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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-12-15, Page 1Community News I Education IIKM. Legion hosts tea Kids take F -Zf Hullett students Mh for Year of the wagon, ride w*n f°r essays, l£ B O Older Person with Santa fc h 1 ii posters, poems See page 2 See page 3 See page 11 Seaforth community challenges school bd. By Susan Hundertmark Special to The Citizen Closing Seaforth schools will “seriously jeopardize" current talks with a developer who plans an investment of “well over $10 mil­ lion" and the creation of over 100 jobs in Seaforth. Mayor Dave Scott told the Avon Maitland District School Board last Tuesday. “Schools are a key criteria to locat­ ing this plant. Is the board willing to pay dollar for dollar of the economic devastation to this community that closing schools will cause?” he said. Twelve of the 16 delegations at the first of two meetings last week devoted by the board to hearing del­ egations on the school closure issue, spoke to protest the possible closure of the three Seaforth-area schools. On Wednesday night, another six spoke against the closure of Seaforth schools. Several speakers representing the Seaforth business community told trustees and an audience of close to 300 people that Seaforth District High School is a key component in the economic health of the town. Joe Steffler, of the Seaforth Business Retention and Expansion committee told trustees they will be “directly responsible” for destroying the town's economy if they close local schools and asked for an inno­ vative “win-win” solution, similar to the one that saved local hospitals. Hospital leaders came together more than a year ago and formed a cost-sharing partnership that kept hospitals in this region open despite threats of closure by the Ministry of Health. “Results of a survey we did showed very clearly that education and health care keep a community viable. The ability to offer educa­ tional facilities attracts new business and industry,” he said. He added he’s very concerned that expansions currently being consid­ ered will be withdrawn if Seaforth schools are closed. A letter from Paul Nichol of the Huron Business Development Corporation in Seaforth told trustees that school closings “impinge upon our community’s ability to generate economic growth over the long term.” His letter said that while there are signs of revitalization with self­ employment and new business start­ ups surpassing provincial levels and an influx of young families with small children into Huron County, the “current pressure to close rural schools may undermine these encouraging trends.” Njchol also said in his letter that despite the significant economic shortcomings of locating businesses in Huron County, entrepreneurs have chosen to do so because of the per­ ception of a better quality of life, which includes “the accessibility, accountability and proximity of local schools.” Parent, Karen Campbell-Taylor listed the number of community groups and the amount of time and money they have invested in Seaforth and told trustees of the con­ cerns each group, including the Seaforth Agricultural Society. Curling Club, Optimists and Lions Club, have about local school clo­ sures. She said that $16,000 to $19, 000 is given to Seaforth District High School students annually as awards, scholarships and bursaries, and wor­ ried how local schools will continue to benefit from them if the school is closed. “Closing schools will be creating a multi-million dollar problem in this community. Help us turn this train of mass destruction around. It doesn't make any sense to destroy communi­ ties and kill this town,” she said. Campbell-Taylor listed the 133 commercial and industrial opera­ tions in Seaforth with a total assess­ ment of $17 million and total taxes of $582, 807 a year. “Imagine the amount of money and jobs leaving Seaforth if you close our schools,” she said. Former SPS council chair Lisa Campbell asked trustees and admin­ istration to look at the faces in the crowd to see whose communities the school closures would be destroying. “Who among you lives here? You come to work here, you draw your paycheque here but will any of you be affected? Not one of the trustees or senior staff will be directly-affect­ ed by any of the closures. Is it really a coincidence it’s not happening to your communities?” she asked. Carhpbell said trustees and admin­ istration have experienced so little of Seaforth other than “catered lunch­ eons” and said that parents trying to save local schools have been “set up to fail by the board.” “We will not allow you to treat our children like herds of animals,” she said. SPS council chair Susan Arts asked the board for one good reason they couldn’t sit down with Seaforth parents and come up with a better plan. “I have a hard time believing that everything should be axed in Seaforth and it tends to make me believe you have your own agenda and are trying to ram it through,” she said. Seaforth parent Daniel Pnmeau told the board that while he left town after graduating from Seaforth high school, he and his wife returned to raise their children in town because of its "quality schools.” He said that if local public schools close, he'll be forced to send his children to the Catholic system because the board will not guarantee Seaforth schools will not continue to close if the board's scenario of mov­ ing elementary students to the high school comes to pass. “You are employees of every one of us here which puts you in a truly enviable position since it’s the only job I’ve heard of where you don't have to listen to your boss,” said Primeau. Charles Smith, president of the SDHS student success foundation, predicted that closing Seaforth’s high school to increase enrolment in surrounding schools will backfire. Continued on page 6 Letting visitors know Village of Blyth employees Murray Siertsema, left, and Bill Bromley took advantage of great weather Monday morning to erect signs at the north and south ends of the village proclaiming it a Communities in Bloom provincial champion. The signs were possible thanks to donations of time and materials from community members and businesspeople including Gary Courtney, Barney Stewart, Nan Gore, Nancy Hakkers, Lisa deGans, Carol Gross, Chris Courtney, Siertsema and Bromley. Posthumous honour bestowed The late Jane Bromley of RR1, Belgrave, was honoured posthu­ mously at the Ontario Case Manager's Association (OCMA) annual workshop, Saturday, Nov. 27 at the Sheraton Hotel in Toronto. Bromley was one of two recipients to receive the 1999 Leader of Distinction Award. (The other recip­ ient was Susan James of Listowel). As a Leader of Distinction Bromley has been identified and rec­ ognized by her peers and colleagues as a person who made distinguished contributions to the professional development of case management in her community and to the associa­ tion. “Jane’s support and enthusiasm for case management won the support and respect of her peers and col­ leagues throughout the case manage­ ment community and in the Community Care Access Centre for Huron. OCMA recognizes her gen­ erous gift of time, leadership and service. Jane’s dedication to her clients and colleagues is well,docu­ mented in the nomination by her co­ workers at Huron County, her col­ leagues at Wingham hospital and supported by clients,” said Jocelyn Jones, president ot OCMA. Ethel-area woman Brussels top citizen The recipient of this year's Brussels and Area Citizen of the Year award, was recognized for filling a need wherever it may be. Beth Earl of RR2, Listowel. Grey Twp., was selected by the committee in part because her name has consistently been among the nominees. That her dedication to community is on-going earned her this year's honour. Nominators creditted Earl for her help with the church, through choir, as a leader and as superintendent of the Sunday School. Grace Smith acknowl­ edged her work in the community and how she helps the elderly. When a leader is needed for church, Earl will step in, they said Also, it was noted her outgoing personality and generous nature has earned her many friends and the respect of others.