HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-11-01, Page 8PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2000.
Stratford makes last ditch effort to save Falstaff
By Stew Slater
Special to The Citizen
Eleven months after the Avon
Maitland District School Board first
included Stratford-based Falstaff
Public School on a list for possible
closure, and the very night trustees
voted in favour of a contract to put
the school site up for auction, resi
dents of Stratford and some of their
political representatives made a last-
ditch effort to earn a reprieve.
“We’d like to request that the
board and the city meet to review
population projections before the
auction of Falstaff,” stated Bill Scott,
during a hastily-arranged, informal
meeting following the board’s regu
lar meeting Tuesday, Oct. 24.
Scott had addressed the board
about similar issues early last year,
during the time trustees were gather
ing information for the final decision
on school closures. Falstaff was
eventually named for closure, along
with five other schools, and did not
re-open this fall.
At the regular meeting, two dele
gates addressed the Falstaff situa
tion, even though their applications
to speak had arrived at the board’s
office after the established deadline
(it’s usually the morning of the meet
ing, and the Falstaff applications
New literacy program starts
By Stew Slater
Special to The Citizen
New books, teaching materials and
other resources should start arriving
in the next couple of weeks in 15
schools in Fluron and Perth Counties,
as the Avon Maitland District School
Board implements a new early litera
cy program.
“Unfortunately, it wasn’t very hard
for a lot of our schools to show that
they had a need for these materials. A
lot of out schools are needy,” said
primary curriculum coordinator Janet
Jamison, in a presentation to trustees
at a regular board meeting Tuesday,
Oct. 25.
The board received provincial
funding to implement the program
and, according to Jamison, it was
based on earlier work from the
Toronto District School Board. But
because of the Avon Maitland
board’s limited personnel resources,
only 15 schools could be included
during the first year of the program.
Jamison outlined an application
process undertaken by primary
teaching and administrative staff at
schools wishing to take part in the
project. She said 30 schools applied,
and expressed the hope that those
which weren’t selected - as well as
other schools in the district - would
apply next year, when the program
will be expanded.
The following schools were select
ed for inclusion in the new early lit
eracy project this year, in a process
which concluded in early October:
Anne Hathaway
(Stratford), Blyth
Brookside Public
Lucknow), Clinton
Downie Central Public
Howick Central Public
Mitchell Public School, Robertson
School
School,
(RR 7
School,
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arrived later in the day). By support
ing a motion put forward by Central
Huron representative Abby
Armstrong, trustees allowed the pre
sentations to take place, and one del
egate - Stratford city councillor
Nick Giannakoulos - explained that
the late applications arose from the
fact that the school board presenta
tion only received support from the
city’s politicians during a council
meeting the previous night.
Armstrong, however, was much
less supportive of the actual content
of the Falstaff delegations than she
had been of their right to be heard.
She strongly criticized both
Giannakoulos and fellow presenter
Allan Waddingham, acting chair of
Stratford LACAC, an advisory com
mittee of the city’s council which is
dedicated to preserving architectural
heritage.
“I’m so disgusted and so irritated,”
An istrong said, suggesting she and
other trustees had been led to believe
the Falstaff delegations would speak
about the possibility of having the
recently-closed school declared a
heritage building. Instead, she said,
both a letter received earlier in the
day from the city, as well as the pre
sentations to trustees, pointed to
potential increases in the need for
student spaces in Stratford.
Memorial Public School (Goderich),
Romeo Public School (Stratford),
Seaforth Public School, Shakespeare
Public School, South Perth
Centennial Public School, Victoria
Public School (Goderich), Wingham
Public School and Zurich Public
School.
Is it real?
Kindergarten student Lane Sebastian approached this wild
character tentatively as he and his classmates were led
through the Brussels haunted house at the public school
last Friday.
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In fact, Waddingham’s presenta
tion did contain significant heritage-
related content. He explained that,
though it has the power to do so, the
City of Stratford rarely applies for
heritage status without the consent of
the building’s owner. When it
became clear city council would not
make an exception in this case,
LACAC succeeded in convincing
councillors - at the previous night’s
meeting - to wait until the heritage
group lobbied the board directly. He
distributed a heritage study, complet
ed by LACAC, and requested that
the board work with his group to
seek a buyer which might consider
the building’s historic value.
Giannakoulos, however, talked
about the city’s plan to annex about
1,300 acres of land in the next seven
years, with much of it to be used for
housing. He suggested the board will
eventually need Falstaff’s class
rooms again, and this drew the ire of
Armstrong.
“If you want to come to us and dis
cuss whether or not Falstaff should
remain open, that’s an entirely dif
ferent discussion,” Armstrong
responded. “But don’t send us a let
ter saying there are some heritage
issues to discuss, and then talk about
... annexed lands.”
After several attempts by Scott to
speak from the public gallery, and
after Stratford’s deputy mayor, Dan
Mathieson, rose to prompt
Giannakoulos during his delegation,
board chair Wendy Anderson invited
all in attendance - including the
media - to remain following the con
clusion of the board’s regular busi
ness.
And most did stay, including all
trustees in attendance.
Armstrong continued to question
the Stratford representatives about
the references to heritage status.
South Perth trustee Maggie Laprade,
however, was more willing to dis
cuss population projections, though
she didn’t agree with the Stratford
representatives.
“I hear what you’re saying about
people moving into the area, but his
tory is showing us that (increased
enrolment) does not necessarily fol
low (increased population),”
Laprade said, noting there are cur
rently over 300 “empty spaces” in
Stratford elementary schools.
Stratford Trustee Atje Tuyten
added that almost one entire
Elect
Jeff Howson
Councillor of North Huron
Ward of Blyth
Your support would be
appreciated on election day
WINGHAM & DISTRICT HOSPITAL HIGHLIGHTS
NEW DIETITIAN:
The hospital is pleased to welcome Heather Barron to the staff. She is available
for outpatient dietary counseling through a referral from your doctor. Heather can
be contacted at 357-3210 ext. 275.
COMMUNITY FLU VACCINE CLINICS:
The clinics will be held at Sacred Heart Church on the following days. No
appointments are required. The clinics are provided on a first come, first served
basis.
Monday, November 20, 5-9 evening
Tuesday, November 21, 8-12 morning
Wednesday, November 22, 5-9 evening
Thursday, November 23, 8-12 morning
Friday, November 24, 8-12 morning
DIABETIC EDUCATION CLASS:
The next program will be held on Thursday, November 30. Please call Linda
Kieffer at 357-3210, ext. 362 to register. A doctor’s referral is required.
FAMILY COUNSELING SERVICE:
The Marriage and Family Counseling Clinic operates from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. on
Mondays in the outpatient area of the hospital. Clients can receive assistance
with a wide range of social issues and range in age from the young to the very
elderly. Counseling is provided by Holly-Jane Keil, M.S.W., C.S.W., on a fee for
service basis. To make an appointment or for further information, call Denise at
357-3210, ext. 268.
NEW HEALTH CARDS:
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care will be at the hospital on Thursday,
November 23 to register or to replace your health card for:
•new residents of Ontario
•lost, damaged or stolen cards
•marriage or surname change '
Three original documents are required and appointments must be made. Call the
Outreach Coordinator at (519) 893-4059.
PLANNING FOR CHRISTMAS:
Christmas is often a busy time for special patient activities. We encourage the
community to be involved with our patients during the holiday season. If you or
your group is thinking of providing a Christmas event at the hospital, please
contact Julie Reid at 357-3210, ext. 296. Julie is our recreation/activities co
ordinator and she will assist you with your planning.
HOSPITAL AUXILIARY:
There is a meeting of the Auxiliary on November 27, at 1:30 p.m. Bring a candle
and learn to paint.__________________
Phone: 357-3210 Fax: 357-2931 E-Mail: winghosp@wcl.on.ca
Stratford high school - out of two in
the city - could be left empty after
the full implementation of a four-
year high school program in 2003,
In any case, the Stratford represen
tatives’ request to re-examine enrol
ment projections could be a lost
cause, considering it came on the
very night trustees voted to approve
the reserve bid process put in place
by London-based Gardner Auctions.
Barring last-minute changes, auc
tions will now take place on
Wednesday, Nov. 8 for five Avon
Maitland properties, including a 10
a.m. start time for Falstaff.
(Other auctions will take place at
11:30 a.m. in Atwood, 1 p.m. in
Walton, 2:30 p.m. in Vanastra, and 4
p.m. at McCurdy Public School m
Huron Park.)
And even more lost could be
LACAC’s attempt to secure heritage
designation for the building, since
that issue was clearly overshadowed
during the Oct. 24 school board
meeting.
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