seniors' Day Centre from their home of five and a half years. "We spent the last couple days looking at facilities in the commu- nity and are waiting for replies from two possible sites," says Glo- ria Workman. After negotiating with the land- lord of 350 Josephine Street for three months, Workman says, the board of directors for the centre agreed the demand for a 38 per cent increase in the rental fee was beyond the financial means of the centre. "The increase would have serious impact on the programs currently offered," she says. "The hardest part is telling the seniors there will be a lot of changes in a very short period of time." To try to ease the adjustment, Workman says the centre is just looking at facilities in Wingham at present, to change one thing at a time. The goal is to be able to move to a new facility by the deadline of March 31, however, Workman says one possible site will need renova- tions to suit the needs of the elderly and Alzheimer's patients or those with related conditions, the centre serves. "We are looking for a large num- ber of volunteers who can help the centre through this move." Anyone interested in helping may contact Gloria Workman at the Wingham and Area Seniors' Day Centre at 357-1440. REPAIR SERVICE Small Engine Sales & Service 357-2277 Hwy. 86, WHITECHURCH Husqvarna C IN 1921, Canadians -N\ Panting and Best discovered a treatment for diabetes. Now if they could just come back and finish the job. Diabetes STOP the epidemic. giCANADIAN ASSOCIATION DIABETES CANADIENTIS Assocomou DD ouotre I -800-BANTING