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Home My WebLink AboutThe 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.” Supporting local projects in a global context Call 1-800-5656 USC to pledge your support today! 56 Sparks Street, Ottawa ON KIP 5Bl www.usc-canada.org Spinal Muscular Atrophy is the leading genetic cause of infant death. year, countless Canadian kids are diagnosed with SMA. Which means they may not see their first day of school. Sadly, there still isn’t a cure. But until there is, there’s us. And until we find a cure, we’re making the lives of people with neuromuscular disorders better. Cail and donate, because together we can put neuromuscu lar disorders where they belong. Behind us. 1 800 567-CURE Muscular Dystrophy Association of Canada ("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