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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2000-12-13, Page 9THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2000. PAGE 9. School board’s surplus to benefit literacy project By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen A portion of the Avon Maitland District School Board’s approxi mately $372,000 surplus from 1999- 2000 will be put towards a new early literacy project, against the objec tions of three outgoing trustees. Vice-Chair Bob Allan, trustee for South Huron, spoke against a sec ondary motion as the board approved the financial statements from Sept. I, 1999 to Aug. 31, 2000. At the final meeting of the current slate of trustees Tuesday, Nov. 28, Allan objected to a recommenda tion that $50,000 of that surplus be put into the 2000-01 early literacy fund. He was supported during the vote by Maggie Laprade (West and South Perth) and Vicki Culbert (West Huron). Allan agreed that early literacy is important, and supported a newly- instituted program that is currently providing updated reading resources for several Avon Maitland schools. But he objected to what he called the budgeting “process,” which saw about two-thirds of the 1999-2000 surplus initially placed into some thing called a “Working Fund Reserve,” from which the $50,000 for early literacy was then taken and placed in the following year’s budg et. Allan suggested reserve funds should be used for emergencies and, if the board’s number-crunchers wanted to put $50,000 more into early literacy, they should have devised a better way to transfer the funds. Laprade, on the other hand, point ed to a need for even more early lit eracy funds. She expressed frustra tion that the new program is current ly being provided to just a small number of the board’s elementary schools, with limited funds meaning the other schools must wait until next year or the year after. She also wondered about proceeds from the recent sale of five board- owned school buildings, which, according to provincial regulations, must either be spent directly on new facility construction or renovation, or be placed in a reserve fund. Laprade said the board already spent a certain amount of money to accom modate the students displaced by the closure of those schools, and sug gested the proceeds should first be directed to those areas which suf fered as a result of those expendi tures. Superintendent of Business Janet Baird-Jackson, who presented a report about the financial statements to trustees, responded by pointing to difficulties in using funds from the current budget year to off-set expen ditures from the previous year. As for the early literacy money, Central Huron Trustee Abby Armstrong spoke in favour of using $50,000 from last year’s surplus. “The money is available, so I think we should use it,” Armstrong said. “We’re not getting enough in the regular funding, so we should take this opportunity.” The motion passed with three dis senting votes. 1,1 r , Brighten Holidays with something speeiltl from Beyond The Garden Path you'll find a beautiful selection of fountains, birdbaths and statuary from HENRI and MASSARELL1. Come inside and you can choose from a wide variety of giftware including stepping stones, chimes, wrought iron and much, much more Now Available ~ Bird Seed for winter feeding Black oil sunflower seed • Grey striped sunflower seed • Niger seed • Wild Bird seed * If you like summer, you'll love us* Located on County Rd. #25 523-9667 just west of Blyth - Look for our signs 523-9571 R. Marcy HPCDSB chair By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen Ron Marcy, who has served Stratford supporters of Catholic edu cation for 26 years, was elected to return to the position of chair of the Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board. Marcy was the only nominee for chair as the board held its inaugural meeting on Monday, Dec. 4. Fellow long-serving trustee Vincent Mclnnes, representing North Perth, Perth East and parts of Huron County, was named vice-chair. The only new face at the five- member table was North and Central Huron representative Mary- Catherine McKeon, who was acclaimed to replace outgoing trustee Louise Martin during the Nov. 13 municipal election. At the Dec. 4 meeting, McKeon was chosen to act as education chair, while Bernard Murray was named person nel chair and Mike Miller takes over as management chair. “Mary-Catherine has just about as many municipalities to represent as the rest of us put together,” Marcy quipped following the election of officers, using a joke about the recent amalgamation of Huron County townships in an effort to welcome McKeon to the board. The newly-elected chair was also upbeat, following the meeting, about the coming year’s prospects for the Huron-Perth board. “I can’t see too many controversial issues coming up. As long as the government behaves itself,” said Marcy, who first became a trustee in 1974 and has already served several stints as chair, including the first year after the provincial education ministry forced the board to drop from 14 trustees to just five. “The last three years have been pretty good for this board. It hasn’t been for a lot of boards, but it has been for this board,” he said of the years since he last served as chair. But he cautioned, that he remains concerned about what he and many other trustees across the province see as the government’s continued efforts to take away the responsibili ties of school boards. He’ll be joined in that concern by the board’s newest trustee. McKeon, who retired with her husband to the Goderich area (Midhuron Beach) five years ago after operating a London-based business for 30 years, says worry about the government was a major part of the reason she decided to submit her name for the trustee position. “I just felt that if somebody didn’t put their name in, that the govern ment would be encouraged to step in even more,” McKeon said. “And then the community won’t have any say.” McKeon’s husband, Mike, served on the Catholic school board in London about 30 years ago. The cou ple has seven grown children. East Wawanosh prepares for concert By Adel Dodds and Kristen Me Arter Recently the East Wawanosh Grade 3/4 class held the third treat sale of the year. The money that is raised by selling the treats which are brought from home, helps to pay for school trips. Total raised was $86 for the school. The next treat sale will be held on Friday, Dec. 22, compliments of Grade 5/6. Thanks to everyone who brought in a treat, they all looked very delicious. Christmas music is echoing through the halls as staff and students prepare for the concert. Dress rehearsal is set for Wednesday, Dec. 13. Anyone unable to attend the evening performance is welcome to come to the rehearsal. Donations of non-perishable food items will be collected at the door for the Christmas Bureau. ■ <■ f r U ■ f r 1 \<z r!J JV ' l\ r J ' J □ V • I • framed prints I |k • candles & candle holders I ga I • collectibles & figurines, ornaments • lots of stocking stuffers too... 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