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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1998-11-18, Page 227T7YTTYYTTYYTYYTY77 ft 1st Annual Beef Barbecue Fundraising Dinner Grey Central School, Ethel Sunday, November 22, 1998 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Adults - $9.00 Children (6-12) - $4.50 Six & Under - Free Advance tickets only For tickets call Marie Blake 291-5466 or Peggy Keffer 887-9100 ► ► ► I eritass presents... THEATRE INANEILS * These East Coast Music Award Sensations bring their own unique blend to their traditional celtic music. These multi-instrumentalists put on an upbeat, rousing performance. TOWN / HALL Z' Friday, November 20/98, 8:00 p.m. Proudly supported by: Tickets Only $18.00 Sponsored by: 4.1101.1"P( Call the Box Office 357-4082 BOB FOXTON FUELS LTD. rickets available as Rrian's In-nurr. Ernie King NI osic. Wingkun & C;oderich and J.D V.Iriery Howick Mutual Insurance Company and the Wingham HOME FOR - Nov. 29th CHRISTMAS & Dec. 3rd Lawrence Gowan - Dec. 4th PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1998. Controversy surrounds AMDSB property sale Another controversy is brewing for the Avon Maitland District School Board over a real estate deal. When the Huron and Perth boards amalgamated last year, an effort was made to eliminate excess buildings. However, the sale of one such building in Stratford is raising questions. The Britannia Street building was sold to a numbered company, owned by Brian Shackleton and Brad Lotz, in June for $215,000. Just six days after the close of the deal in October, the pair resold the facility to Margie McCarthy of the Montessori school for $335,000. Not only are there questions about whether the board obtained a market value for the building before the sale, but also about the sale itself. According to a report in The Stratford Beacon Herald, Nov. 6, both McCarthy and the numbered company had initially bid on the property. McCarthy had offered $213,000 while Lotz and Shackle- ton had bid $200,000. Lotz and Shackleton were then asked to sign back a higher offer. Throughout the summer, McCarthy said she worked on a deal with the men and is pleased to have finally acquired the property. However, she questions the process of the board. Though further information has not been available from board per- sonnel, Chair Abby Armstrong told The Beacon, the deal had been made to best suit the board's needs, including issues such as closing date and the removal of articles from the building. E. Wawanosh classes play volleyball By Leanne Mullin and Nicole Lessard The Grade 5/6 class is enjoying listening to their teacher read them "Bridge to Terabithia." They had a test in social studies. They enjoy taking part in gym. They are finished with soccer and basketball and now are working on volleyball. The Grades 6-8 are going to be starting houseleague volleyball. On Oct. 6 some students from Grades 1 - 8 went to the Wingham Golf Course for Cross Country. The students from the Grade 5/6 class were: Joshua Bruton, Kyle Proctor, Nicole Meier, Nicole Lessard, Levi Cook, Craig Folkard, Leanne Elston, Lindsay Malhiot, Jeremy Robinson, and Trevor Hopf. On Wednesday, Oct. 28 some students from the Grade 5/6 class went to the Wingham Seniors' Day Centre to pick up their MADD prizes for the poster and essay contest. Lee Losch and Kevin Frieburger celebrated their Ilth birthdays. There are two new students in the class named Nikki Van De Walle and Mark Campbell. .The Grade 5/6's have as their math teacher, Mrs. Webster, their French teacher, Miss Gardiner, and their classroom teacher, Miss Schaefer. McCarthy said she was never asked about a closing date and that it would have been flexible. She also indicated through her agent for the deal, that she would have been willing to pay more for the property. Though the heat has been turned down on the school closure issue, parent groups are still boiling over the apparent lack of involvement afforded them by the Avon Mait- land District School Board. Three delegations confronted the McCarthy suggested that the board may not have wanted to sell - to a private school, but if that were the case, the "in trust" offer, through her agent, was in some way not honoured. She was unable to find out anything about the sale board at the Nov. 10 meeting in Stratford, saying they were being left out of any decisions regarding closures. Bonnie LaFontaine, school coun- cil chair for Colborne Public process as she was told it had been discussed in camera. Armstrong said the board did not know the owner of the offer and that another board property has been sold to another private school during the same time period. School represented 75 parents from both counties, who have developed their own accommodation review committee. Because of the feeling of exclu- sion, the committee told the board they will be conducting a parallel process to look at each school in the system. In response to the board's new Feb. 28 deadline for the creation of an accommodation list, Jane Finan of South Perth Centennial school council said there is a credibility problem. "It is painfully obvious that you have an agenda to close schools and intend to carry it out. You lis- By Lisa Schnock and Sam Clark Last week Mrs. Henry's Grade 1/2 class were doing a booklet on simple machines. In French they are just finishing up a Halloween book. They are also learning how to tell time and count money. Mr. Park and his Grade 3 class are studying trees and identifying them. They tell stories when the lights are out and their electric campfire is on. They have been listening to music from Ireland and have recently completed a test on their unit of Canada. This week the SagaBound book fair is coming to Grey Central on Nov. 17, 18 and 19. In this book fair they are selling different books by the famous author Robert Munch. You can plan to see Franklin and chapter books from Arthur. By Ashley Hicks Shackleton told The Beacon that the Montessori school got a good deal, as he had had the property appraised at a value greater than the $335,000 purchase price. The Montessori school will take possession at the end of November. tened to hundred of people's views and all we got was lip service. I wouldn't be surprised to see Option C on the agenda again very soon and that's not good enough," said Finan. Option C was the administra- tion's recommended solution for excess space and would have resulted in the closure of as many as 19 schools. Parent groups asked the board to move the deadline to June 28 to allow more participation. Board Chair Abby Armstrong said the February date was neces- sary to determine staffing levels for the coming year. and Laura Armstrong In Social Studies Grade 5/6 has been studying Marco Polo, the Vikings, St. Brendon and Christopher Columbus. In art they are just finishing growing patterns which was a neat activity. In French they are studying 'les animaux de compagnie' (pets). In science they studied the human body and saw some sickening movies, right before lunch! In math they are studying long division, short division and the times tables. In music they are studying Johann Sebastian Bach. He had 20 kids. Can you believe that? In music appreciation they are listening to various artists and composers. Fridays are PAT (Preferred Activity Time). Seeing double Student's councils at local schools are constantly thinking about ways to bring some fun into the daily routine. Last Friday was Twin Day at Brussels. Friends were encouraged to dress in duplicate. Participants included, back row, from left: Brook Wheeler and Britttney Kellington, Grade 8. Next row: Jill Johnston and Keshia Bishop, Grade 5; Kayla Bishop, Grade 3; Mary Ann Aitchison and Baylie Thomas, Grade 5. Second row: Amber Sellers and Jessy Longlade, Grade 5. Front: Kiley Deitner, Grade 3. Lack of opportunity for input angers parents Grey Central students do booklets