HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-10-25, Page 9Separate school board news
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2000. PAGE 9.
Trustees vote to renew insurance policy
By Stew Slater
Special to The Citizen
According to an agent of Lawson
Killer Insurance Limited, the differ
ence between rural and urban com
munities accounts, in large part, for
the fact the Huron-Perth Catholic
District School Board isn’t facing
problems similar to the well-publi
cized recent decisions by the Toronto
District School Board to dismantle a
multitude of playground structures.
“The bigger the city, the more liti
gious the people, it seems,” trustees
were told by Stratford-based insur
ance agent Ian Fisher, at a regular
board meeting Monday, Oct. 23.
Trustees voted unanimously to
renew the board’s policy with the
Frank Cowan Company, provided
through the Lawson Killer agency,
following a presentation by Fisher.
The annual cost increased by almost
$3,000, to $55,800, but that increase
wasn’t tied to any jump in claims
against the board.
Instead, it reflected recently-com
pleted additions at elementary
schools in Exeter and St. Marys, and
ongoing construction projects at sec
ondary schools in Stratford and
Clinton.
“Our rates went up for this year,
but that’s because we’ve increased
the value of our property,” explained
Superintendent of Business Gerry
Thuss, following the meeting.
When asked a question about play
ground equipment, Fisher explained
that the policy would provide funds
for damages, should a student be
injured while using equipment on
board property.
He suggested, however, that some
urban boards have found it increas
ingly expensive - in some cases, pro
hibitively expensive - to secure such
coverage, due to the greater number
of lawsuits which have been brought
forward in those communities or
against those boards.
“(Some school boards) are taking
steps like tearing down playground
equipment because of the enormous
premiums they’re being asked to
pay,” Fisher said.
Recently,' some school boards in
Ontario began removing playground
equipment in response to a perceived
tightening of national safety stan
dards, fearing they’d leave them
selves open to lawsuits should chil
dren be injured on equipment that
didn’t meet the latest requirements.
But, according to Thuss, Huron-
Perth officials have not removed any
equipment recently. The business
superintendent said board policy is,
when new equipment is installed or
older equipment replaced, all work
must conform to the latest national
standards.
But when it comes to playground
maintenance and upkeep, “safety” is
the main concern, with that term
being left to the discretion of board
staff.
“The way they change the stan
dards, you could have equipment
that’s only three years old and it will
already be out of standard,” Thuss
suggested.
Fisher agreed. “In terms of risk
management... to tear out all equip
ment that doesn’t meet current stan
dards, I don’t think that’s the answer.
And to make changes every time
somebody changes standards, I think
it’s impractical,” the insurance agent
said.
Instead, Fisher suggested, board
members should be confident that
the comparatively non-litigious
nature of the Huron-Perth communi
ty has allowed the board t6 afford
adequate legal coverage, and that the
practice of maintaining “safe” play
grounds is the best option.
Health care benefit costs
jump over 17 per
By Stew Slater
Special to The Citizen
The cost of providing healthcare
benefits to employees of the Huron-
Perth Catholic District School Board
jumped by over 17 per cent this year,
and Superintendent of Business
Gerry Thuss warns the board could
lose its plan altogether if it doesn’t
prepare for similar increases in the
future.
“We’re experiencing significant
increases in premiums . . . and if it
keeps going as it looks like it’s going
to, we’ll get to a point where we
can’t afford the benefit plan at all,”
Thuss told trustees at a regular board
meeting, Monday, Oct. 23.
In a motion brought forward from
an in-camera session of the board,
trustees voted unanimously to renew
the benefits plan, offered through
Liberty Health.
A report, prepared by A.W.
Schreiber Benefit Consultants, stat
ed “a market survey and obtaining
quotations from the insurance mar-
ketplace to determine the competi
tiveness of Liberty Health is defi
nitely an option,” but trustees sup
ported the negotiated plan, including
a 17.7 per cent increase in premi
ums.
According to Thuss, the Huron-
Perth board saw its health plan pre
miums jump by just five per cent last
year, and there was a slight drop in
rates the year before.
The Superintendent of Business
blamed this year’s greater increase
on “various factors,” including a
jump in employee utilization of the
health plan, increased drug costs,
and changes in the way services are
provided.
And, in an interview following the
meeting, he also pointed to a more
aggressive drive for profits among
cent
health insurance companies. Thuss
predicted premiums will continue to
rise, meaning budgetary planning
decisions may be necessary to
ensure board employees retain ade
quate healthcare benefits.
On a brighter note, the A.W.
Schreiber report stated this year’s
initial renewal contract from Liberty
Health suggested a rate increase of
23.1 per cent.
Thuss says negotiations between
the company and the consultant
group eventually brought that down
by several percentage points, and he
credits the consultants for handling
the difficult process. “I know I
wouldn’t have had that clout (to
bring down the rates) because I don’t
speak the language of benefits like
they do.”
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("ALL CANDIDATES MEETING"
MUNICIPALITY OF MORRIS-TURNBERRY
(currently Morris Township and Turnberry Township)
1 for the *2000 MUNICIPAL ELECTION'
You are cordially invited to attend an "All Candidates Meeting" to
meet the following candidates in the 2000 Municipal Election -
which will be held on Monday, November 13, 2000, for the new
"Municipality of Morris-Turnberry".
Meeting Dates: Time: Locations:
! Monday, October 30, 2000 7:30 pm "Belgrave Wl Hall
' 20 Brandon Street,
Belgrave, ON"
Thursday, November 2, 2000 7:30 pm "Bluevale Hall
32 Clyde Street,
J Bluevale, ON"
For the Office of Mayor: (1 to be elected at large)
! i R. Lynn Hoy, Keith F. Johnston
For the Office of Councillor:
i Wart T: (3 to be elected)
William Paul Elgie, Jim Nelemans,
Wayne J. Riley, Wm. J. (Bill) Thompson
Wart M: (3 to be elected)
Robert (Bert) Elliott, Edna McLellan,
Kevin Pletch, Neil Warwick
Public School Trustee: (1 to be elected)
Jim Floyd, Colleen Schenk
"EVERYONE IS WELCOME"
Re-Elect
EDNA McLELLAN
COUNCILLOR
for Ward M
New Municipality of Morris-Turnberry
Your support on November 13th
would be appreciated.
%
NOTICE OF VOTE
MUNICIPALITY OF
MORRIS-TURNBERRY
Whereas more candidates have been nominated to each of the following offices than
the number required to fill such offices.
Notice is hereby given that polls will be held on the dates and at the times and places
stated in this notice for the purpose of electing the holders of such offices.
OFFICES FOR WHICH POLLS TO BE HELD:
Mayor • 1 to be elected
Councillor ■ 6 to be elected - 3 in Ward M (currently Morris Township)
- 3 in Ward T (currently Turnberry Township)
Trustee for the English Public District School Board -1 to be elected
Advance Polls:
Date - Saturday, November 4, 2000 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Locations: Morris Township Municipal Office Bluevale Hall
Regular Polls:
Date - Monday, November 13, 2000
Time -10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (except the Nursing and Retirement Homes - with reduced
voting hours)
Locations:
Ward M: (currently Morris Township)
Polls: Location:
1. Morris Township Municipal Office
2. Morris Township Municipal Office
3. Belgrave Wl Hall
4. Bluevale Hall
5. Huronlea Home for the Aged
(reduced hours) 4 pm to 8 pm
Ward T: (currently Turnberry Township)
Polls: Locations:
1. John Bateson's Shed
2. Bluevale Hall
3. Bluevale Hall
4. Turrberry Work's Garage
5. Braemar Nursing Home
(reduced hours), 10 am to 2 pm
Revisions to the Voter's List:
Additions or deletions to the. Voter's List may be made until the close of poll on
November 13, 2000 at 8 p.m. and at the Morris .and Turnberry Township Municipal
Offices, during normal office hours.
Proxy Applications:
Certificates to vote by proxy may be issued during normal office hours, up *o 5 pm on
Monday, November 13, 2000. at the Morris Township and the TurnDerry Township
Clerk's Offices. The Morris Township and Turnberry Township Clerk's Offices will be
open on Saturday, November 4th, from 12 noon until 5 pm. for the purpose of issuing
certificates to vote by proxy.
Given under my hand this 20th day of October, 2000.
Nancy Michie, Returning Officer
Municipality of Morris-Turnberry
41342 Morris Road
41342 Morris Road
20 Brandon Street
32 Clyde Street
820 Turnberry Street
1 Helena Street
32 Clyde Street
32 Clyde Street
65 North Street East.
719 Josephine Street North