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PAGE 21 discuss Citizens to trustee remunerations By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen Citizen committees meet this month to decide what recommendations should be made regarding increasing the remuneration for school board trustees in Huron and Perth Counties. They'll also suggest whether or not any increased payment should be provided retroactively, to trustees who served from Sept. I, 2005 to Nov. 30, 2006. Since the late 1990s, when provincial legislation was passed to put trustees from all Ontario school boards on an equal footing, trustees have received a base amount of $5,000 per year. Some may have earned more if they were selected by their counterparts to serve as chair or in other legislatively-mandated roles. Under recent changes to the Education Act, however, new maximum base amounts have been established for each Ontario school board. Those vary from board to board depending on enrolment and geographical size, but they are maximums; trustees may choose to receive any amount between the current $5,000 and the new maximum. "The board shall not establish its policy ... until (a citizen's advisory) committee makes the recommendation," states the new regulation under the Education Act. That same regulation sets out the size of the committee -- six -- and requires the participation of three "parent members" and three "community representatives." In Huron and Perth, committees have already been chosen and are expected to meet this week to discuss trustee remuneration. "Hopefully, we'll be able to bring a recommendation to the board at its next meeting," explained the Catholic board's director of education, Larry Langan. Neither Langan nor Avon Maitland counterpart Geoff Williams would speculate about what the respective committee's recommendation might be. But both said they had heard from other boards about citizen committees in the Toronto area completing their work, and returning with recommendations that trustees receive the new maximums set out in the Education Act. In a report to trustees, scheduled to be presented at the board's next regular meeting Sept. 26, Williams explains that "there have been verbal indications to staff (from the Education ministry) that additional funding will be received to cover these costs." He cautions, however, that "there is no indication that additional funding will be received to cover any retroactive costs." For the Avon Maitland board, the new maximum base amount is $9,360 per trustee. According to Williams's report, in the future, this will translate into about $48,000 in extra expense per year. Paying the maximum retroactive amount under the Act, peanwhile, would translate into about $49,000 in extra expenses. For the Catholic board, the new maximum for future years is $7,591. Few new names come forward for trustee spots By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen With changes in provincial legislation governing both municipal elections and the remuneration of school board trustees, the job description for those trustees will be decidedly different after Nov. 13. But in Huron and Perth Counties, it's quite possible the people filling those positions won't change at all. With the Sept 29 deadline for municipal and school board nominations approaching, interest from outside the existing trustees has been extremely limited for both the Avon Maitland District School Board and the Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board. Current members of the boards, meanwhile, have almost all filed their nomination papers, signifying their desires to retain their positions. Polled following their first regular meeting of 2006-07 on Tuesday, Sept. 12, all but two members of the Avon Maitland board confirmed they had either already filed or intended to file nomination papers. "It's rewarding to feel you're involved in making things the best they can be for the students," explained veteran North Huron representative Colleen Schenk. Now seeking her fifth term -- this time a four-year term as opposed to the previous three-year term, thanks to changes to the Municipal Act — Schenk is the longest-serving of the board's nine trustees. Rookie counterpart Doug Pratley of. Stratford, meanwhile, said he intends to seek his second term because he feels there's still work to be done. "I've become involved with the Policy Committee of the Ontario Public School Boards Association, and I feel it's important I continue with that work." Only Emily Milley of Goderich/Northwest Huron and Shelley Kaastra of Huron East/Central declined to declare their intentions. Kaastra says she's considering her non-school board commitments before making a decision. Other current Avon Maitland trustees are Carol Bennewies of Perth South/West, Meg Westley of Stratford (the 2006 board chair), Jenny Versteeg of North Perth, Tina Traschel of Perth East, and Randy Wagler of South Huron. All will seek re-election. The Catholic board, meanwhile, could see -all five of its current trustees returned to office. "It gets in your blood," said Goderich/North Huron/Central Huron representative Mary- Catherine McKeon, when asked why the board's trustees have traditionally continued through several terms. Joining McKeon in declaring their intentions to seek re-election are 2006 chair Vincent McInnes of Huron East/North Perth/Perth East, Bernard Murray of Perth South/West, Mike Miller of South Huroraluewater, and Ron Marcy of Stratford. But outside those people already serving in the position, interest in becoming a school board trustee is definitely low this time around. "I think that may have something to do with the fact it has been fairly quiet," suggested Westley, referring to the near absence over the past three years of such issues as potential school closures and drastic program cuts. In 2003, Westley was one of only three previously-elected trustees who returned to the Avon Maitland board; others were either defeated or decided not to seek re-election. "You lose the benefit of bringing in some fresh ideas or a fresh way of thinking," Westley said of the prospect of welcoming either zero or just a couple new trustees after November. "But you also gain the benefit of continuity, and having people ready to step right into where the board is going. "Plus, you don't have to worry as much about training. In some years, we've spent considerable time training new members about what's involved with being a trustee." Business Directory