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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1998-06-17, Page 1Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 - Seaforth, Ontario June 17. 1998 $1.00 includes GST Pony ride - Butch Elliott of Clinton leads his miniature horse while Andy Pethick, Jodi McIntosh and Nicole Williamson ride along. Rides were given to students as part of Walton Public School's fun fair held on June 10 at the school. HILGENDORFF PHOTO Adniiiastrator e quits Crocker is tired and ready to take a break from politics BY GREGOR CAMPBELL Expositor Staff Jim Crocker has resigned as administrator for the Town of Seaforth. - e - Crocker is tired and told council he is leaving because the job •is getting more "frustrating" with all the changes being made too quickly by Ontario's government. Mayor Dave Scott says the resignation of the town's chief administrator last week "came as a _ shock and wasn't expected." Council is advertising for a replacement for Jim Crocker and hopes one can. he found soon. to have some overlap with the town's new clerk before Jim leaves in about two months. "We're operating on a tight. tight time -frame." the mayor says. Council has formed a subcommittee for selection, made up of Mayor Scott, .Reeve Brian" Ferguson, Deputy -reeve Bill Teall and Coun. Heather Robinet, who is chair of its human resources committee. The mayor says potential candidates for Seaforth's clerk, administrator, treasurer's position will have to realize that things could change with restructuring by January 1, 2000. "We -have some. big shoes to fill," Scott says. "They have. 22 -years of experience and. knowledge -of town affairs." • "He will be missed." - - The mayor says council has arranged with Crocker to work with the town on a consulting basis if a new person -is not ' there after he •goes. or serious problems arise. - "We were disappointed that he resigned. hut it's frustrating for him and I understand." Mayor Scott said. "The province has shown the. same indecision in health and education." "You know with so many •people saying it something is wrong." . "A feature about Jim Crocker appears on Page 6. Board moving its offices to Seaforth high school Renovations will take place as three options are being studied ways of keeping the school open. • The way Carroll see. it. when that group starts meeting. "space is no longer an issue." 13ut in regards to enrollment. he said. BY SCOTT HILGENDORFF "Thai door is wide and VICTORIA JACKSON open." Expositor and News -Record Staff" The hoard discussed plans to start One hurdle in the way of keeping centralizing its Seaforth District High -School open administrative could be cleared with current plans operations by moving to move Avon -Maitland District School Board (AMDSI3► administration 'operations to Seaforth. said Director cif Education. Paul Carroll. Options arc currently heing studied to move part or most of the board's operations to the high school which Carroll said. helps ensure the viability of the school. That and enrollment are among the main issues that have led to a threatened closure of the high school. A committee of 'hoard members and community partners formed last month and will meet regularly. starting in September. to look at sonic offices from Stratford and Clinton . to Seaforth at its June 8 meeting. At the meeting. Ray Ford', vice - chair for. the hoard, said the hoard hopes to be using four classrooms at SDHS by September. "I think that is the plan." Ford said. "It is a matter of finding Sonic central spots for people .to work from." Ahhy Armstrong. chair of the AMDSB. said the board has been considering this move for a long time. "That's been under discussion for years under the old hoard. And since amalgamation it's been discussed more heavily," she said. `Space is no longer an issue' --Paul Carroll, director of education for AMDSB tailarkmassigassuasslawikaratessam Jennie Turnbull celebrates her 100th birthday BY SCOTT HILGENDORFF Expositor Editor ' Seaforth Manor resident. Jennie Turnbull had a• lot to celebrate on June 16. That's the day she turned 1011 years old. Five generations of her family were at Maplewood Manor to celebrate the occasion on the weekend. Shc is the daughter of J.J. McGavin and her roots have always been firmly planted in agriculture. "1 lived all my life on the farm," she said. Growing up on the farm. she has fond memories of a 1 pony. Billy. that she would ride. "1 used to drive the pony to the Bethel Church." she said. From the McGavin farm, a well-known agricultural family. Turnbull married Wilbur in 1918 leaving the 12th Conccesion of McKillop Township home for the 16th - Concession of Grey where she and Wilbur had a farm together. "Wc farmed there for more than 50 years." she said. They met at a pox social. Turnbull remembers her mother doing her best to make the "loveliest box of CONTINUED on Page Armstrong said the Because- 01' a board will he moving previous motion from its operations hast the • hoard not to from Stratford and decide on the Clinton to Seaforth. permanent location Carroll told The for the offices for two Huron Expositor on years an.d not to make Monday there are a final decision on three options heing SDI; -IS for one school considered which will year. Armstrong told determine how much The Expositor they of the hoard's .can't say for certain operation comes to this is the , final Seaforth. location. The hoard decided She said they trade last week to put two a commitment to work with the communities regarding these decisions and that work could lead .to any number of options coming forward. John Patterson. interim Director of Education for the hoard, said the future Of SDHS will be decided • during the school year. He also points to the issue of enrollment as a factor in any future decisions. "There has to be a discussion with the community and the schaol during the year," he said. He added that the goal is to try to get -payroll and human resources together and administration and business together. Armstrong said the biggest Stratford properties. 210 Water St. and 426 Brittania St., up for sale. "We've downsized the board and administration a lot. Those buildings arc just sitting there half empty." Armstrong said. "They're just liabilities." Thc new offices at SDHS may or may not be permanent. "We've had a lot of discussions about this school." Armstrong said. "Thc enrollment- is really low. Last ycar there were Tess than 300 students. Shc added that the hoard has assured the Seaforth community that SDHS would remain open for at least the next year.' But if we loose the school and don't put - anything there, it's a loss for the community' --Abby Armstrong, chair of the AMDSB Five generations of Turnbulls all live in Seaforth. To Jennie Turnbull, who is turning 100, they are (back, left) Janet Popple, grand daughter; Jan Kuepfer, great grand daughter; (front) Anna Kuepfer, great great grand daughter who is celebrating her 1st birthday this month and John Turnbull, her son, who just turned 80. concern is always for the students. - "If a school is only offering courses every other semester or even cvcry other year. they aren't creating a very positive • learning environment." Armstrong said. She said if the community•.wants to .keep the school open and can think of any way to do that. the board is more than willing to listen. "But if we lose the _ school and don't put anything then:. it's a Toss- for the community." "Armstrong said. "If we put an office - 'thcre, we would be bringing jobs to the community." She added that last ycar the board had agreed not to make any firm decisions on. relocating for two years. hut that they had to start centralizing their offices. - "Since the amalgamation we have one board operating on two different payroll schedules and two different administrative offices," Armstrong said. CONTINUED on Page 2 John Patterson appointed interim education director BY VICTORIA, JACKSON , Clinton News -Record Staff John Patterson has been appointed the interim Director of Education for the Avon - Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) until Paul Carroll's replacement is chosen. Patterson said he will be throwing his hat in the ring for the job, on a permanent basis. Abby Armstrong, board chair, said she expects the board to make a decision closer to the end of the aumraec "I'm hoping the decision will be made by July 1 and that the ,new director is in place by ber," Armstrong said. have no idea where the on will come from, thet it .wilt; be someone Patterson said this is a n interesting time to go into this position. "I expect I am going to be very busy over the summer. This is a time of many changes for the board. I'm looking forward to it," Patterson said. He added that he wishes Paul Carroll all the best as Carroll heads into retirement. Patterson said he wasn't sure what his goals as interim director were. "It's difficult to decide because it's an interim position and in a few . months CONTINUED on Page 2 John Patterson