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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1998-09-16, Page 1414-T14E HURON EXPOSITOR, SEPTEMBER 16, 19116 School closure issue .refuses to go away for BY VICTORIA JACKSON The Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) has some tough decisions ahead. The board will have to submit a list of school clo- sures in the area to the Provincial Ministry of Education by Dec. 31. Lome Rachlis, director of education, said the board does not have a definite number of possible school closures yet. "We have an area and we have to reduce it by a certain amount as outlined by thc Ministry," Rachlis said. "If you close one big - school, that's a big chunk of that amount." AMDSB Chairperson Abby Armstrong said the cri- teria for school closures arc outlined in a board policy. "Thc administration and trustees need to sit down and apply the criteria to each school," she said. There are 60 schools in Huron and Perth Counties and the board hopes to present thc first draft of the list at its Sept. 22 meeting. Armstrong said the min- istry has allotted a certain amount of money for each student in the district. That amount of money covers the maintenance costs for schools as well as some program costs. When there is a low population in a school. that money is being used for maintenance instead of edu- cation. Armstrong said that the board will be looking at every school, and more than just closures will be discussed. "Just because we look at one school doesn't mean it will be closing. It can mean that the school is overpopulat- ed or the building needs repairs," she said. "It can mean a hunch of different things." Armstrong said the board will look at how a school closing would affect students who take a bus. "There may he a school that is very small, but to close it would 'mean longer bus rides for thc students," she said. "There are a lot of things that go into thc decision. It's a very hard decision to make." Rachlis said that some stu- dents will definitely end up taking longer bus rides to get to school. "Depending on what schools close, some students might end up with a shorter bus ride," he said. Thc hoard has approached Helen Johns, MPP for Huron County, and Bert Johnson MPP, for Perth County, to ask for consideration concerning the numbers of closures because of the hoard's situa- tion. "Wc are a rural school board and we have a lot of Don Brown (far left) and Kevin Cardno (far right) donate cheques of $750 each to Peter Martene of the Seaforth Centenaires and Connie Marion for Lions Park. The money. was raised by the Seaforth Alers slo-pitch team. Tartan Chameleon... CONTINUED from Page 9. the team of Brad and Brian Crawford, Tony DcCortc and Paul Selvey. Skins were won by Doug Fry, Paul Selvcy and Shawn Anstctt. Upcoming events of interest to many include: The Heart and Stroke tournament on Thursday at 12:30 noon. There arc still openings so call the pro shop for details. SEAFORTH INSURANCE A BROKER LTD. 527-1610 • Home IL • Commercial • Auto • Farm • Life • Out of Province Travel Insurance Barb Ran. Joanne Williamson, Linn Plelsth. Ken Cardno 41 Main St. S. Seaforth Community Calendar WED. , SEPT. 16 Practice 2:30-4:00 p.m. - Bantam Hockey Practice 4:00-5:00 p.m. - Pee Wee Girls Hockey Practice 5:00-6:30 p.m. - Pee Wee II Hockey Practice 730-10:00 p.m. - Kitchener Rangers Intersquad Game at THURS., SEPT. 17 the Arena 9:00-10:00 a.m. - Fitness is Fun with Drusilla at the 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. - Huron Community Centres Perth AA Ringette Practice at 6:00-9:30 p.m. - Lakers Hockey the Arena Practices at the Arena 1:00-3:00 p.m. • TERRY FOX RUN 7:00-8:00 p.m. • Aerobics wtih Sue BEGINNING FROM Hannon at the Community SEAFORTH ARENA Centres 8:00-9:00 p.m. - Stretching and Strengthening with Sue at the 7:30-9:00 p.m. - Seaforth Midget Community Centres Hockey Practice at the Arena 9:30-10:30 p.m. - Huron Perth 7:30-10:30 p.m. - Minor Sports Midget Girls Hockey at the Council BINGO at the Arena - Arena Host - Ringette 9:00-10:30 p.m. - Seaforth FRI: , SEPT. 18 Beavers Hockey at the Arena 6:00-7:00 p.m. - Seaforth At II ,Hockey Practice 9:00.11:30 a.m. - Parents' and 7:00-10:00 p.m. • Brussels Bulls vs. Tots' Playgroup at Northside Seaforth Centenaires Exhibition United Church Hoctey 9:00-10:00 a.m. • Fitness Is Fun SAT. , SEPT. 19 AAwirenDrusilla at the 8:00 a.m.-9:e• a.m. - House 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Line League Hockey Practice Dancing with Drusilla at 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m - Mite Hockey the Arena Practice 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Seaforth 10:00-11:00 a.m. - Tyke Hockey Ringette School at the Arena Practice 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Centenaires 11:00-12:00 p.m. - Novice Hockey Practice at the Arena Practice 12:00-1:00 p.m. - Atom Hockey VVED. , SEPT. 23 Practice 1:30-4:00 p.m. - Senior 1:00.2:30 p.m. - Pee Wee I Hockey Shuffleboard at the Arena 1:30-4:00 p.m. - Senior Shuffleboard at the Arena 6:00-7:00 p.m: - Seaforth Pee Wee Girls Hockey Practice at the Arena 7:00-8:30 p.m. - Seaforth Midgets Hockey Practice at the Arena . SUN. SEPT. 20 MON., SEPT. 21 °m TUES., SEPT. 22 tf you're orgerrznkg e non-profit event of interest to other Seaforth ere residents, phone the recreation office 5270882 or the Expoertor et 527-0240. or mail the mformetan to Community Calender, The Huron ExpoMor. Box 89, Seefarth. Ontario. NOK 1 WO well in advance of the scheduled date Free seting maxis, date, time, name of event and location only. Speoe for the Community Calender is donated by The Huron Expositor. one school communities," Armstrong said. "Both boards always had strong commitments to one school communities and whenever situations involv- ing closures came up, we tried to look at other solu- tions." She added that the board "is not saying we will not have to close schools. We just have to act carefully." Avon -Maitland educators Armstrong said that tradi- tionally it has been important in this area for children to be near their homes when at school. "It comes down to what's important, what's worth pay- ing for and how are the stu- dents needs best served," she said. Armstrong added that the board has heard that the min- istry is basing its grant formu- Student Council Executive members at Seaforth District High School are preparing for a busy year working to keep the student body busy through what, right now, is an uncertain time with teachers taking action against the provincial government. Part of the council are: Janelle Wood, social convener; Melissa Harrison, deputy prime minister and Craig Gillis, prime minister. Harrison designed the mural behind the students tor the council office. Exciting week at SDHS By Craig Gillis A great start to an exciting week of school has been accomplished at SDHS. Even though the rest of the year is. cloudy, at thc moment. We must go' ahead with plans in hope that nothing had hap- pens between the teachers and the board. As of now there will he no extracurricu- lar events at the school until a deal is settled between thc Avon Maitland Board and the teachers. This includes more than sports, for there may not he a ycar hook next ycar. This would he a real loss. Even if a deal is settled it may be too late for some extra curricular events. The talks between them are still pending, so let's hope for a deal soon. In the meantime thc first dance is going to happen on Sept. 16. Thc 17th will he a hat day to cover the wild hair from the night before. Also events during the day arc happening like barbecues every Wednesday at lunch (except Sept. 16) and the grade 9 Welcome Day on Sept. 18. Home room elec- tions will take place on Sept. 21. I hope that a deal is signed soon, we really want after school activities, like sports and more than one dance. Thc year has -such great potential, let's not Ieave:it at that. Veterans need supplies CONTINUED from Page 7. shaving cream (foam), soap (unscented) such as Dove or Ivory. combs, toothbrushes and paste arc among articles needed. Anyone wishing to donate for this project please leave thc articles at the branch. These will he taken to Parkwood Hospital when we go for the annual variety show on Oct. 3. • The Sunday dinner for the public is on Sunday. Sept. 20. 4:30 p.m. to ? Members. desserts and help will he needed for the event. The general meeting will he held on Thurs. Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will, remember them. la on the assumption that schools have an average pop- ulation of 250. The Avon Maitland district has 19 schools with popula- tions under 250. The board is encouraging the public to participate in a public consultation process if one of their community schools is on the list. "If the board comes down to choosing that one school stays, that means another school will have to go. Wc don't want to pit one commu- nity against another," Rachlis said. "People have to take a step hack and get a broader view." He• added that the hoard's main goal is better education. "While people may have to takc a longer bus ride, it will also mean Netter quality of education and specialized teachers and programs," Rachlis said. A\7�fl DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD Maitland Learning for a Lifetime SEAFORTH DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT Friday, September 25 7:15 p.m. Graduating Students and Award Winners are asked to be at the school by 6:45 p.m. Call 527-0380 For More Information O.H.L. HOCKEY COMES TO SEAFORTH! SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 at the Seaforth Arena INTER SQUAD GAME TIME 7:30 PM AUTOGRAPHS 6:15 PM ADMISSION $12.00 ($14.00 at door) INCLUDED IN ADMISSION: November 1, 1998 (OHL game in Kitchener vs. Plymouth Whalers) TICKETS AVAILABLE AT: The Seaforth Arena, McLean's of Exeter, Davidson West Trading Co. of Bayfield, Heywood Sports of Clinton and Mitchell Custom Sports of Mitchell. Presented by the Kitchener Rangers & Bayfield Minor Hockey FALL HARVEST for your CUSTOM COMBINING and FALL PLANTING Call Mike or Pete at HILL & HILL FARMS VARNA — 233-3218