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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1998-05-06, Page 1Sports Brussels Bulls set positive note with new exec, coaching staff The North Huron itizen Vol. 14 No 18 Wednesday, May 6, 1998 70e + 5e GST 750 There waiting Gary Haist as Dan Pigeon drew some rather bemused and amused looks from the rest of his party (Anne Elliott, centre, as Mary Marples and Kathleen Babcock as Denise Pigeon) in this scene from the Rob Bundy penned Waiting for G. Doe. The fundraising comedy played for two nights to a packed house at Memorial Hall. The fun began at dinner as guests waited to surprise G.Doe, then picked up on stage, as everyone prepared for the guest of honour's eminent arrival. Board compromises on JK See page 9 Brussels council seeks public input on policing Madill Drama Guild rehearses for 'Broadway' By Bonnie Gropp Citizen staff Brussels councillors will be talk- ing to residents before reaching their decision on police service for the village. After a second meeting with Wingham Police Services Chief Jim Dore on Monday night, council agreed to gather input from the public on whether their preference was to stay with the OPP or con- tract their services with Wingham. Clerk-Treasurer Donna White informed council that the price for OPP service had changed from $170 per household for Brussels to $208. Wingham's proposal would be for a slightly lower amount. Following Dore's presentation Councillor Mary Stretton said that she wished there was a way to be comparing apples to apples. Dore responded, "Good luck. I don't By Trish Wilkinson Clinton News-RiEord Staff Students concerned about the future of their local schools can rest assured that there will be no closures in the district for at least one year. In a report that outlined strategies for dealing with the Avon Maitland District School Board's (AMDSB) headquarters question and school accommodation review, one of the approved recommendations was that there would be "no action taken on any school closure matters for the school year 1998-99." "The board is trying to act in a sensitive manner," Board Chair Abby Armstrong said. "We'd like people to know what is happening." The report, which was approved by trustees at the April 28 meeting, also states that 'no action for a permanent headquarters location be taken for at least two years, pending the availability of an appropriate alternate site." "This planning framework is presented to the board to help trustees and administration define specific courses of action," Armstrong said in the information report. "It is designed also to alleviate public anxiety about a number of critical issues and to reassure the community of Avon Maitland that a longer term, consultative approach will be taken on the matters of headquarters location and school accommodation review." The recommendations follow months of controversy regarding where the board's new headquarters think you can do it." Stretton then stressed that she just wanted to make sure whatever decision she reached was really what was best for the ratepayers. After Dore left the meeting, Reeve Ralph Watson asked council if they were prepared to make a decision. While Councillor Greg Wilson said he did not have any "qualms" about going with the Wingham force, as after the three- year contract ended they could decide to return to OPP, he also felt public input was needed. Councillor Joe Seili also agreed and suggested that council be pre- pared to make a final decision one way or the other at a special meet- ing May 26. Dore had said he would like to be informed by the end of the month, though he expects it would take until Oct. 1 for the expanded ser- vice to be up and running. would be located, and if it would involve the closing of a school. After several reports, public meetings and community input, a board site-review committee had recommended closing Seaforth District High School and turning the building into the new headquarters. However, this recommendation was later withdrawn and instead, trustees agreed unanimously to defer all discussion and decision making on both the new headquarters and school closures for an indefinite period of time. Now, following the approval of this latest report, the board has narrowed this period of time down to a two-year study period where they will conduct "a thoughtful and systematic school review process" for all sites where enrollment, building capacity or other circumstances may be creating a concern. "The review of school system accommodation needs to be conducted in an informal fashion, in partnership with the local school communities, resorting only to a formal review where serious concerns are raised at a future date," the report continued. Trustees also recognized the necessity to re-organize headquarters staff in order to conduct the business of the new board, and approved the recommendation that "senior administration be authorized to re- deploy staff and re-locate various departments within the two existing Education Centres or to other appropriate loCations, to address current' operational problems." By Trish Wilkinson Clinton News-Record Staff Local trustees have finally reached a truce over the debate whether to offer junior kindergarten (JK) across the district or instead establish a special early learning program in Perth schools. In a unanimous decision April 28, trustees for the Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) noted to expand JK to Perth county schools, while leaving the door open for communities to pilot the government's new early learning program. "I acknowledge that JK is a sure thing," Trustee Leslie Wood said, adding however that she would encourage all Perth schools to look at the possibility of the early learning opportunities. The passed recommendation, which now- allows for the implementation of JK in a number of Perth schools for the 1998/99 school year, was amended to include "where the board trustee or trustees is or are in agreement, and the school community is supportive, the administration may attempt to implement a program under the early learning grant initiative instead of JK in any AMDSB school." The issue of whether or not to implement JK is one that has been ongoing since February. Trustees had decided at that time to continue the existing program in Huron schools, but to wait until they received funding information before deciding on the fate of Perth schools. The province did come through with the required funding to start the program in Perth, but complicated the issue by offering the board a choice between JK or a new early learning grant. This new program, which would help fund programs for students in senior kindergarten to Grade 3, eventually won the majority of trustees' support and the motion to implement JK in Perth schools was defeated in a 5-4 vote. However, the issue did hot die there. Three days after the April 14 vote, Trustee Vicki Culbert submitted a request for the question to be reconsidered at last Tuesday's meeting. "I feel the topic warrants to be revisited," Culbert told the board April 28. The board agreed, and voted in favour of rediscussing the original issue. Associate Director John Patterson then brought forward some additional information, including a report on the early learning opportunities grant. He noted that since the April 14 meeting, a group of educators and one trustee had met and brainstormed possible ways to use the grant should the funding be approved. Some of the ideas, Patterson continued, included speech/language services, literacy initiatives and curriculum resources. "There are some interesting ideas AMDSB promises no closures —yet