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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1996-05-01, Page 4Left hanging Photo by Bonnie Gropp Education director explains spending Letters Reunion planned THE EDITOR, An era in education in Ontario is coming to a close. Saltfleet High School in historic Stoney Creek, which opened its doors in 1927, will be moving from its original site this June to a new building on the escarpment. A final reunion in the old school is being planned for the weekend of May 10, 11 and 12. Former students and staff interested in information regarding this "end of an era" reunion should contact: Saltfleet High School Reunion Committee, Stoney Creek, ON L8G 3V3. Phone: (905) 664.-1519. Fax: (905) 664-8533. Sincerely, Glen Whitewell Committee Chair. THE EDITOR, With reference to various recent letters about spending levels in area school systems, I wish to offer the following information. There are several ways to calculate the 'cost' of education. One way is to include certain categories of spending, exclude others, and arrive at a 'cost of operating' based on that approach. Divide by day school student enrollment to arrive at a 'cost per pupil'. Another way is to look at all categories of spending, including capital, debt repayment costs, and transportation. Add all of it together to get a 'total' cost, then divide by the 'total' number of students, including ALL categories - adult students too. You get a very different answer. With respect to saving money, there is a simple arithmetic approach too. If Board 'A' saves $1 on a joint venture with another Board 'B' and that board saves $2, the taxpayers save $3. If there are three boards involved and they all save a certain amount - albeit different in each case - the tax saving overall is A+B+C. With respect to taxes and transferring liabilities to another (or even a new) school system, even the Sweeney Report said that debt should not be transferred to a new taxpayer base. With respect to the cost of 'administration', there are half a dozen sets of numbers to choose. Whether you pick the best or the worst, at least compare 'apples' to 'apples' to look at relative costs. In each of these cases, I am not going to do any mathematics for you. It would be better if you did your own figuring. A set of Ministry of Education figures is attached. If you want help, call an accountant for an objective answer. Sincerely, Paul Carroll Director of Education and Secretary-Treasurer, HCBE. PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 1996 C The North Huron itizen BLUE RIBBON AWARD 1995 P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, Publisher, Keith Roulston BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. Editor, Bonnie Gropp NOM 1H0 NOG 1H0 Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 Advertising Manager, FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 Jeannette McNeil The Citizen Is published weekly in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $27.00/year ($25.24 + $1 .76 G.S.T.) in Canada; $62.00/year In U.S.A. and $75.00/year in other foreign countries. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth. We are not responsible for unsolicited newscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright. Publications Mall Registration No. 6968 Persistence pays us all You could almost see the eyes roll when it came time to discuss the progress of Huron County's Waste Management Master Plan over the past half-year: here we go again again, would be the feeling from many in the room (including the press table). But the constant questioning may have saved county taxpayers a bundle. Every month representatives of the Concerned Citizens of Ashfield and Area (CCAA) would rise to ask county councillors to take a more serious look at alternatives to a landfill scheduled for their area west of Lucknow. Every month West Wawanosh Reeve Bob Hallam would ask endless questions on their behalf. Every month Blyth Reeve Mason Bailey would urge councillors to explore the changes in technology that had taken place since the Master Plan study originally rejected alternatives in the late 1980s. "Not these pains in the bun again" was the expression on a number of faces. But persistence paid off for the CCAA. They kept coming back, even bringing information from their own consultant to back their claim that alternatives to landfill had come along that could save the whole need for a county dump. Finally, whether because they had convinced councillors or because some councillors just wanted to shut them up on the subject, county council agreed to finance two studies on alternatives: one by their own consulting firm, one by the firm recommended by CCAA. The results, a mere two months later, point 180 degrees from the direction the county has been headed in nearly a decade of seeking a solution to its waste management problems. Both consultants feel the county should make greater use of the landfills already in Huron, improving management to make them last longer. Both feel there are savings to be made by the county taking over running the sites and collecting the garbage. Both see greater use of facilities like the Hensall composting operation. Both recommend looking at exporting waste to commercial landfills happy to take it. Both suggest the county look seriously at not proceeding with the Ashfield landfill. The county must still decide on how to act on the two reports but the proposals could save Huron taxpayers millions of dollars in taxes and tipping fees compared to developing a new landfill site. It could also save a lot of hardship for residents of the Ashfield area (remember the stress caused in Grey Twp. when it seemed the landfill might go there?) Sometimes it can be tiresome hearing people harp and harp on one subject in council meetings but the results of the harpers getting their way in this case might prompt a corollary to the Beatitudes: "Blessed be the pain in the butts, for they shall save you tax dollars". — KR An obsession with secrecy Twice at Huron County council last week, the issue of openness on the part of council and its committees was raised by long-time members of council. Twice the questioners were told, in so many words: mind your own business, we think we know what's best. First councillors like former warden Tom Cunningham, reeve of Hullett and Bill Mickle, reeve of Exeter and past president of the Ontario Municipal Association, urged the Board of Health to make sure people understood the reasons behind its move of the homecare headquarters to the new county facility at old Huronview, and the replacement of the homecare director. Letters had appeared in county newspapers questioning the county's motives. Seniors had called county councillors worried about the future of homecare. Couldn't the board issue a statement or write letters in reply to calm the fears of seniors, the questioners asked? Warden Bill Clifford and Health Board chair Ron Murray indicated they didn't really want to. Mickle and Cunningham again questioned the need for so many closed meetings of the Administration, Finance and Personnel committee to discuss the sale of the former library headquarters building in Goderich. Warden Clifford said there would be details when the sale was complete but until then there would be no explanation of the need for the closed meetings. There may be good reasons for each closed meeting but we don't know. Added up with the fact that county council has spent more time in closed session in the past six months than the previous six years and there's a disturbing pattern — almost an obsession with secrecy. KR E ditorial