HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1999-02-24, Page 3Parents
to have
input
on Tech 21
Parents of students
affected by a .plan to
convert four family studies
and design and technology
sites into one Tech 21
centre in Stratford will be
asked to join a committee'
to consider-. the Avon
Maitland District School
Board's plan. •
"The schools that- are
affected need to have some
input," .said trustee Ray
Ford. "We went through a
severe time last year with
parents who felt they
weren't given proper notice
about things and we
haven't even heard from
the parents yet on Feb. 16:
No wonder they're getting
mad at us. Arc we just
going to ram it through
anyway?"
A recommendation to the
hoard last -night said it
should consider extending
Tech 2) across the entire
district, effective Sept.. 1
for reasons. of equity,
curriculum and cost.
The community-based
school accommodation
review commitees, which
were set . up to make
recommendations to the
board by Feb. 16 on ways
to cut excess space in the
system . were asked to also
consider the expansion of.
Tech 21•into Perth -County..
Education director Lorne
Rachlis said it were never
the board's intention to
have the community-based
committees look at issues
of programming but said
he could strike a committee
to consider the proposed
change and possibly tour
the existing Tech 21 sites in
Clinton and Listowel.
. "I have to take •some
criticism for thi. My
apologies -for not having
done this earlier," he told
trustees. .
Board chair Wendy
Anderson said parents had
questions that need.to be
answered about the
proposed changes and she
suggested a public meeting
be held in Stratford
sometime during the next
few weeks.
Superintendent John
Patterson told trustees that
parents and local industry
have been concerned that
the 'current, design and
technology classes have'
aging equipment and are
not keeping - up. with
modem technology.
"i'm hoping some of the
same people come forward
and see that what theboard
i's proposing will do what
they want, that Tech 21
will answer those
questions,",he said.
Tech 21. abroad -based
technology program which
offers modules in
multi media ,
telecommunications,
robotics. life management,
child care. pneumatics.
computerized sign and
engraving,
stage
production. animation-,
aerodynamics and
aeronautics. woodworking,
food and nutrition, bride
structures, electricity, car
impact and fashion design
to grades 7 and 8, has been
operating in Clinton for
five years and in Listowel
mor` tine year— '
Recent open houses at
both sites have been a huge
success, said Janet Baird-
Jackson, superintendent of
corporate operations and
information technology.
"The experience of
students and teachers has
been both rewarding and
exciting," she told the
board.
The recommendation to
set up a third Tech 21 site
in Stratford at either
Central Secondary School
or Northwestern Secondary
School would convert the
current family studies and
design and technology
rooms into classrooms at
Arthur Meighen, Upper
Thames, Juliet and King
Lear public schools and
consolidate their equipment
saving approximately one
half the current operating
costs and reducing the
teaching staff needed from
13 to nine at all three
centres.
THE HURON EXPOSITOR, February 24, 19911-3
Public schools may get to keep core French
in primary grades after board reconsiders.
BY SUSAN Ht NDERTStARK
Expositor State •
Huron_ County .public
- schools may get to kecp:corc
French in the primary grade
after a Feb. 9 meeting of,the
Avon -Maitland District
School Board. which .voted
to reconsidrr a Nov,. ,24
motion to- phase it nut
starting in September.
Trustee Ahhy Armstrong..
who made themotion to
reconsider the decision. said
a closer look at Ministry' of
Education and Training
documents showed that core
French is allowed in grade. I
to 3.
either. mainlarr► ,the 'O
minutes a flay of core French
in Huron County. which
would cost ;the hoard
- nothing.' cut the program,
which would create no
savings for the hoard.
implement core French in
Perth County's. primary:
- grades; which would. have a
i►nc-time start-up cost of
$17.0(X) Or offer"core French
in both counties. hut- reduce
the teaching time per week.
•Trustees Colleen Schenk
and Ahby..Armstrong both
said they havc.rcccivcd more
than 50 phone" calls and
letters from school councils_.
parents and grandparents
representing (very public -.
Trustees were offered tour school • in Hurtin (.7ounty`
options last November to -protesting the hoard's
'decision to cut primary core
French.
"People . are really
concerned." said Armstrong.
"They're seeing it as a
straight loss: They're saying
it- we're cutting French for a
reason.•they'want to know
what it is because they don't
see it." ' •
" All.across Huriin County.
I have not -had one -negative -
"comment about core French
in the primary grades. It
wouldbe a shame not to
carry on. with it." said
Schenk
Twct delegations also spoke
in favour•'►f reconsidering
the decision.
Leslie Rourke, t icc-
president of the Huron.
chapter of the Canadian
'Parents for French. ,add the ha%e to have identical
decision to cut primary core pro,,!rams i, constrictive and
French . was ':very inllcvhle.
unfortunate" and asked Donna, Appavoo, .• of
trustees. to look beyond Colborne Central School .
county hou.ndaries after council. said core French is
the.most "cost-effective and •
pointing out that.thc 5-4 sole
to phase Out primary core
French was split between
'Perth and Huron trustees.
"1 fear there are other
reasnhs than educational
reasons for "this decision."
she said. "There are no added
costs in Huron County 1'or
keeping the program and -no
cosi. -savings to cut .it. It
would only cost $17.000 in
Perth to implement it.• We're
not taking about a huge
amount of money here... -
She added that -the idea that
Huron and Perth counties -
meaningful- way to teach
tolerance of. different
language and cultures td
young children. in two
predorn'inantly white
counties.
dernand you show me
what else- win meet" my
children', needs as cost
eflecu‘el).` she said.
The motion was deferred to -
the nest regular hoard
meeting on Feb. 23. when-
trustees will vote again on
the issue of core French in
the primary grades.
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