Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1998-12-16, Page 1Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 — Seaforth, Ontario December 16, 1998 — $1.00 includes GST Elaine Penner welcomes a donation of toys from Hannah and Colin Jansen. Brother Travis was Also with them when they brought the donation to the Seaforth branch of the Huron County Christmas Bureau. Support was overwhelming for the program that helps families in need with toys, clothes and food for Christmas. (below) Joan Stewart and Penner unpack a box of toys brought to the bureau. HILGENDORFF QHOTOS Snowmobile ban is reconsidered Council holding back on bylaw terms as new route through town is discussed BY GREGOR CAMPBELL Expositor Staff Seaforth Council backtracked last Tuesday on 'its decision to ban snowmobiles in Seaforth. Town Hall was packed tight with upset enthusiasts who had 'a couple of petitions against the move, and there were six . letters for councillors to consider opposing the ban in the information packages they received earlier at last week's meeting. Councillors directed clerk/administrator Jack McLachlan to hold off working on the controversial bylaw, until at least their next meeting. They want to reconsider and think about the latest proposal for a new official trail in and out of town. Snowmobilers promise to mark, maintain and assist with policing this latest proposed trail. At its previous meeting `I haven't ever seen that many people out fora council meeting' --Deputy Reeve Bill Teall council faced an irate delegation of ratepayers from West William Street with a petition opposed to another snowmobile route proposed for their road. "Let's not be too hasty tonight," Coun. Mike Hodges cautioned last week. Last meeting we got one side of the debate, tonight we got another, he said. He wondered whether or not council would hear from angry ratepayers on this new route now. The new proposal is for a trail that comes from the Seaforth Golf and Country Club to the east. It runs up George Street East to Coleman Street where it comes into town. Then where it goes isn't clear. The snowmobilers at last Tuesday's meeting suggested a couple streets they could use to get the couple of blocks north for food and fuel at businesses on Goderich Street East (Highway 8). They suggested three alternatives, using portions Coleman, Chalk, Victoria , and Gouinlock Streets. SHOW OF FORCE Last week's delegation was orderly and polite, and did not threaten to withhold taxes like ratepayers ,the meeting before. But nevertheless it was a show of force. There weren't enough seats in the public gallery of the council chambers. to accommodate the more than CONTINUED on Page 5 Seaforth not affected by current space review BY VICTORIA JACKSON Clinton News -Record Staff The Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) has decided to review two annexes for closure effective Sept. 1999. The Portia and Atwood annexes both raise supervision concerns, as the principals for both schools are physically located at other schools, according to a report seen by the board at their Dec. 8 meeting. The report also recommended boundary changes, the demolition of unrenovated space, leasing of space, sharing or exchange of facilities with the catholic board, a new Tech 21 in Stratford and elimination of portables. It does not list schools in the Seaforth area, as a previous, similar list did. The recommendation was amende'd at the meeting to add Elma and Grey Central to the boundary changes list and F.E. Madill (the 1954 to 1'957 wing) to the demolition of unrenovated space list which includes Vanastra. McCurdy and Milverton. Janet Baird -Jackson, the Superintendent of Corporate Operations and Information Technology, said there may be more recommended changes and even closures after the board's budget is finalized for the year. "It's a first step." she said. "We have to explore all things on the list." Baird -Jackson told the hoard that they need to look at every possibility other than closures. "Then if we get to a closure situation, we can say we looked at everything," Baird - Jackson said to the hoard. She said that this report and its recommendations try to address capacity while respecting the community. "We do note that, in terms of process, as enrollment decreases so does revenue," Baird -Jackson said. One of the boundary changes on the Public school administrators come forward with own voice BY SCOTT HILGENDORFF Expositor Editor For the first time ever, principals and vice principals in the public school system have a voice of their own. The Avon Maitland Principal's Council, part of the newly formed Ontario Principal's Council has ' formed in the wake of Bill 160 that saw principal's removed from the teachers' unions. "I think what this organization will do is give s and vice principals n this province a separate voice they've never had before," said Bill Gerth, principal at Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton. He was elected the inaugural president at Nov. 30 meeting of the Avon Maitland Principal's Council which formally adopted its constitution on Nov. 19. Prior to the OPC, principals were either represented by their school boards or teachers federations. Bill 160 removed their connections with teachers and left them on their own but Gerth said the new organization is already being listened to. Gerth is representing the OPC on a task force put together by the deputy minister of education to find a way to deal with the teacher shortage that. is developing. Gerth said this shows the OPC is already being recognized as an official body with input to be made. The organization will look after principals and vice principals' needs through development programs and handling issues that affect them. That's one of the first steps for the organization: to identify the issues with which they are faced. "We have a group of 'members who are alt wonting for a main propose, to improve education," said Lorne Rideout, principal at Seaforth Public School. Ne was recently elected a member -at -large to the local principals' council. As a group, he said they will decided what action or roles to take as educational issues develop and, by being one voice instead of individual administrators, it will help them have an effect on what happens in their schools. "Collectively, we think otir voice will be heard," he said. "It's pretty easy 'with education in Ontario, as an individual, to not be sure your voice is heard at all." Locally, he said they will discuss educational issues, not just personal ones such as the fact administrators are currently working without a contract. He's excited that administrators will have a chance to express what they think is what. should. be cin their schools, linking • both elementary and high whom; administrators, he also " 'riot's got to be good." Current education Worth attanall on Pagg5 .^ report would involve busing students from Huron Centennial to Hensall. Baird - Jackson said a boundary shift such as this one would result in a savings in transportation. There are six elementary schools operating at over capacity (in excess of 100 per cent): King Lear, Listowel Eastdale, Mitchell, Mornington Central, Sprucedale and Zurich. Elementary schools which are significantly undercapacity (less than 70 per cent) are: Atwood Annex, Avon, Bedford, Blyth, East Wawanosh, Falstaff, Grey Central, McCurdy, Milverton, North Easthope, Portia Annex, Robertson Memorial, Romeo, Vanastra and Victoria. Secondary schools significantly undercapacity (less than 75 per cent) are Central Huron and Seaforth District. Baird -Jackson said at the meeting that Seaforth District High School (SDHS) is at 72 per cent capacity. The report also recommends that the board consider offering more on-line courses, allowing the board to help students in other boards as well. French Immersion was recommended as a program which could bring back students who had transferred to other boards to participate in French Immersion and prevent other students from leaving to take the course. The report states that, "As enrollment declines, so does revenue, and additional funding reductions will make it even more difficult to keep all school buildings open. We will not have the money to maintain the buildings and to give students a quality education." The board will also be instigating community-based committees, consisting of parents, students, trustee(s), community members, teachers and principals to review the suggestions in the report. The committees will report back to the boatd with their recommendations by Feb. 16. Fire destroys Walton building About $10,000 in damage was caused by a fire at an abandoned building in Walton on Dec. 13. Blyth and Brussels fire departments were called to 21 High Street in Walton at about 8 p.m. when a fire broke out at the former site of "Attic Treasures." It is not known how the fire started. The Blyth Fire Department was recalled to the scene at 2:30 a.m. the following morning when' smoldering mattresses in the building's basement caught fire again. The festive RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) program brought a contingent of OPP officers to Seaforth Saturday afternoon for a spot check. The festive RIDE program pays for additional officers to conduct spot checks for drinking drivers anywhere, at any time. STEPHANIE DALE PHOTO