The Citizen, 1998-09-16, Page 24PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1998.
No games at public secondary schools, but Catholic board settles
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
As contract disputes continue
between the secondary school
teachers' federation, school boards
and the provincial government, the
students are beginning to suffer.
Extracurricular activities are
being curtailed 'or eliminated all
together in many local secondary
schools as teachers protest the sec-
tion of Bill 160 which resulted in a
decrease in preparation time and an
increase in class time.
Ron Finch, principal of Listowel
District Secondary School said the
teachers' federation decided in May
or June that there would be no
extra- curricular activities and for
the most part, it has held true.
At LDSS, Finch said student
council is still meeting as he is the
staff advisor and the vice-principal
is helping organize picture day:
"The administration is looking
after some of the activities," he
said.
The same is true at Central
Huron Secondary School in Clin-
ton, where Principal Bill Gerth said
the administration is assisting the
Students where they can to keep
some events going.
Grade 9 orientation has taken
place and with the help of parent
volunteers, a dance will also be
held.
However, Gerth said there is no
activities such as band or athletics.
"With additional supervision
(required by administration), there
is only so many things we can do
along with our regular duties."
Student fees are still being col-
lected in the hopes programs will
soon begin, Gerth said. Any unused
fees will be reimbursed, but the
school wants- to continue putting a
"positive slant" on the situation.
"The kids are getting anxious to
get going. We area still optimistic.
They will be disappointed if they
don't get a kick at the can."
For Wingham's F.E. Madill Sec-
ondary School students, there are
no extracurricular activities, said
Vice-Principal Joe Jankowski.
Asked whether the absence of
programs is directly related to con-
tract disputes or simply a matter of
limited funding, Jankowski said the
two issues are tightly tied together
as the contract issues centres
around funding.
Principal Bruce Eccles at
Seaforth District High School
agrees that the resumption of activ-
ities relies on talks between the fed-
erations and the board. "And that,"
he said, "depends on the province."
There are no extracurricular
activities at the school.
The news is much brighter for
students at St. Anne's Catholic Sec-
ondary School in Clinton.
Public meetings
to follow list
Continued from page 1
the June deadline, a school to the
south which was overcrowded
would not receive monies for
expansion, he said.
A preliminary list is expected by
the Sept. 22 meeting of the board,
after which public consultation
meetings will be held.
The public will also be given the
opportunity to speak at board meet-
ings.
According to a 1997 draft report
Blyth, East Wawanosh and Grey
Central` Public Schools have low
occupancy by Ministry of Educa-
tion Standards. Brussels is consid-
ered optimum while Hullett Central
and Walton are full.
The Huron-Perth Catholic Dis-
trict School Board came to an inter-
im agreement with their teachers
Monday evening, said Director of
Education Gaetan Blanchette.
The agreement will be in place
until the end of the first term, Feb.
3, giving the board a little breathing
room to work towards a two-year
deal, he said.
With any strike action now sus-
pended, Blanchette hopes things
can get back to normal to allow sta-
bility for the students. The term
will be reorganized to make adjust-.
ments.
Blanchette said the teachers will
teach three of four classes, an area
where the board relaxed their
stance for a compromise.
Gerth said he hopes a (public
system) resolution takes place soon
and that the parties involved are
able to come to an understanding.
"The scary part is that some
(aspects) are determined by those
beyond the school and board."
In a press release from the Avon
Maitland District School Board, it
stated the board is abiding by
provincial legislation which
"requires average district secondary
class sizes to be capped at 22 and
teacher instruction time to be
increased to an average of 1,250
minutes per teacher per week."
The release also points out that
the province "provides all the
board's funding and specifies in
many cases, how the money is to be
spent.
A teacher/administration com-
mittee has been formed to review
and monitor the staffing process.
The Ontario Secondary School
Families throughout Huron
County are entering their homes in
the "Step Into Our Smoke-Free
Home" contest.
The winners of the gift certificate
to the Blyth Festival are Bonnie
Greig and family of Bluevale. Scott
Monk and family of Auburn are the
Teachers' Federation issued a news
release on the same day. Cliff
Berry, chairperson of the federa-
tions' negotiating team, said the
"board's actions underscore its
desire to hide behind a narrow
interpretation of Bill 160 rather
than seek a 'solution through bar-
gaining."
He said the "changes made to the
collective agreement drastically
alter the learning conditions of the
students."
Though in a legal strike position,
the negotiating team has told the
board they will not "escalate their
sanctions beyond the withdrawal of
voluntary activities until they have
provided the board with 24 hours
notice."
The grand prize draw for the
family trip to Niagara Falls will be
made on Friday, Oct. 2. By making
your home smoke-free ,or by
already having a smoke-free home,
you could be eligible for the family
trip or any of the eight final prizes.
If you have received your smoke=
free home kit, please return your
completed registration form to the
Take Heart Huron Project c/o
Huron County Health Unit by Sept.
31.
Call 482-3416 or 1-800-265-
5184 today to receive your kit and
contest entry form.
The winners' of the July and
August monthly draws are from
various places around Huron.
Brenda Love and family of
Goderich are the winners of a gift
certificate for the Little Inn of So far 180 families have entered
Bayfield. Karen DesJardine and the "Step Into Our Smoke-Free
family of Exeter are .excited about Home" contest. Some of the
the three-month family pool, sauna participants are interested in
and fitness membership for the quitting smoking. They feel that
Vanastra Community Centre, going outside every time they want
a cigarette will help them to cut
back.
Many people appreciated
receiving the sign for their door.
litiron families make homes smoke free
winners of a Benmiller Inn gift They see this as an easy way to let
certificate. their friends and family know that
The two winners of the _ they have made their home smoke-
combination carbon monoxide and free.
smoke detectors courtesy of Sills
Home Hardware in Seaforth are
Donna Meriam and family of
Dungannon and Susan Gerber and
family of Walton.
Mark SEPTEMBER 21 ST S 1998 on your calendar now!
BRUCE GREY HURON PERTH GEORGIAN TRIANGLE
TRAINING BOARD
HURON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
HURON TRAINING & LABOUR COALITION
present...
"Challenges in the NEW RURAL ECONOMY'
DO WE KNOW WHERE THE LOCAL ECONOMY IS HEADED?
DO WE HAVE THE SKILLS WE NEED?
HOW CAN WE PREPARE FOR THE NEXT DECADE?
join
TONY FULLER & PAUL NICHOL
to find out what YOU need to know....
Make sure YOUR VOICE is heard
OMAFRA Office, 100 Don St., CLINTON
4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Complimentary Buffet Style Dinner
DON'T DELAY
Call 1-888-774-1468 or (519) 881-2725
to RESERVE Your Spot
SEATING IS LIMITED