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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-02-03, Page 24PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2005. Strike motion scheduled for ETFO meeting By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen A motion to enter a legal strike position is scheduled to go before the local chapter of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) in early February. But the Avon Maitland District School Board's Human Resources superintendent. Jim Sheppard, is confident that — even if Huron and Perth County, teachers vote in favour — a contract will be finalized before any further labour action is launched. “I think the positive sign here is Students By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen Through the co-ordination and creative instruction of a London­ based collage artist, students from the Avon Maitland District School Board have raised $15,000 since late last year, to assist people in Africa affected by HIV/A1DS. The key element of the fundraising campaign was an exhibition in December of 50 limited-edition prints at a gallery in Stratford. The artwork — chosen from about 300 submissions — was created by Avon Maitland secondary school students, following visits to the schools by collage-maker Ilendrikus Bervoets. Bervoets first began putting his talents towards AIDS fundraising a few years ago, by inviting 25 fellow artists from around the world to that, even though we're al what's called the conciliation stage, we’re still talking,” Sheppard said following a regular board meeting. Tuesday. Jan. 25. “The parties are committed to continuing discussions.” As is the case in most school boards across the province, the previous one-year contracts for both Avon Maitland's elementary and secondary teachers concluded on Aug. 31. 2004. In recent years, due largely to a lack of long-term funding commitments from the education ministry, one-year deals have been the norm, and they raise SI5,000 to help African people donate prints. That initial campaign received a great boost when the London District Catholic School Board purchased eight prints: one for each of its secondary schools. Ever since, the London artist has made himself available as an instructor to various school boards, in return for having the students participate in the AIDS project. “We saw with the tsunami (in South Asia in December) that the world got together and raised a phenomenal amount of money,” Bervoets told Avon Maitland trustees at a regular board meeting. Tuesday, Jan. 25. "Every day, 14.000 people die of AIDS. Millions of children are affected, predominantly in Africa." The Avon Maitland students' prints sell for $25 apiece, or $70 framed. According to Bervoets. the typically arc written and agreed upon some months following the conclusion of the previous contracts. Since the beginning of 2005, most local ETFO chapters have voted to place themselves in legal strike positions, and a similar outcome is expected in Huron and Perth Counties. No- Ontario elementary teachers have opted to strike, but few have yet reached agreements with their boards, cither. Sheppard is optimistic about chances for a resolution in the Avon Maitland board, stating both sides have welcomed an independent fundraising portion of his work is donated, although he does gel paid for providing artistic instruction. And 97 per cent ol funds raised go directly to African AIDS relief. Education director Geoff Williams praised Bervoets' work in the Avon Mailland schools, and the effect the project had on students. The collage project “had an ca Deer collisions down in 2004 Huron OPP found that deer collisions in 2004 fell by 36 from 2003 down to 312 from 348. The police broke the locations down to see which municipalities were having the greatest number of repeated deer collisions. Ashfield- Colborne-Wawanosh led with 73 followed by Central Huron with 71. Huron East was third with 45 conciliator and have booked negotiation dates after the early February legal strike position vole. He adds he's hopeful that “a breakthrough” is possible, especially if the provincial government clarifies some outstanding concerns about funding. Tom Barker, president of District 8 of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF), shares a similar hope when it comes to negotiations for a new high school teachers' contract. Barker, speaking after the recent Avon Maitland meeting, reported the excellent curriculum base,” Williams explained. “Il taught the kids real things about real art . . . and it gives us a chance to take our ’citizenship' goal and have kids act not just as local citizens but as global citizens.” With 50 numbered prints made from each collage — many, but not all of which have a distinctly followed by Bluewater with 35. Fifth was Howick with 27, sixth was Morris-Turnberry with 29, seventh place was South Huron with 16, and eighth was North Huron with 14. Goderich had two collisions. The worst road for collisions was Bluewater Highway (Hwy. 21), where 57 collisions took place. Others with a high incident of District X local just passed a “resumption of negotiations” motion, allowing for a provincial OSSTF representative to take part in talks with the board. He admitted, however that “progress has been pretty slow,” and that what’s really needed is “some movement at the provincial level.” Examples include resolution of certain funding commitments, and clarification about whether the ruling Liberals will alter some of the teacher workload legislation brought in by the previous Conservative government. African flavour — there is still lots of opportunity to contribute to the campaign by purchasing some artwork. For information, contact the Foundation For Enriching Education Perth Huron at (519) 527- 0111; 1 (800) 592-5437, ext. 231; or lynda_mcgregor@fcmail.amdsb. vehicle/deer collisions are: Lucknow Line, 16; Amberley Road. 14; London Road, 13; Zurich- Hensall Road, 13; Huron Road, 11; Blyth Road, nine; Brussels Line, eight; Belgrave Road, eight; Fordwich Line, eight; Bayfield Road, seven; Morris Road, seven; Dashwood Road, seven and Londesboro Road, with six. SCRIMGEOUR’S Food Market 209 Drummond Street, Blyth Open 7 Days A Week. 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