The Huron Expositor, 1998-09-30, Page 5Board is asking for its fair share
nom Page 4
have always been
economical and therefore
have almost no flexibility to
move funds around. We
further believe that the
needs of rural school
districts, with low
population density, large
territory and one -school
communities, are not
adequately served by the
cookie -cutter approach
currently being used to fund
public education.
For example, the
government implies through
its funding model that a
typical elementary school
would have.250 students.
Our district currently
operates 19 of 48
elementary schools with
fewer than 250 students
because the area served is so
large and the community so
spread out. Many of our
students already spend an
hour on the bus to school
and another hour going
home. How much longer
can tttey be expected to ride
when schools are closed?
Closing schools by itself
results in only relatively
small savings - the students
must still be taught in other
schools, most if not all the
teacher positions will be
transferred with them, texts
and supplies are still
required. There will, of
course, be savings in
building maintenance and
some savings through
staffing reductions. But the
cost to the students in
travelling farther to school
is not measured in the
funding formula.
The cost to small
communities which have
only one school is not
included in the funding
formula. In a city, if one
school is closed, then
attendance boundaries are
shifted and another
reasonably close school
received the students. In
More dollars available
FROM Page 4
year, they have more dollars
available to educate our
children than in 1997. I
suggested in a letter of May
11. 1998 that the previous
director join me at the
ministry to verify the
financial issues. However, he
did not accept the invitation.
I now suggest (hat the hoard
members entertain my
invitation because I believe
that it is imperative to
understand the issues prior to
makiug•decisions that will
affect our community.
It is true that' the
government of Ontario is
concerned with the quality of
education and has entrenched
in legislation dollar
allocations to the classroom
that cannot he altered.
however the government ,has
stated that non -classroom
spending can he reallocated.
in thea example of the Avon
Maitland District School
Board, dollars could be
allocated from administration
tti s'ehbio ' 'Opbh t on '."Trie
government 'is. concerned
with streamlining systems
and it seems to me that
having duplicated
responsibilities with both a
director and associate
director. and the
superintendent of finance and
the superintendent of
business operation is
repetitive and unnecessary
for less than 20,00) students.
i am sure as a trustee, you
would like to consider the
administrative requirements
prior to considering closing
schools.
With respect to the school
operations budget that was
submitted to the Ministry of
Education in 1997, the board
submitted school operations
of $11,200,000. In 1998 the
Ministry of Education has
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agreed to pay the board
$11,700,000. The Avon
Maitland District School
Board has budgeted
$13,800,000 for school
operations in this year.
Trustees would want to
consider why the budget
increased by 23 per cent. In
the budget, presented to mc,
there is $3,200,000 for
repairs and leasehold
improvements. I am sure that
the trustees would like to
analyze this specific
expenditure to ensure that
those dollars arc necessary,
when the expenditure results
in school closures. •
I know that there arc
schools Where the trustees
have concerns about health
and, safety and the quality of
education that is delivered
and I believe parents,
students, teachers and
taxpayers also share these
concerns., I respectfully
request that the trustees
consider all options to school
closures. As parents
yourselves and as tax payers.
you expect every other
means of squeezing
inefficiencies out of' the
system will he analyzed'pridr
to suggestions closures.
Helen Johns
MPP
much of our district, the
school is also the meeting
place, the community
centre. When it closes, a
small community may begin
to unravel, as people move
in order to be close to
schools, with a resulting
impact on the economy and
on other social agencies and
services.
The public school hoard
must serve all who wish to
enroll and offers a full range
of academic, technical and
special education. The
needier the student, whether
through home
circumstances, physical
disability or developmental
challenge, the more costly is
the service we have to
provide.
The new district hoard
already receives less money
than the two predecessor
boards combined, a Toss far
greater than any savings
which can be achieved
through merging two
operating systems. In 1997,
the two predecessor boards
had combined net
expenditures of $125.4
million with increased costs
due to significant dollars
required for retirement
gratuities and legislated
increases for special
education the net
expenditure level will use to
$127.3. Unfortunately
projected funding at $124.5
will fall short of these
spending levels. A further
reduction is scheduled for
next school year.
We believe this is simply
not fair to the students of
the Avon Maitland District
School Board nor the
communities and we ask for
your support to redress this
situation. All we ask is our
fair share for our students,
which requires recognition
of the rural nature of most
of this district.
- Abby Armstrong
Board chair
Ninety-nine acres of soybeans were harvested recently as
part of the Seaforth Food Grains Project for the Canadian
Food Grans Bank. Area churches, organizations and
farmers take part in the project: STEPHANIE DALE PHOTO
Hagan member of Knights
FROM Page 4
nature on occasion to this paper, CKNX, The Beacon
Herald, and The London Free Press.
He was the third longest -serving Expositor employee
ever, only surpassed by Lowery and A.Y. McLean, who
beat him by a few years.
Hagan was also a founding member of the Fr. Stephen
Eckert Council of the Knights of Columbus, and the
founder of the annual "Brotherhood Night" here in
Seaforth.
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Services
You are invited to attenc
these area churches
St. Thomas
Anglican Church
Jarvis St. Seaforth
Rev. Robert Hiscox
482-7861
Sunday Oct. 4th
Blessing 01 Animals Servico
at 9:30 AM
October 4th
Worldwide Communion will
be celebrated at
NORTHSIDE
UNITED CHURCH
(Goderich St. Seaforth)
11:00 a.m.
All welcome
First Presbyterian
Church
Goderich St. W. Seaforth
11:15 AM
Church School during Worship
October 4
World Communion at Northside 11 a.m.
Minister:
Rev. Nicholas Vandermey
Seaforth Community
Church
Rev. Hauser 527-2253
Sun. 11 a.m. worship
at 146 Jarvis St. S.
"WORDS OF HOPE"
24 Hr. Recorded Message
CaII 527-1499
Bethel Bible Church
Meeting at Seaforth High
9:45 a.m. SundaySchool 7:00 p.m.
11:00 Worship Evening
Bible Study
Small Group meetings Wieldy
An Associated Gospel Church
ames
Catholic Church
Victoria St., Seaforth
Saturday - 6:16 pm
8t. James Parish, Seaforth
Saturday - 7:16 pm
8t. Joseph's Parish, Clinton
Sunday -9:00 am
81. MIc1MKa Parish, Myth
Sunday • 11:00 am
8t. James Parish, Seaforth
11.E _ti .,
1
THE HURON EXPOSITOR, SEPTEMBER 30, 11195-5
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