The Huron Expositor, 1998-01-28, Page 3School no technological backwaterg
Continued from Page 1,
can be offered these courses
on a more frequent and regu-
lar basis.
Class sizes are part of this
equation.
'co a certain extent, tech-
nology allows you to tackle
that old hug -boo these days.
• And Scatorth's high school
is certainly no technological
backwater.
There are about 150 com-
puters, many of them state-
of-the-art, at the local high
school right now, which
works out to little less than
one computer for every two
students, well above the
provincial average.
- There are four computer
labs at the local high school.
Students can take a course
in algebra, for example, at
their own pace at any time of
the day or night. The teacher
is actually at anothcr of
Huron's high schools, and
can come down "in person"
at intervals when and if
required. It's called "distance
ducation."
It's happening now.
SDHS principal Eccles also
. quibbles with the argument
that eliminating the fifth year
of high school. as the Ontario
government plans to do. will
exacerbate enrollment prob-
lems to the extent that is
being claimed here.
30 CREDITS
In actual fact, that fifth year
hasn't been required since the
1980s in Ontario high
schools, he says.
The way things have
worked since around that
time is - 30 credits (in
advanced, general or basic
levels) are required to gradu-
ate, and go on, if that's what
a student wants.
In general, on average, you
try for tour credits per semes-
ter, or eight credits per school
year, although this certainly
isn't written in stone.
Four years times eight cred-
its works out to 32, two more
than than the 30 needed.
It is• not uncommon for a
student to take as many as 40
credits.
What has changed dramati-
cally recently. the SDHS
principal admits, is the struc-
ture of Ontario's school sys-
tem and the its funding.
"All Huron is now repre-
sented by four trustees so
there is not the same political
protection," he says. "Local
control is gone."
And whereas under the
funding system before Bill
160 and Perth -Huron amalga-
mation came into being a
school hoard could save,
money in one arca, say teach -
Bruce Eccles
ers or administration, and use
it in anothcr, for instance,
buildings, it can no longer do
this.
MEMORIES GONERS?
These categories have
become what are termed six
"envelopes," and monies
saved within each can't he
switched, or channeled into
another of these "envelopes."
"A school board's hands arc
now tied, the SDHS principal
says, for instance on build-
ings.
In any case, Seaforth
District High School is alive
and kicking, Eccles says, and
it doesn't plan to just roll
over and whither.
Immediate cuts needed
in Perth to meet shortfall
BY RICK KEW
Cuts in funding to Perth
, County schools to meet the
$4.2 million shortfall in the
Avon Maitland District
School Board must he
immediate, said its director
of education at a special
meeting of the hoard Jan.
23 in Stratford.
"The most desirable
approach to deal with the
shortfall is to enter into an
immediate and severe peri-
od of extreme fiscal
restraint," Paul Carroll said.
Carroll said if the board
did not resolve the issue
now it would only have to
do so later.
Howcvcr, the board
approved his slate of spend-
ing. cuts which will total a
minimum of $2.4 million,
despite Perth trustees
Wendy Anderson, Atje
Tuyten and Ray Ford as
well as Huron trustee Bob
Allen voting against the
measures.
The cuts—which only
effect Perth County
schools—will take place in
the following areas: $1 mil-
lion in computer purchases,
$500,000 in capital build-
ing projects, $400,000 in
equipment for schools and
administration, $400,0(0 in
• plant maintenance and
operations, $1(0,000 in
school allocation funds.
School allocation funds,
used on a discretionary
basis by individual schools,
were targdted, said Carroll,
not to makc teachers or stu-
dents take up the burden of
the shortfall, but to under-
score the severity of the
problem.
He said principals will he
• asked to Minot use of school
allocation funds to class-
room projects.
Today (Wednesday), -
Carroll and Marilyn
Marklevitz, superintendent
of business and finance at
the board's Stratford centre,
will meet with three offi-
cials of the Ministry of
Education and Training
(MET).
Carroll said they will
appeal the MET decision
regarding use of overlevy
funds, which has con-
tributed to the shortfall:
. He said the MET ruling
on overlevy funds states
they will only be consid-
ered in "stub -year funding"
(Jan. 1. 1998 to Aug. 31,
1998) if the hoard in ques-
tion limited its budget
increases to two per cent in
the 1997 year.
The 4.36 per cern rate
increase in the former Perth
County Board of Education
budget exceeded the mih-
istry guidelines, said
Carroll, so, $1.7 million
was deducted from the for-
mula used to calculate stub -
year funding for the Perth
section of the new joint
board.
He said the AMDSB's
position in the meeting with
ministry officials is that the
former Perth hoard had to
increase the rate as a direct
result of actions the min-
istry had taken.
Noting the former Huron
and Perth boards were the
lowest spending, per pupil.
boards in the pmvincc he
said, they will he applying
for a transition assistance
grant and an undue burden
grant which would make up
the $1.8 million remaining
in he boards shortfall.
Questioned on why thc
hoard would makc $2.4
School board office
Seaforth makes its pitch
BY RICK KEW
SSP News Staff
The Avon Maitland District
School Board was slated to
hear from another suitor last
night (Tuesday) as another
municipality on thc Highway
8 corridor vies for thc oppor-
tunity to become the site for
the new school hoard's
offices.
Scheduled to make a pre-
sentation to the board at its
regular meeting was a contin-
gent from Seaforth composed
of Mayor Dave Scott and
Coun. John Ball.
The amalgamated hoard,
formed by the merger of the
former Huron and Perth
county public hoards of edu-
cation, heard a presentation
from thc City of Stratford
Jan. 13, which proposed the
hoard should establish its
headquarters in the buildings
used by thc former Pcrth
County Board of Education
on Water Street.
Mayor Scott said recent
speculation that Scaforth's
high school could bc closed,
because of low enrollment,
played a role in the town's
bid for thc board's offices.
• Howcvcr, he emphasized
the town's priority is to keep
the high school open as a
school.
"It's a pretty fine line we
(the town) arc walking," said
thc mayor. explaining the
town wants to sec thc high
school put to good use if it is,
in fact, closed.
Scott admitted that
Scaforth's high school cnmll-
ment will undoubtedly drop
as St. Annc's Catholic school
in Clinton offers Grade 12
classes. and OAC classes arc
dronned from the provincial
curriculum.
CONTINUED on Page 11.
million in cuts, then appeal
to MET with the argument
it was the ministries doing
which forced the shortfall,
Marklcvitz said the hoard
was building an overall
case and wanted to show
MET officials they had
examined every alternative.
She said thc hoard real-
izes the ministry has to be
able to justify any relief
they give AMDSB,
whether in grant form or
approval of its appeal, oth-
erwise every hoard would
ask for consideration.
Remarking on the irony
of the situation in which the
lowest spending, per pupil,
district school hoard has to
appeal to the province for
financial relief, Stratford
trustee Ray Ford said, "This
is a form of 'belt -hole tax'.
Thc boards who have not
done the cutting arc not
being penalized as thc Avon
Maitland board has been."
Clothing needed
continued from page 1.
family. Anyone wanting to
donate clothes or articles is
asked to take them to the
Walton School.
Wanted arc boys sizes 6 and
6x as well as boys sizes 8-10.
Shoes and hoot sizes 13, 1
and 2. Womcns clothes size
medium and mcns large tops
and 36 inch waist in pants arc
needed.
Thc tankcr remained at the
scene for several more hours
as a precautionary measure in
case of wind change.
"There's a lot of Karns and
trees surrounding the home,"
thc fire chief said.
The Olde
Shed
Holmes''ville
(between Clinton and Goderich)
Holidays Are Over -
It's Back To Work
At The Olde Shed
for Isabel at
Busy Hands Boutique &
Isabel's Ceramics
and
for Marilyn at
Parasol Porcelain
We're Having a
Storewide Sale
20
%O
off
(excluding consignment items)
Re -opening Wed. February 4 -
Regular Hours Wed. to Sat., 10-5
All Classes - Ceramics and China
Painting Resuming Feb. 4
New Students Are Welcome!
No Experience Necessary!
For Ceramics Call
Isabgl - Store - 482-1740
Rome 482-7600
For China Painting Call
Marilyn - Store - 482-1777
Home 482-7655
"A high school is an impor-
tant link to a community," he
says, "something that draws
people back."
As proof of this he says to
look at all the former students
who returned to SDHS dur-
ing Homecoming celebra-
tions a couple of summers
ago.
"There was a ton of people
at this school," he points out,
the place was packed.
"A high school is for far
more than academics. It is
athletics, drama, a network 01
friends...
"It draws you hack into a
rural community." _
If the school goes those
memories will be goners to,
he thinks.
"Partly what we remember
of Seaforth will bc dimin-
ished."
(First of two parts.
Next week: Exciting times at
Seaforth high...
SDHS makes and tries to
market its own CD -Rom.
Stay tuned.)
McMaster
Siemon
INSURANCE
tem- BROKERS INC.
'AUTO •HOME •FAR!;1
•TRAVEL •COr.lr.1ERCIAL
•LIFE INSURANCE
BROKERS:
Bill Siemon
Vicki Sienion
Anette McTaggart
Dan Proctor
Ken Hutchison
68 Ontario Rd. 348-9150
- Mitchell 1-800-561-0183
- CORRECTICjN
NOTICE
We wish to draw your attention
to the following in our current
-Great Savings Great
Values" flyer.
Page 2. Item 1. HiTop
Rough Tote container 83L,
42-3734-6. Copy reads:
$3.00 off, 42-3734-6, 'after
mail -in rebate. Should read:
Purchase 2 of 42-3734-6
and receive $3.00 mail -in
rebate.
We sincerely regret any
inconvenience we may have
caused you.
cnote302/303-97 zones all
exc. 9/9 alt
THE HURON EXPOSITOR, January ZS, 1998-3
McLaughlin
Chev-Olds Ltd.
13 Main St. Seaforth. 527-1140
•Service *Selection .Savings
•Satisfaction teasing
•Complete BODY SHOP Service
tti
HERSAGE
TAPY
BARBRA
ELLIOTT R.M.T.
Registered
Massage
Therapist
For an appointment Call
527-1242
Seaforth Chiropractic Clinic
TOTAL AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR
ARCHIE'S
seitoece eeffore
FULL SERVICE WITH A CLASS "A" MECHANIC
We also carry a large supply of
TIRES
ALL BRANDS AVAILABLE
527-0881
24 Goderich St. E., Seaforth f UP11_
Seaforth
Agricultural
Society
Something to smile about! Tom and Diane Peckitt were the lucky
winners of four all -season radial tires, donated by Archie's Service
Centre. From left: Larry Dolmage and Marc Robinet (Archie's Service
Centre), Diane Peckitt (winner) and Betty Glanville (Seaforth Ag
Society).
TRACTOR ELIMINATION DRAW WINNERS
Dec. 12/97: Maurice Quenneville, Tilbury Ont.
Dec. 19/97: Tom & Diane Peckitt, Seaforth
Jan. 9/98: Darren Hodge, Melbourne, Que.
DUBLIN DESIGN
* Intglrlofr ialists *
35 Matilda Strbet, Ont1 NOK 1E0
Ph./Fa c(S 5-2760
Linda Markle Dana Taylor Heather DeJong
Heather and Linda are pleased to intro-
duce Dana Taylor, the newest designer to
our team of professionals.
DUBLIN DESIGN
345-2760
Mon.- Fri,9-5, Sat,10-4 or by appointment.
Purchase a new Polaris Snowmobile and
Save Up , o
$1500'
plus get a':.
e.4,c.ae v f
A Zeleeetive
/ct tcrt
Carnival Cnuise Lines®
"The Most Popular Cruise Line in the World!"
OR
Save up to $1500 and get zero
down, zero payments, zero interest
until July '98 at participating dealers
Storm
600 XCR XLT Classic XLT Limited Super Sport
Savo up to
1175.00•
700 XCR
Savo op to
$1400.00•
XLT Tourin Trail Touring
Alva up to
$87500
Trail
Sews uP to
$60000
Lite
Savo up to
$300.00•
LEASE IT, ..Your financin alternative.
See your participating Polaris dealer for details.
POOLS & SPORTS
527-0104
For the Polaris dealer nearest you
check the yellow pages or visit our website
at http://www.polarisindustries.com
POLRRIS
. RIDE THE BEST
hoed on MesdaduwY Suggested RIM tib wax) New WWI as. lot Imp Dom nal ovule MO" setup. a tori ONr good
1. 1 trragli JW.,ry 31. MI m►/ • priogagne down, and to Torr areaway ase you kcal prkopaLg ora, tor lu,a not .rren
oo pgxpw or arrobil as al Pokes M �Ar•Yrd PoiraYrgAaMp�Aor�, mood, pora�r Mala, r- wail MwL Fe. Mou ip, make m
app�vwdwdlthe* Ps Cord, rpawagae+pMira,and oilya tnaal.Ya 5P du5a 'OrtnaaYpaltiMbyMat euadila.Mess
Proarant M wela01a aay to wrdaraa r Cuda, orf • dawn, a upon append dolt 01 NI Porde admires l For your manta
Pb�Mdeer.NMounobaMrla>PA m" corn
P} roar.T
mead ane adrlU d by L1MyMa Waite Mtrnrwaa. a Uy atoreld
ar% Cullom Ism ea d bolded Mew spare/ Ft Wier ales pod and departure Woe rt Tavel RapNoed,�1�r
+o Ub. baa y• Panama and Lasser eire/iPMreevarhrN ba1MdMM