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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1998-09-30, Page 1071'^Wfi\, Seafor-th's Fall Fair Home Craft, School, Grain & Field Crop entries to be in by 12 NOON 12:00 Judging above FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9 PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1998. School board Large crowd on hand to hear decision on closures By Victoria Jackson Clinton News-Record Staff More than 250 concerned residents of Huron and Perth Counties attended the Sept. 22 meeting of the Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) to hear the board's decision on possible school closures. They were doomed to disappointment. After much discussion by the trustees, and a presentation by Deb Sholdice, chair of the Student Advisory Council (SAC) for Clinton Public School (CPS), the board opted to table the motion until the board meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at the board's Stratford office. Sholdice asked the board to help concerned residents figure out the best way to fight the closures. "As parents and taxpayers, we need you to lead us as to how to approach the ministry," Sholdice said. "As a parent and a taxpayer I realize there is a need to eliminate costs from the system." Janet Baird-Jackson, superintendent of corporate operations and information technology for the AMDSB said the government formula for funding to facilities is based on a dollar amount for square footage and another dollar amount for pupils. "Given then that we have no other means, we either reduce our standards for cleanliness or we reduce sources by diverting money from other areas. The other approach is to reduce square footage," Baird-Jackson said. She added that in some areas the board covers -there is growth, however until the board's schools are "at or exceeding capacity, we do not qualify for the same amount of funding." The board has three options of schools to be reviewed for closure. Abby Armstrong, AMDSB chair, told the group that the board has sent out a letter to SAC chairs, Business Improvement Associations (BIAs), churches and any other organizations or institutions that the board believes value the lifestyle these communities have. "If you do not accept what is being forced on us, we need your understanding and support. There seems to be a tremendous amount of support for this issue, but we need me," she said. Armstrong added that the communities need recognition from the ministry that rural Ontario is not downtown Toronto. School Trustee Wendy Anderson addressed the crowd about her frustration. "I cannot put into words how frustrating this is for me," Due to the resignation of Trustee Philip Baumgarten the Avon Maitland District School Board is seeking candidates for appointment to complete the remaining two years of his term. To be eligible, applicants must be a Canadian Citizen, 18 years of age, a resident of Huron or Perth County, and a public school elector. Employees of the board, or the spouse of an employee of the Anderson said. She added that it is time "to let the powers that be in Toronto know that this is not an acceptable solution. We have a lot of space now, so we close schools, then we may lose students who are unhappy, and then there will be more excess space again." board are not eligible. Qualified applicants interested in seeking this appointment should submit.a personal resume and statement of reasons for seeking the appointment to: Lorne Rachlis, Director of Education and Secretary-Treasurer of the Board, Avon Maitland District School board, 210 Water Street, Stratford, Ontario NSA 3C5 by 12 noon on Wednesday, Oct. 7. Johns responds to board comments School board seeks trustee Continued from page 9 further state that the board has received reduced funds from the government and are therefore unable to fund school operations as they have previously. From the board's filings with the Ministry of Education, in 1997 the Avon- Maitland board received $126,100,000 from the Ministry of Education with approximately $1 million going towards one-time computer costs. In 1998, the board has agreed with the Ministry of Education that they will receive $126,700,000 and negotiations are ongoing, for example additional dollars for rural transportation costs, plus they received $1.1 million for the sale of properties. Not only does the board have the same dollars as last year, they have more dollars available to educate OUT children than in 1997. I suggested in a letter of May 11, 1998 that the previous director join me at the Ministry to verify the financial issues, however, he did not accept the invitation. I now suggest that the board members entertain my invitation because I believe that it is imperative to understand the issues prior to making decisions that will affect our community. It is true that the Government of Ontario is concerned with the quality of education and has entrenched in legislation dollar allocations to the classroom that cannot be altered, however the government has stated that non- classroom spending can be reallocated. In the example of the Avon Maitland School board dollars could be allocated from administration to school operations. The government is concerned with streamlining systems and it seems to me that_having duplicated responsibilities with both a Director and Associate Director, and the Superintendent of Finance and the Superintendent of Business Operation is repetitive and unnecessary for less than 20,000 students. I am sure as a trustee you would like to consider the administrative requirements prior to considering closing schools. With respect to the school operations budget that was submitted to the Ministry of Education in 1997, the board submitted school operations of $11,200,000. In 1998 the Ministry of Education has agreed to pay the board $11,700,0.00. The Avon Maitland board has budgeted $13,800,000 for school operations in this year. Trustees would want to consider why the budget increased by 23 per cent. In the budget, presented to me, there is $3,200,000 for repairs and leasehold improvements. I am sure that the trustees would like to analyze this specific expenditure to ensure that those dollars are necessary, when the expenditure results in school closures. I know that there are schools where the trustees have concerns about health and safety and the quality of education that is delivered and I believe parents, students, teachers, and taxpayers also share these concerns. _I respectfully request that the trustees consider all options to school closures. As parents yourselves and as taxpayers, "you expect every other means of squeezing inefficiencies out of the system will be analyzed prior to suggesting closures. Yours truly, Helen Johns, MPP Huron. Thank you Crystal Taylor, representing Blyth Legion presents a cheque to Blyth Scouting in the amount of $550. Pictured are, back row, from left: Leader Dave Cartwright and Tyler, John Battye, Mike Moore, Jim Ritchie, Allison George, Dave Kelly, Brendan Purcell. Front: Adam Jackson, Brett Mason, Markus Redmond, Matthew Purcell, Shawn Drost, Allan Storey, Matt Goodall, Leader Lavern Clark. October 8, 9, 10, 1998 Fair Admission'is FREE - donations to the Seaforth Food Bank would be appreciated EVERY DAY • Commercial Exhibits n Livestock IS Home Craft Exhibits fi Old McDonald's Farm II School Exhibits ▪ Canada's Magic Midway THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8 ( kV' All Day - 4-H Achievement Programs & Huron County Championship 4-H Show CKNX Broadcasting on Location - 10:30 a.m. - Parade with "Klash the Clown" Theme "Ontario Fairs -Yours to Discover" Leaving Optimist Park Official Opening by Fall Fair Ambassador Immediately after Parade COMMERCIAL EXHIBITS OPEN - Klash the Clown on grounds all day 12:00 noon - Judging of Herefords & Limousins 12:00 noon - Youth Activities 12:00 noon- Judging of Light & Heavy Horses 1:00 p.m. - Judging of Sheep 1:00 p.m. - Pedal Pull Registration 1:30 p.m. - Pedal Pull 2 - 4 p.m. - ice Skating 8:00 p.m. - Variety Show - Klash the Clown International Dancing Pork Carcass Auction 9:00 p.m. • _ SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10 8:30 a.m. - Broomball 9:30 a.m. - Pet Show 11:00 a.m. - Dickie Bird aka Richard Knechtel 12:00 noon - Judging of Charolais, Simmentals, Blonde & Jerseys 12 - 4 p.m. - Backhoe Basketball 1:00 p.m. - Pedal Pull Registration 1:30 p.m. - Pedal Pull 2:00 p.m. - Baby Show 3:00 p.m, - Dickie Bird aka Richard Knechtel 4:00 p.m. - Bike Draw