Loading...
The Citizen, 1998-09-30, Page 9DID YOU KNOW... E._ OOH CIE The North Huron Credit Union invests your deposits into the local communities? DID YOU KNOW... The North Huron Credit Union has grown from $1,500,000 to $31,500,000 in assets over the last 10 years? Would you like to participate in our success and get a better return for your money? Here's your opportunity. Ask our staff at The North Huron Credit Union about the SPECIAL SHARE OFFERING available for a limited time only. THE NORTH HURON CREDIT UNION 8 Alfred St., Wingham (519) 357-2311 THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1998. PAGE 9. Letter to the Editor School board seeks public's help to keep schools open THE EDITOR Dear Supporters of Public Education: You will soon hear, if you have not already, that the Avon Maitland District School Board, along with most of the new school boards in the-province, is embarking on a review of its pupil accommodation which may result in a number of school closures. Although we review our accommodations on a regular basis, this year is different. The provincial - government has established a universal per pupil space allocation. If a school board exceeds this allocation, that is, if it maintains, more school space and keeps open more schools than that designated by the province, that school board suffers two significant negative consequences. Firstly, the government will not fund the maintenance of the "excess" and therefore funds would have to be diverted from other budget areas. Secondly, if the board does not, by Dec. 31 announce which schools it will close effective June 30, then there will be, in effect, no provincial funding to build additions or new schools where they are needed for the foreseeable future. These conditions apply uniformly to all school boards, rural boards and urban boards alike. The Avon Maitland District School board, like the Perth County and- Huron County Boards of Education before it, is extremely cost conscious and cost efficient. The former boards had always been involved in sharing transportation with their coterminous board and have implemented cost saving measures such as extended school bus runs. Expensive programs such as paid noon hour supervision have not been in effect. We are prepared to be and have been economical where needed. We recognize that some schools may need to he closed. However, we also believe that the "one shoe fits all" approach to funding educa- tion, based on provincial spending average, does not recognize that boards such as ours have always been economical and therefore have almost no flexibility to move funds around. We further believe that the needs of rural school districts, with low population density, large territory and one-school communi- ties, are not adequately served by the cookie-cutter approach currently being used to fund public education. For example, the government implies through its funding model that a typical elementary school would have 250 students. Our District currently operates 19 of 48 elementary schools with fewer than 250 students because the area served is so large and the community is so spread out. Many of our students already spend an hour on the bus to school and another hour going home. How much longer can they be expected to ride when schools are closed? Closing schools by itself results in only relatively small savings — the students must be still taught in Other schools, most if not all the teacher positions will be transferred with them, texts and supplies are still required. There will, of course, he savings in building maintenance and some savings through staffing reductions. But the cost to the students in travelling farther to school is not measured in the funding formula. The cost to small communities which have only one school is not included in the funding formula. In a city, if one school is closed, then attendance boundaries are shifted and another reasonably close school receives the student. In much of our District, the school is also the meeting place, the community centre. When it closes, a small community may begin to unravel, as people move in order to be close to schools, with a resulting impact on the economy and on other social agencies and services. The public school board must serve all who wish to enroll and offers a full range of academic, technical and special education. The needier the student, whether through home circumstances, physical disability or developmental challenge, the more costly is the service we have to provide. - The new district board already receives less money than two predecessor boards combizted, a loss far greater than any savings which can be achieved through merging two operating systems. In 1997 the two predecessor boards had combined net expenditures of $125.4 million. However, there were increased costs due to significant dollars required for retirement gratuities and legislated increases for special education that the net expenditure level will use to $127.3. Unfortunately projected funding at $124.5 will fall short of these spending levels. A further reduction is scheduled for next school year. We believe this is simply not fair to the students of the Avon Maitland District School Board nor to the communities and we ask your support to redress this situation. All we ask is our fair share for our students, which requires recognition of the rural nature of most of this district. If you agree, please call or write Helen Johns, MPP Huron County, Constituency Office, P.O. Box 520,, 388 Main Street, Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 or phone 519-235-4920 and Bert Johnson, MPP Perth County, Constituency Office, 556 Huron Street, Stratford, Ontario NSA 5T9 or phone 519-272-0600, the Minister of Education and Training, Dave Johnson, Mowat Block, Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario M7A 1L2 at 416-325--2600 and Premier Mike Harris, Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario M7A 1L2 at 416-325-1941. A sample letter which we invite you to personalize .any way you wish, is available by contacting the board administration office or your trustees and send to your MPP, the Minister of Educa- tion and Training or the Premier. If you would like to discuss this announcement, please contact your school trustee: •Huron Area 4 South, Bob Allan, phone: 519-236-7467, e-mail: bob_allan@ femail.av onmai tlaind.on.ca • Perth East, Wendy Anderson, phone: 519-271-7458, e-mail: wendy_anderson@fernail.avonmaitland. on.ca • Huron Area 2 Central, Abby Armstrong, phone: 519-565-5361, e-mail: abby_armstrong@fcmail. avonmaitland.on.ca • Huron Area I Northwest, Vicki Culbert, phone: 519-529-7571, e- mail: vi cki_cul ben@ (email. avonmaitland.on.ca • City of Stratford, Ray Ford, phone: 519-273-1464, e-mail: ray_ford@fcmail.avonmaitland.on.ea • Huron Area 3 Northeast, Colleen Schenk, phone: 519-357-1066, e- mail: colleen_schenk@ fcmail. avonmaitland.on.ca • City of Stratford, Atje Tuyten, phone: 519-273-0201, e-mail: atje_tuyten@fcmail.avonmaitland.on.ca • West Perth, Perth South & Town of St. Marys, Leslie Wood, phone: 519-393-6796, e-mail: leslie_wood@ fcmail.avonmaitland.on.ca • Town of North Perth, currently vacant, contact any of the above. Thank you for your help in supporting public education in the Avon Maitland District School Board. Abby Armstrong, Board Chair. Rural needs of school districts not served by cookie-cutter approach MPP responds to remarks THE EDITOR, Editorial Letter to the Trustees; It was with great sadness that I read the document prepared by employees of the Avon-Maitland School board, that was forwarded to me by constituents. There is no question that we thust address the issue of declining enrollment in the Counties of Huron and Perth and trustees of the past have only studied the issue, but school closures should be la last consideration, rather than the first. Declining enrollment presents real problems that affect real people. This is not about politics — it is about your kids and mine. The least we can do is provide clear, honest data to everyone involved. Everyone in the county is aware that the student population has declined by over 500 students in the last 10 years, and in fact we have more than 2,000 student spaces empty in the two counties. Having talked to former trustees this week, they advised me that for years both boards have had discussions about how to rectify this issue. So what has happened this year, to alter the board's inaction? The employees of the board, would have.us believe that if decisions are not made by Dec. 31, serious consequences befall the board. The truth is that if the board at Dec. 31, has excess capacity they will not be eligible for funds to build new schools. I believe that this is good public policy. Gone are the days when boards could build a new school when a neighbouring school had excess space. In our board there are two schools that are substantially overcrowded and they are in Listowel and Stratford. It seems to me that the trustees should consider alternative to new schools. For example, adjacent schools might be used to handle the overflow in Stratford, since there are a number of schools within a small geographic distance and in Listowel, the high school and the two elementary schools could be utilized in a more optimal manner. The question trustees, parents, students and taxpayers must ask themselves is, is there a problem if we cannot build a school next year? I do not believe so. The employees of the board, Continued on page 10 Letter to the editor Continued from page 4 guests. The service will be attended by various police officers in the regions of Waterloo, Wellington, Huron and Bruce as well as wardens of some areas. Each participating family has been asked to bring a 5" x 7" framed photo of their loved one(s). MADni Huron/Bruce has been asked to extend an invitation to anyone in this area who is a victim of drunk driving. Please call Sharon Lee Wideman at 519-884- 6285 for more information and to be part of this special evening. Sincerely, Lynne Magee, President MADD Huron/Bruce Chapter Wingham, Ontario NOG 2W0 519-357-4552.