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Possible boundary shift
worries Brussels parents
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
On the one hand, it's an idea that
could, for Brussels parents and stu
dents, be nothing more than that.
On the other hand, it's a political
decision.
Close to 150 people packed the
public school gymnasium on Mon
day night to learn more about a
proposal that would see Brussels
students moved from F.E. Madill
Secondary School to Seaforth Dis
trict High School.
Marie Parsons, a superintendent
with the Avon Mailland District
School Board said that to a great
extent the concerns were based on
"miscommunication". She ex
plained that when the board agreed
there would be no school closures,
the request came out to school
communities to speak among them
selves and find ways to address the
issue of excess student space.
"As enrolment drops so does
funding," Parson said.
Also at issue was the fact that
when Madill's library was renovat
ed in 1998, it was approved only if
there were further upgrades to the
fire system. The second stage
would cost about 5100,000. Excess
space would mean no funding to
help with those renovations.
However moving students and
demolishing the math wing of
Madill is only one scenario being
studied to answer the Ministry
requirements.
"Do I think the chances of
boundary changes will happen?"
said Parsons. "I highly doubt it. Il
has to be looked at, but would it
make sense in the grand scheme of
things? Not likely."
Madill Principal Wayne Tessier,
who informed the students at an
assembly last week "to make sure
the study didn't proceed without the
knowledge of the students, added
"I'm not sure of the results because
I don't have control."
A committee will first study
options, which will then be taken to
the board of trustees. The recom
mendation rests with them. "Is
there a need to change boundaries,"
said Tessier. "Perhaps not, but I'm
not the one to make the decision.
A Seaforth representative at the
meeting urged parents to work with
them. She said Seaforth has been
fighting vigorously to keep all
schools open and does not want
students moved. "We should not
fight against each other but togeth-
cr. If we fight, only the bureaucrats
win."
Noling that the proposal came as
a shock to them, as well, she
stressed that grandfathering (mov
ing students from Grade 8 into
Seaforth, rather than those present
ly at Madill) would be the only way
they would agree to such a plan.
"If you started at Madill, you'll
graduate from Madill," she said in
response to a student's concern.
According to Tessier, an addi
tional 35-50 students would be all
Seaforth school could handle.
Grade 11 student Gayle Van
Beck read a letter stating she
believed the move would adversely
affect the student. She described a
lengthy bus trip and asked for con
sideration with regards to student
employment and the availability of
course selections.
Van Beck has also begun a peti
tion at the school, which Parsons
said was a good idea, but added
that individual letters of concern
often had more impact. Letters can
be given to Tessier for the commit
tee's consideration or to the local
representative Frank Stretton.
School Trustee Colleen Schenk
urged everyone present to write let
ters to each trustee. "My vote is
with you, but I am only one per
son."'
With regards to students in Mor
ris Twp. who attended Brussels,
Tessier said he would be "surprised
if that area came up for study."
When asked about the benefits to
Brussels students should a move
occur Parsons said, "1 can't think of
much of a response to that. If a stu
dent wants to move for personal
reasons that's fine. But for some
thing like this I can't give you bene
fits and I'm not going to pretend
to."
Emphasising that the final deci
sion will be a political one, Tessier
stressed, "You have to realise
nobody is moving anywhere yet.
There are all kinds of alternatives
we have to list."
The report is to go to the board
Feb. 23. A request was brought for
ward from the Brussels Student
Advisory Council Chair Cathrine
Campbell asking that the report be
made available for the Feb. 22 SAC
meeting. Schenk was going to dis
cuss it with the trustees Tuesday
night, Jan. 26, as they must approve
the report's release.
'The more the community knows
the more we can deal with it," said
Campbell.
CitizenTheNorthHuron
Huronlea gets all-clear on flu cases
Huronlea in Brussels has been
given the all-clear after being
closed for 14 days due to a large
number of flu cases at the facility.
Cathy Brown, administrator for
Huronlea and Huronview said the
home was reopened to visitors on
Monday after the last, new flu
symptoms were seen Jan. 17.
The home remained closed to
visitors for an extra weeks to give
residents an opportunity to get back
on their feet, she said.
Of the 64 residents, 42 had suf-
fered some symptoms, said Brown.
"We were fortunate that we had no
losses."
Though Huronlea is open, any
one who has experienced flu symp
toms in the last 48 hours is asked to
refrain from visiting.
NDP to meet in Kincardine
D. Richards moves to pork bd.
A long-time employee with the
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture
Food and Rural Affairs, Doug
Richards has accepted a newly-cre
ated position with the Ontario Pork
Producers.
Richards assumed the role of
senior field representative as of Jan.
18. His experience will be used to
enhance customer service for pro-
ducers while helping them attain
the maximum potential from their
business.
On both and individual and group
basis, Richards will be a source of
information on the Canadian Quali
ty Assurance Program, marketing,
nutrient management planning and
other current issues faced by the
industry.
Members of the Huron-Bruce
New Democrats met at the home of
Janice McKean and Art Wiebe to
discuss preparations for the coming
provincial election.
The first priority was the
upcoming nomination meeting
scheduled for Feb. 5, at the McKay
Hall in Goderich. The theme is
"Take Heart" and in addition to the
usual nomination fare of candidates
and speeches there will be a party
with dancing and refreshments to
celebrate the people who make up
our communities. Plans were made
to distribute posters for the evening
and to arrange car pools to attend.
McKean expressed her concern
that the Harris government cuts
were hitting women particularly
hard and that women are having to
pick up the pieces across the
community. She said the tax cut
Harris keeps talking about is a joke
when she looks at the hidden costs
from service cuts and downloaded
expenses which are being borne b.y
local municipalities.
McKean is organizing a
campaign to reach out to women in
Huron-Bruce.
Tony McQuail, a declared
candidate for the NDP nomination,
spoke on how the NDP runs local
campaigns using volunteers and
raising its campaign funds locally.
He reported that there is a
provincial election training school
scheduled for mid February and
that following it there will be a
Huron-Bruce training school in
March.
He pointed out that because the
election period has been shortened
to 28 days more organizing work
needs to be done before the election
is called.