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The Citizen, 2001-12-05, Page 23CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HURON TAXES DUE The final installment of taxes in the Township of North Huron is due Monday, December 10, 2001. Interest at 1 1/4% per month or any part thereof will be charged as of December 11, 2001. NOTE: Persons who nave acquired properties and have not received a tax bill should contact the Clerk's Office. Failure to receive a tax bill does not relieve a taxpayer from responsibility for payment of taxes, nor from penalty for late payment. A post-dated cheque dated December 10, 2001 may be brought to the Clerk's Office any time prior to the due date. Drop boxes are located at the Town Hall in Wingham and Blyth Library. Donna White Director of Finance NETWORK CLASSIFIEDS "Advertise Across Ontario or Across the Country" BUSINESS OPPS. EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW about Ontario communities is now at your fingertfps! 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Opinions differ on merits of rural and urban schools By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen There were friendly offers to rename schools and pledges to stand by nearby facilities threatened with closure but, through it all, there was an undeniable difference of opinion about the merits of town and rural schools, at a special Avon Maitland District School Board meeting Wednesday, Nov. 28 in Clinton. The meeting, part of the board's current "accommodation review," which could see several schools approved for closure by February, 2002, was held at Central Huron Secondary School (CHSS). School councils from 22 facilities facing potential changes, ranging from clo- sure to border adjustments to addi- tional pupil spaces, were invited to make presentations to Avon Maitland trustees and staff. Councils from two schools — CHSS and Listowel Central Public School — chose not to make any submissions, while six others — Wingham Public School, Listowel Eastdale Public School, Listowel District Secondary School, Howick Public School, F.E. Madill Secondary School and Clinton Public School — provided written submissions but made no oral pres- entation. Reports were not requested from a few schools, including Goderich District Collegiate Institute, because they aren't affect- ed by any proposed changes. The first two presentations of the evening came from elementary schools in Blyth and Brussels. Though the Brussels submission was given added vigour by the confident delivery of Jacqueline Waechter (who graduated in 1990 from the school and predicted her son would do the same in 2011), as well as the presence at the podium of five stu- dents and a supporting letter from last year's valedictorian, both had similar content. "I feel that a dollar value cannot be placed on having our children attend a school in our town," Waechter con- cluded, following a presentation which highlighted various reasons why Brussels Public School students should feel safe. Reasons included the proximity of emergency services and the presence of municipal water service as opposed to an on-site well. Blyth Public School representative Deanna Ducharme expressed similar sentiments. "Municipal services, including water and sanitary sewer . . . must be a significant health and safety issue," she argued. Other advantages of town-based schools, expressed in various presen- tations, included the opportunity for students to walk to extracurricular activities at no cost to the board. A representative from Goderich's Victoria Public School suggested students could walk from one ele- mentary school to another within the town, should the board decide to offer particular programs at only one of the locations. Waechter noted only 29 per cent of Brussels students require transporta- tion, yet they would all ride buses if the school were to close. And Jose Gillespie of Goderich's Robertson Memorial Public School used simi- lar arguments in stating, "the closure of Robertson school would not be cost-neutral to the board" because of added transportation needs. Equally strong arguments, howev- er, were presented in favour of rural schools, which often boast larger playgrounds and the space for addi- tional construction, should it be nec- essary. "Our students are 100 per cent bused. This means that, once they're at school, they stay at school," argued Amanda Tanner of Turnberry Public School, just outside Wingham. She said "unstreet-wise" children could struggle if moved into town, and added, "there are no issues of parking or traffic at lunch time or at other times during the day (at Turnberry)." Brad Henderson, representative for Colborne Central Public School outside Goderich, said the board would be more likely to receive an ample price for the sale of a town building than for one in a rural area or small hamlet. And the written submission from Wallace Public School in Gowanstown states, "our parents see, on a regular basis, the children that hang out in Listowel's down- town core. During the daytime hours it is just as significant as it is during the evening hours." At times, a distinct feeling of town versus rural was projected. "Blyth Public School ig a great school, but it is small and with limit- ed facilities," said Elma Plant, speaker for Hullett Central Public School in Londesboro. Then she offered reasons why Blyth's students would be welcomed at Hullett Central, ranging from the size of the playground to the fact most students from both schools already know each other due to similar community activities. Henderson said, "we strongly object to the fact that the majority of schools listed for (closure) are rural," and added later that, "closing rural schools is not providing a full range of educational opportunities nor is it equitably distributing those opportunities." The Holmesville Public School submission, which was allowed to fall immediately after Colborne at Henderson's request, argued the board could see declining enrolment within Goderich and increasing enrolment just outside the town. "Clearly, the growth (in rural areas surrounding Goderich) will exceed the assumptions the board is using, whereas the growth of the Town of Goderich will fail to meet those same expectations," reads the Holmesville written report. "The truth of the matter is, the Town of Goderich can no longer support three elementary schools (two pub- lic; one Catholic)." Gillespie, however, argued Goderich could grow, especially in the southwest. She objected to the fact Victoria and Robertson were added only after pressure from Holmesville and Colbome led trustees to amend the initial list of schools facing potential closure. "We estimate that accepting the board's initial proposal would be the most cost-effective for the board," she said. "If this were not the case, then• Robertson would have been listed" in the first place. She said, "we don't deny that rural education has equal value to-educa- tion in town," and, "we do not wish for any school to close. However, we recognize that the status quo may not be acceptable," and closing town schools would ultimately save less money, or even cost the board. As with the first of these special meetings, held two nights earlier for southern Avon Maitland school councils in Mitchell, a significant theme from Wednesday's presenta- tions was the call for more time. In some cases, presenters called on the board to delay any major changes until the effects are more clearly known of 2003's so-called "double cohort," when the last of the students from the outgoing five-year high school program are expected to graduate alongside the first students from the new four-year curriculum. "We feel that the Avon Maitland board has acted prematurely," Waechter argued. Others asked the board to com- plete all preparations before any changes happen, to ensure those stu- dents who must relocate are wel- comed into permanent, friendly environments without facing the prospect of further disruption. "If we are to receive additional students . . . we want to be sure that we have the additional facilities in place before those students arrive," said Elma Twp. Public School repre- sentative Brad Cunningham. He noted the school's computer labora- tory, gymnasium and library "are already being used to the point of saturation," while some specialized instructors, who meet one-on-one with students, are forced to use cor- ners of rooms or hallways. HISTORIC PHOTOS WANTED The Citizen requires historic photos of Blyth for its salute to Blyth's 125th anniversary, to be published in July 2002. We'll copy the photo, then give it back to you. Please bring to The Citizen office.