HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1998-05-06, Page 66 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, MAY O, 1195
Cautious optimism being used
with board's plans for schools
BY SCOTT HILGENDORFF
Expositor Editor
It's not being called a
victory but last week's school
board announcement that any
decision affecting the high
school won't be made until
1999 has community leaders
optimistic.
Maureen Agar a Friend of
Seaforth District High
School, said the group's
short-term plan was to delay
the board's decision.
That doesn't mean the
school has escaped closure
but it does give the Friends a
chance to work on long-term
plans.
"A year gives me a lot of
time," Agar said.
"1 guess we'll approach it
with cautious optimism,"
said Mayor Dave Scott.
He said it gives them some
relief from the situation that,
until now, has been a
rollercoaster ride of emotion
and changing decisions from
immediate plans to close the
school to short-term delays,
and, finally a longer break
from any pending decision.
"Overall, I'm happy that
we've got that extra year but
I'm very skeptical that it will
do any good," said Agar.
While it gives them that
extra year, she said it doesn't
resolve any questions about
the school's fate.
"I think [the delay] is more
because they're not sure what
their steps are going to be,"
she said.
She hopes it was the
protests and action from the
Friends that has made the
board stop and realize they
were moving too quickly
with any decisions.
She suggested the board is
taking a closer look at the
future of the school to make
sure they aren't proceeding in
the wrong way.
"They don't even know
their funding formula," Agar
said. "They're trying to
change everything without
knowing their funding
formula."
Even if the school stays
open, Agar said the Friends
have to keep working on
long-term goals of improving
the school.
"We don't want this to
happen again," she said.
But Agar is also looking at
the "medium-term" which is
encouraging students to come
back to the school.
The Friends havesaid
students have decided not to
come to the school because
of fears that it will close.
With the delay in a
decision and "cautious
Meeting will be first, informal chance
for Friends, leaders and board to talk
CONTINUED from Page 1
She said no one wants to see the school
closed.
"It's just not that simple," she said.
But • a solution isn't going to be simple
either and Armstrong said this is just a first,
preliminary step between the board and
community to see what kind of alternatives
they might be able to work out.
And Armstrong isn't ruling out the
possibility of finding an alternative that
keeps the high school in Seaforth.
While they had been asked to be at the
meeting,scheduled for yesterday (May 5)
both Scott and Agar were not sure what the
meeting would be about. They were
anticipating it would be in the direction
described by Armstrong to the Expositor.
"The meeting tomorrow is the first time
Janet still
on executive
CONTINUED from Page 1
the team that won the
provincials and played well
at the nationals, both in
Barrie in 1994 and 1996,
respectively.
While she retired from
coaching about two years
ago, Buchanan remains an
active member of the
provincial executive.
Shc has been a regional
executive member for 12
years and has spent six at the
province.
Now, she is contemplating
retiring and expects to do so
in about two years.
She had thought about
leaving sooner but provincial
funding has been cut to the
organization and Buchanan
has decided to run for two
MOM years as
secretary/treasurer; long
enough to help the group
reorganize after the funding
Toss.
"In two years, I'm going
to do something else. I'm not
sure what that's going to be,"
she said.
After all her years with
broomball, she said,"You
always hope, as a volunteer,
you're doing something
good."
The award she will be
presented with on May 23 is
an indication of that.
"This is a pretty nice
feather in anyone's cap to be
honored," she said.
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they've ever invited us to sit down and talk,"
said Agar on Monday.
Until now, she said it has been hard to get
direct answers from the board. For example,
she has asked for figures about the number of
students it would take to keep the school
open and said she has not received any
straight answers.
That has led her to suspect the issue of
enrollment is a "phantom reason" for the
closure.
Armstrong said this is a chance for them to
sit down, talk and see if they can start
moving in the same direction.
She said the meeting would be informal
and described it as a brainstorming session.
Both as chair of the board but especially as
trustee for this area, Armstrong said she is
concerned about finding a solution.
•
-HEALTH ON THE HILL
A Review of activities at
SEAFORTH COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
SEAFORTH HOSPITAL AUXILIARY PENNY SALE come to the former
Huron Sport Outfitter Store across from Mac's Milk and purchase some tickets to
try your luck at winning the many wonderful donations on display. Dates: Mon.,
MAY 4 -15th; daily 9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Fri. evenings 5:30-9:00 p.m. DRAW
DATE: Sal., MAY 16/98. Please note. no ticket sales day of Draw.
"HEART TO HEART" Spring program has now concluded. Appreciation is
extended to the following Guest Speakers/Presenters who so generously gave of
their time: Carol Bowker, Physiotherapist; Rachel Moon, Nutritionist. Huron
County Health Unit; Shaukit Mangali, Pharmacist; Dr. Shawn Edwards; Maureen
Thomas. Community Psychiatric Services and the Seaforth Jump Rope Demo
Team.
REGION 2 TEEN CONFERENCE was hosted by the Seaforth Hospital
Auxiliary/Teen Volunteers Sat.. April 25, 1998 with Theme: "Life Cycle -
Beginning to End". Guest Panellists deserving of honourable mention include: Kay
Maiiloux. RN: Dr. Dan Rooyakkers. Joan Chesney, RN; Valerie Poisson. RPN &
Seaforth Jump Rope Demo Team; Elda Tindall RN; Dr. Janet Zettel and Chris
Smith. Thanks also to Kris McNaughton. a former Teen Volunteer at SCH for
shanng her personal insights of the value of volunteerism and what it has meant in
her life: Ambulance personnel for the informative explanation of the role they
provide. and Tour Guides at SCH. Door Prizes were made possible through the
donations from: Doctors Thomas & David Drake; Seaforth TD Bank; CIBC; Tony
& Mary VaridenHengel, Real Estate Brokers; Casey VanBakel Electrical; Steve
Delchiaro, Seaforth Food Market; Pauline Bennett; Claire Eckert; Diane & Tom
Peckitt; Geo. & Mary Kreutzwiser; Maureen Dearing and Frances Teatero.
'DIABETES EDUCATION offered by Dianne Wood, Reg. N., CDE (Certified
Diabetes Educator) and Lorraine Devereaux, Dietitian. CDE weekly on Thursdays.
Topics include: Diet. Insulin, Oral Agents, Monitoring Technique. Travel, Days of
Illness. Self -Management to Prevent Complications. M.D. referral not required. For
an appointment, please call 527-1650 Ext. 234. Mon. -Fri. 8:30-4:30 p.m.
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optimism" that a plan can be
worked out to keep the.
school in Seaforth, Agar said
they need to encourage
students to come back.
If the school is to remain
open, Agar said then the
Friends can work on boosting
the school's strength in the
community.
Agar points to a successful
co-op program that places
more than" 100 students in
workplaces in the
community. Students gain
work experience at the same
time they get course credit.
But Agar said it also
shows students there is
something for them if they
choose to return to a small
town after college or
university.
Agar said Seaforth's
program is strong and is an
example of what needs to be
built in the town.
Cops for Cancer
CONTINUED from Page 1
Anyone interested in
making a donation or
sponsoring their Seaforth
officers can make a
donation at the Community
Services office on Main
Street or any other Huron
police facility.
May.dell is collecting
sponsorships at the
Seaforth Sewing Centre.
McLaughlin
Chev-Olds Ltd.
13 Main St. Seaforth. 527-1140
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SEAFORTH 96 Main St. 527-0420
Serving Senforth Since 1986
MOTHER'S DAY
BREAKFAST
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Sunday, May 10, 1998
7:30-10:00 a.m.
First Presbyterian Church
Seaforth
Family $15, Adults $5
Children $3, Pre-school free
Tickets are available at the door
or by calling 527-1903 or 522-1301
• EVERYONE WELCOME
Ate` JT O Questions & Answers
1]llIC�LV about grief recovery*
Loam's/ trop a cop .igari.f
Q. I read somewhere that men are apt to suffer more from a spouse's
death than women? Is this true?
A. It is usually true if you ask a man. It is usually not true if you ask a
woman. Both sexes experience the same grief process and the same
emotions. The differences lie in the kind of social support that is
available.
When a wife dies, the widower not only loses his primary
relationship but his social relationship as well. He may be less able or
willing to recreate these connections for himself, and therefore -
isolation may be a pattern that evolves for him.
-Questions asked during bereavement classes are answered here by the editor of
AfterLoss, the monthly grief -recovery Helpt.etter. For your free copy of
AfterLoss or one of our other helpful booklets about grief recovery, please write,
call or stop by.
Whitney-Ribey
Funeral Home
87 Goderich Street West, Seaforth - 527-1390
A member of 77te AfTerLatt Family of Funeral Main
dedicated to helping those they terve with auittance itsgrief recorrry
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Seaforth District High School
School Advisory
Council Meeting
Wednesday,
May 13
at 7:00 PM
in the Library
Everyone Welcome!
Avon
Maitland
Learning fora Lifetime
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MONDAYS (except for holidays)
We appreciate your anticipated co-operation
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