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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2004-10-21, Page 2101 et • act les Story told Car Qilirig at Lee's Service Centre Underside Doors & Door Panels Dog Legs We use Hot, Acid Free, New Oil CARS & LIGHT TRUCKS Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 1 pm - 9 pm; Fri. 1 pm - 6 pm; Sat. 8 am - 12 noon (Weather permitting) 348 Dinsley St. E., Blyth 523-9151 Hood Inner Fenders Trunt .411111111... loofa ' al& 50•40^,,, Inner Fenders 'formerly Dave's Car Oiling) Mark Your Calondar for a... T !NCLUDEk • Now filter, installed •Up to 51 10W30 motor oil ',Chassis lobe (if applicable) *Comprehensive 55 pt. check over with report card / % •Plus taxes *Plus oil disposal Most makes amodels wAor001)=1131Ww// 3.46 Huron Rd.. Godorich 524-9381 or 1-800-338-1134 THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2004. PAGE 21. AMDSB dreams of brand new By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen Rumblings of a new education ministry strategy for distributing capital funds have members of the Avon Maitland District School Board dreaming of the day when, even thOugh they may still be forced to reduce the number of schools in the district, they could relocate students into brand new facilities. "I went through an accommodation review, and . . . it is very hard on communities," recalled trustee Shelley Kaastra, during a meeting Tuesday, Oct. 12. But the. Morning Star Rebekah Lodge met on Tuesday, Oct. 12 with Noble Grand Sister Elva Brown presiding. Members' thoughts are with Sister Mary Davidson and Helen Bray. It is hoped they can attend again soon. Plans were finalized for the casserole card party on Monday, Oct. 18. Happy Birthday was sung to Sister Laura Barbour. Continued from page 2 Wednesday, Nov. 10. The WI is sponsoring a casserole supper followed by euchre in the Brussels Library on Nov. 4 at 6:30 p.m. Plans were made for it. Jean Fraser mentioned that she received a life membership to the Huron Historical Society. The WI is also responsible for the birthday party at Huronlea in December. Edna McLellan introduced Jim Central Huron representative, one of the main forces behind a community group which convinced the board to reverse its decision to close Holmesville elementary school in 2002, added things might have been different if parents hadn't realized their children would be transferred into an existing school, with its own maintenance and renovation challenges. Transferring to a brand new facility, on the other hand, would be "an easier pill to swallow," Kaastra commented. The discussion arose following a report from Avon Maitland staff, The Humanitarian Committee of Rebekah and 100F Lodge have equipment to loan. There are wheelchairs, stationary walkers, walkers with wheels, commodes and a hi-rise for toilet seat. These are available by contacting 887-9303 or 887-9340 or any lodge member can direct you. This is one service supplied by the Lodges. Armstrong, speaker for the meeting. Jim farmed for 13 years after which he taught high school in Mitchell for 30 years. His hobby now is airplanes which he builds himself. He also has a couple of gliders. Aviation is a big industry in Canada. The diamond airplane is built in London. The fabric to cover the wings is quite expensive. They are covered with fabric glued on three times, each time at a different temperature. informing trustees that recommendations will be brought forward in late October regarding the board's annual accommodation review process. According to that report, no schools will be recommended for closure by the fall of 2005, with the only major proposed change being the relocation of students from Stratford's aging Avon elementary school to the recently-vacated (due to the placement of the city's Grades 7 and 8 students into secondary schools) but much newer King Lear facility. That doesn't rule out the possibility of more drastic recommendations coming forward in the winter or spring of 2005, however, for possible implementation in the fall of 2006. Education director Geoff Williams told trustees the intervening months may allow for the clarification of several "uncertainties" — including the amount of money being provided under some recently-announced provincial funding initiatives, the exact format of the government's new rural education funding strategy, and the details of the education ministry's overhaul of its accommodation review guidelines. Regardless of the outcome of those issues, said business superintendent Janet Baird-Jackson, "the conclusions (of this year's accommodation review) remain the same as the conclusions we've had 'for some time about the district: declining enrolments will remain our chief challenge. "We're challenged fiscally. with trying to maintain the structural integrity of schools and upgrade programs," she said, adding the maintenance and enhancement of rural schools generally poses the biggest challenge because they tend to be both smaller and more affected Our mistake Information regarding a photograph published two weeks ago in The Citizen, contained an error. . Participants in the Weekend to End Breast Cancer, held in Toronto, raised $14,700,000, which will be invested in programs to better understand, treat and beat breast cancer. The Citizen apologizes for the error. by enrolment declines than their urban counterparts. "It's a juggling act," Baird- Jackson said. In a later interview, she added, "so far, our facilities folks have done a really good job of maintaining the integrity of our buildings. But it gets increasingly difficult every year." The government's new accommodation review (which, in its most drastic form, translates into school closure) guidelines are expected some time in November. According to Baird-Jackson, there have been rumours that, along with that announcement, the education ministry will also announce a new strategy for distributing capital funds aimed at either upgrading or replacing aging facilities. That could be good news for the Avon Maitland board which, according to the report recommending the Avon/King Lear scenario, "is at a critical stage in the lifecycle of its school buildings." With an average age of about 42 years among its schools, "with many considerably older . . . upkeep and renewal costs can be expected to increase dramatically." It's also a suggestion both Kaastra and vice chair Randy Wagler were eager to hear more about. Wagler, who represents a district in which science teachers at South Huron District High School waited seven years between the identification of the need to upgrade laboratories and the time those upgrades were recently completed, wondered if such a strategy might allow the board to "close deteriorating schools so new ones can be built." A short distance along Hwy. 8 from the board's Seaforth offices, that's exactly what happened for the Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board, based in Dublin. That board is currently tapping into an existing education ministry program dubbed "prohibitive to repair" to close and reconstruct aging elementary schoOls in Clinton and the Listowel area. According to architectural assessments under the previous Conservative government's program, St. Joseph (Clinton) and St. Marys (Hesson) elementary schools were deemed to be in such poor shape that it would cost more to repair them than it would to replace them. So construction of two new schools has begun. Meanwhile, the Av9n Maitland board was forced into extensive upgrades at such not-quite-so-old secondary schools as St. Marys DCVI and F.E. Madill in Wingham, to meet contemporary fire code regulations. Avon school will require upgrades of similar proportions, if it remains . open. Yet, according to Baird-Jackson, "they're really not close to triggering prohibitive to repair funding." In short, the business superintendent said following the Oct. 12 meeting, "it would be really nice for the government to come out with a strategy to renew old buildings." And, if Kaastra is correct, such a strategy might also make it a lot easier for school boards to convince the rural and small-town public about the merits of closing schools in this era of declining enrolment. *"2 • AA. r/44 08 41.6 46 * Eb) memo& 0.3hop Make Your Own Beer, Wine, Coolers and Fruit Wine (Olior here or al ham') 84 Kingston St., GODERICH 524-2323 Last week, Grade 4 students of East Wawanosh Public School took part in an imaginative drama workshop, based on the medieval legend Beuwolf. Gail Fricker, a well-known storyteller who has toured schools for many years with the support of the Foundation for Enriching Education, is taking her Beuwolf workshop to over 30 Avon Maitland classes this fall. (Bonnie Gropp photo) Lodge finalizes plans for casserole card party WI sponsors supper •