No preview available
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1998-07-29, Page 6If you've been getting a busy signal... we're sorry... We know that many of our customers have been tryingto call us about billing services and power outages. And, we realize that many of you have not been able to get through... even on your second or third try. Here's why you may be having trouble reaching us. With our switch to a new bill and new payment schedules, along with our regular daily service inquiries, we are experiencing an unprecedented, high number of calls to our Customer Communications Centre. Although we did add staff to handle more calls than usual, we are unable to keep up with the high number of calls coming in. For this, we'd like to apologize to each and every caller. We know that many customers have waited a long time to speak to a customer service representative... that others gave up while on hold... and that many more of you simply can't get through to us. Don't worry if you can't get through. We are doing our best to keep up and answer as many calls as we can. In the meantime, we'd like to assure you that you won't incur any additional charges as a result of delays in reaching us. Our customer service representatives will make sure that you are treated fairly and that any questions you may have are answered. Again, we are sorry for any inconvenience. Christopher Bieber Vice-President Customer Care Services Ontario Hydro Customer Communications Centre, P.O. Box 5700, Markham, Ontario, L3R 1C8 Fax: 1-888-625-4401 E-mail: www.onhydro.com Phone: 1-888-664-9376 PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 1998. AMDSB allows retired teachers to substitute By Lee Ann Waterman Special to The Citizen The Avon Maitland District School Board has decided to include retired teachers on its new occasional teachers list. Because the board has hired "more than 20, but less than 40 new teachers for the upcoming school year, many former occasional teachers, it needs to replenish the list, explained Jeanne Dionne, director of human resources for AMDSB. "There are many retired teachers who would be valuable additions to that list," she told trustees at a board meeting on July 14. The former Perth Board of Education had established a policy that would not allow retired teachers to be included on the occasional teachers list, Trustee Wendy Anderson, chair of the former Perth board, defended that policy and voiced her hesitancy to go against it now. "When that policy was brought into the last term of the Perth board, it was one of the most publicly popular decisions we made in the three years we were on the board" said Anderson. "I'm loathe to give it up, but I don't see much choice." The former Huron board had included retirees on the occasional teachers list. Trustee Atje Tuyten suggested that the new policy include a stipulation that retired teachers only be called if everyone else on the list was unavailable. Board chair Abby Armstrong replied that it was the role of the Principal of a school, not the board, to decide who was the right teacher to call in when the need arose. "I wouldn't want to hamper them (the principals) in any way to make, those decisions," said Armstrong. Anderson pointed out that the cost of paying retired occasional teachers is at the highest level -on the salary grid. Dionne explained that was only the case when the retired teachers were hired for a long-term substitution and that there were restrictions in place to ensure that did not happen. School board hires director of education The Avon Maitland District School Board has announced the appointment of Lorne Rachlis as director of education and secretary- treasurer of the board effective Aug. 17. Rachlis began his teaching career with the North York Board of Education in 1971 as a secondary school teacher. He was employed there for 13 years in many capacities, including as a department head and principal of continuing education. While employed at the North Minor questions beer tent operators Continued from page 4 shouldn't let any of them in the beer gardens. In my opinion this town is based on last names. If you're not well known or don't have parents involved in the community you're a nobody. I was very angry and upset when I was approached in the beer gardens by some people who claimed to be on the executive, and took my beer. As this was taking place I noticed that the table to the left of me was full of minors. How can these people serve beer when they don't treat it like a bar but rather a popularity contest? I believe they were allowed to stay only because of who they and their parents are. I suggest if you want these beer gardens to continue, the bartenders should take a course on how to treat people fairly and not set different rules for different people. Yours truly, Confused Minor. Drain debate continues Continued from page 3 conflict would arise. Stewart read a portion of the act, indicating the councillors could be considered not in conflict. Lawrie said he had previously declared a conflict until a reading of the act. Bailey tried to close out the dis- cussion saying that whatever the decision it would be accepted with no hard feelings. If a ratepayer did- n't like it they could campaign in the next election. Howevtr, a gallery member rebutted that there won't be a next election. Reinink said he would not give up on the issue. York Board of Education he received his Masters of Education Degree and his Doctoral Degree in Education Administration. In 1984, he joined the Ottawa Board of Education, serving as the superin- tendent of continuing education. He held various superintendent portfolios during his time at Ottawa, including responsibility for school supervision, curriculum and school operations. Rachlis also served as assistant director of education for an interim period in 1997. He was heavily involved with the Local Education Improvement Committee when the Ottawa and Carlton boards were amalgamating, serving as the administrative liaison. Over the years, Rachlis has participated in many provincial organizations related to education, including the Ontario Public Supervisory Officials' Association, the Eastern Ontario Staff Development Network and the Association of Adult and Continuing Education School Board Administrators. He has also been very involved in his local community in Ottawa, serving a wide variety of organizations. In addition to the excellent education and experience he possesses, Rachlis said he is very excited to be taking on the challenge of helping form the District School Board.