The Citizen, 2004-05-20, Page 20Safety first
The Transportation Department of the Avon Maitland
District School Board and the OPP community services
officers are conducting the annual Pre-School Bus Safety
program during the month of May. The program is for new
junior and senior kindergarten students who will be starting
their first year of school in the fall. Children and their
parents were able to take a ride on the school bus after
watching a short video. These programs will be conducted
at various schools throughout the district. From left: Const.
Don Shropshall of the Huron OPP directs Brock Weber
safely to the bus while explaining the importance of looking
both ways before crossing at East Wawanosh Public
School. (Elyse DeBruyn photo)
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PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN. THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2004.
Kaastra questions why distance ed is losing money
By Stew Slater
Special io The Citizen
Central Huron trustee Shelley
Kaastra asked what may have been
an obvious question for more than
just herself. after receiving an update
about the Avon Maitland District
School Board's planning process for
the 2004-05 budget: why is the
hoard's • distance education program
losing money. after having been
championed by staff for its potential
to draw in students — and the
funding that comes with them —
from tar and wide'
The answers Kaastra received,
during a regular Avon Maitland
meeting Tuesday. May II, hinge
largely upon the fact the board
sacrifices government grants aimed
at offsetting declining enrolment, by
attracting online students from
outside its geographical boundaries.
That factor is compounded by the
education ministry's unwillingness
to classify students as full-time —
and fund them accordingly — if they
take even one of their full course
load online.
.Avon Maitland administrators
could offer no way around the fact
the program costs the board. and
could be a target for cutbacks as
trustees struggle to balance the
hooks. •
"What we're doing now, as senior
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen editor
It's going to cost North Huron
residents just a little more to get rid
of their garbage.
At Monday night's meeting,
council voted to increase the price of
bag tags from $1 t o $1.50.
Reminded by clerk-administrator
John Stewart that council had had
several earlier discussions about
raising the price. councillor ArOhie
MacGowan said. "We've already
discussed the rikino
t
costs of running
the landfill. We have to do
staff . . is an analysis of what the
benefits of the distance ed. program.
as it is currently formatted, are to our
students." offered director of
education Geoff Williams.
In an interview- following the
meeting. Williams likened the
program to the hoard's spending on
transportatiOn, where funding 'is
taken from other areas to subsidize
an area which doesn't receive what
Avon Maitland officials believe is
adequate support from the province.
As with.the board's perception that a
certain level of transportation is
crucial for students, trustees may
decide the provision of online
versions of certain secondary school
courses — which- -may not be
available'ai a particular facility — is
something the hoard can't -do
without.-
But he offered no assurance the
program would survive in its present
format, a format which trustees and
staff have celebrated since it began.
a couple of years ago, growing into a
virtual high school with students
from across the world. One potential
saviour. the director of education
suggested. may be the exploration of
expanded -revenue streams, such as
attracting students in Ontario's
corrections institutions.
Kaastra's question arose from -an
update. provided for the May 1 I
meeting. about the board's budget-
something."
While the municipality would get
the full price from anyone buying a
tag at the municipal office, Stewart
said he would like to see the local
businesses that carry the tag receive
some compensation. "We. didn't ask
anyone to sell the tags on our behalf,
but many of the other municipalities
I checked with give business owners
something for their trouble."
It was agreed that North Huron
would receive $1.40 from tags sold
at businesses.
A draft bylaw will be prepared for
council's consideration.
making plan. Part of that update
highlighted the process of wrapping
up the 2003-04 books, including an
explanation of the areas in which the
hoard expects to spend mare money
than the government provided,
versus those areas in which
underspending is expected.
Significant projected over-
expenditures (compared to
governMent funding) include
$236,000 for special education.
$600,000 for distance education,
$440,000 in information
Technology. $280,000 for
curriculum costs. $1.3 million for
principals and vice-principals,
$490,000 on -school office support.
and $890,000 on transportation.
"In order to balance- the revised
estimates. it was necessary to
estimate to include revenues of
$236.000 from the special education
reserve, and $686.000 from the'
working reserve." the report notes.
Other shortfalls were covered by
$5.4 million in so-called "flexibility
funding" — additional government
funding known previously as the
local -priorities grant, and available
for spending wherever the board
sees fit.
Areas of underspending — -which
also freed up funds for other areas —
include $430,000 in board
administration-and almost $1 million
in facilities operation and renewal.
Asked if the.- facilities
underspending means some
buildings are not being adequately
maintained or repaired. Williams
said that's not the case.
"We're not doing some of the
things we'd like to -do," he admitted,
but added all essential work is being
done. The director of education
added facilities underspending is a
common budgetary strategy
throughout the 'province's school
boards.
-The next meeting of the board's
finance committee, which is open to
the public, takes place May 31 at 7
p.m. at the Seaforth board offices.
It's expected a final draft of the
2004-05 budget will be presented to
trustees Tuesday, June 8 at their 8
p.m. public meeting. in Seaforth. A
public consultation is tentatively
scheduled for the following day,
Wednesday, June 9, with a vote on
final approval expected Tuesday,
June 22 .
"The fact remains that we are
going to face some difficult
choices," chair . Meg Westley
admitted during the May 11 meeting.
"It's very unlikely that we'll
maintain the status quo.
Price of bag tags go up in NH
11