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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1998-04-22, Page 1Technology brings advances to hearing services See page 7 Vol. 14 No. 16 Wednesday, April 22, 1998 70e + GST 750 The North Huron itizen 414;0411 The cutting edge The humour of Blyth's Nasty Habits delighted the audience in attendance last Wednesday evening in Memorial Hall for the Blyth Lion Ladies Auxiliary's 50th anniversary. Brad Lewis appears a little apprehensive about the examination being conducted by Steve Howson, while Warren Moore keeps his eye on the proceedings. Brussels, Grey plan upgrades Feature Education War Amps, OPP bring safety message to students at Hullett See page 13 Entertainment Plays, poster previewed at Festival kickoff See page 23 AMDSB still searching for good news from prov. By Trish Wilkinson Clinton News-Record Staff Almost one month after the province announced its new education funding model, local board administrators are still having trouble finding much good news. In a presentation to the Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) last Tuesday, Director of Education Paul Carroll noted his disappointment over the way the numbers are adding up. "I am, at this time, discouraged at what is unfolding as Marilyn Marklevitz (superintendent of business) and her team do their work," Carroll said, "We are still struggling to see if we will have more money or less money than we had in the (pre- vious) boards." Carroll added that despite hav- ing the numbers since the end of March, the job of deciphering the province's new formula is far from over. "It is an extremely difficult task," he said, adding that they are still waiting for the Ministry of Education to supply the rest of.the funding information. However, Carroll said that what figures have been provided seem to contradict government claims that the new model would increase classroom spending across the province. "A report provided by the Deputy Minister for Directors of Education illustrates that the total estimated impact will actually reduce classroom spending in the AMDSB by one-half of one per cent and increase non-classroom spending by a similar nominal amount," Carroll stated about the 1998/99 school year. Following Carroll's remarks, Marklevitz, who is leading the work team evaluating the impact of the funding changes, took trustees through the board's preliminary findings. The superintendent of business noted that so far, the team has only Five area people will be among the 178 recipients of this year's Ontario Volunteer Service Awards to be presented in London's Con- vention Centre at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22. Jerry McDonnell of RR3, Blyth is being recognized for 15 years of service to the Blyth Centre for the Arts. Anne Elliott and Duncan McGregor, both of Blyth, have been acknowledged for five years continuous service to the Centre, while Erin Roulston of RR3, Blyth been able to verify $102,669,414 out of the $127,082,609 the ministry has profiled for the AMDSB for the 1998/99 school year. She noted that as more information is provided by the ministry, they hope to come much closer .to the government's numbers, adding it would be dangerous to set a budget for $127 million unless the board was sure they would be receiving all this money. "We need to clear those things up," Marklevitz said. Questions also remain, Marklevitz continued, in how the breakdown of individual grants will affect the board. She noted that there still appears to be a shortfall over $392,000 in the transportation grant, as well as more shortages estimated in the pupil accommo- dations grant. "There is no new information. It appears to be what was there a couple of weeks ago," Marklevitz said. Marklevitz said that another grant causing concern is the early learning and the junior kindergarten (JK) funding. She said that the newly announced early learning grant, which is being offered to boards who don't choose to implement JK, is supposed to be revenue neutral with the JK grant. Therefore, she continued, no matter which program the board chooses to implement, they would get the same amount of funding. However, Marklevitz said, early calculations show the board receiving over $750,000 more for the early learning grant. "These two programs are intended to be revenue neutral. However, as can be seen, a significant difference arises," the funding report stated. "Follow-up queries have been initiated with the Ministry of Education and Training to attempt to resolve this discrepancy." Marklevitz added that the AMDSB's lower- than provincial Continued on page 13 is being recognized as a youth recipient, with two or more years of volunteer service to the Centre. For 10 years of dedication to the Huron Adult Day Centre, Jack Lee of Londesboro is another award recipient, while Doris Michie of Belgrave is being acknowledged for her 25 years of volunteer ser- vice with the Wingham and District Hospital. The awards honour volunteers from Middlesex, Elgin, Perth, Huron and Oxford Counties. Burgess Street residents in Brus- sels may be just weeks away from final approval for upgrades to their road. A meeting held April 15, drew representatives from seven of the 11 properties on Burgess Street and Victoria Street, to discuss the installation of water and sewer lines and paving. The road, which runs from Coun- ty Road 16, towards the conserva- tion area is within Brussels though residents on the east side actually live in Grey Twp. Co-operation between the two municipalities has allowed the pro- ject, estimated to cost $300,000, to proceed, said Grey Twp. Clerk- Treasurer Brad Knight. An impetus for the politicians to go ahead was also the prospect of amalgamation. There were com- ments that a small project such as this, with few people affected, might be passed over in a larger entity. It was the general consensus at the meeting that road paving, water lines, storm and sanitary sewers should be completed, he said. The road work will be paid for jointly by Brussels and Grey Twp., Brussels PUC will work on water line upgrades and the owners will contribute for the storm and sani- tary sewers. Landowners present asked that a letter detailing costs be sent to everyone involved, with replies and comments to be returned to the municipal offices by May 1. Once those responses have been received and are supportive, it will only be a matter of passing resolu- tions at the May 4 meetings of both councils for the project to get underway. Knight said the hope is that exca- vation will be done this summer along with the sewer and water lines. Paving will be done next year to allow time for the road to settle. `We need to clear things up' 5 area volunteers to receive award Kristyn Gerth advances to national Fair It was an award-winning day for Melt II entry. She also captured the local public school students as they special AECL Award. competed in the regional science Heather Black took second in the fair recently. same class with Grain, Grain and Held in Goderich, April 7, four Amanda Palmer placed third with East Wawanosh students, took Compost and their Effects. home honours with Kristyn Gerth Paul Walker captured second in of Belgrave advancing to the Cana- the computer classification with da-wide contest. Training Tutor '98. He also earned Gerth placed first in the Grade 8 a special award for best computer biology division with her Mystery project.