HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2000-01-26, Page 3News
Ire s ervmg rural Ontario
not school board's mandate
• -By Susan Htmdertmark
Expositor Staff . -
• Despite • predictions from local
businesspeople that closing Seaforth
•District:High School will cause a multi-
million dollar loss' of Nutty in downtown
-Seaforth and town industry, trustee Abby
Armstrong said the hoard's mandate is to
educate students, not preserve rural
Ontario. _.. .
"The government will not fund us to
-preserve - Seaforth or any other
-community. Unfortunately (Ontario
Premier Mike) Harris is doing what he
said he would;. You letit happen.twice
with two majority ginemrrrents. " she said.'
Cl isc'to 300 people tilled the SDHS
gymnasium at a Public meeting Thursday
dealing with the possible closure of the
high school' this lune by the Avon
•Maitland District S4hool.Board. •
Community study group member
Carolanne Doig displayed the over 400
surveys' from Seaforth residents and
husihesses.predicting a severely negative
social and economic impact on the town
frim a high .schoial closure. •
-
But. Anmtrong said the board is facing
a,crisis w'ith the SI million shortfall in
funding caused by enrolment drops in the
1999-200( school year and next year's
anticipated enrolment decrease causing a
.funherSl.25 million drop. -
\Vhile this year's shortfall will be.
coy erect by a promise of stable funding for
- one year. by the province. Armstrong said
next year::the hoard could he facing a
52.25 million loss in revenue. •
"The bottom Zine reality is that we're
not allowed by law to prepare a deficit
budget. If we don't balance the budget, the
province will come in and do it for us. Ifs
.a really hi,_ problem and we can't just sit
here and sa. don't close schools." she
said..
Seaforth parent Brenda Kenny asked if
withho►ltli.ng,• education taxes and.
supplying. thein directly to the board
would help the.Avon Maitland board keep
schools open. •
Armstring.replied that- the board still
needs funding from the province on top of '
the money it would receive from the taxes.
"It wouldn't quite work but maybe
that's the kind of creative solution •we
need," she said.
• However. Doig told the audience that
the Seafonh cluster study group was asked
by the board to "quantify"the negative -
impact of the high school closure to the
community and many local businesses
attempted to do just that:
Bryan Vincent. general manager and
part owner of Vincent Farm Equipinent.
told trustees that his business's viability
could be affected by the high school's
closure since he predicts•a $250.0()0 loss
in business. • • -
'Gri c:eries, cars and farm machinery
can all be bought in other towns where our
kids go to high school. With the multiplier
effect. it (the high school closure) could
well wipe out:52=3 million in equity in
Seaforth." -Said. adding that the.
Ministry .of Education should -he
approached for fairer funding formulas. -'
"The very existence of the downtown is
dependent on _high school students and
their parents." said. Suaforth
businessperson Ken Canino: •
' Jim McNichol. owner of Nifty Corners
and Radio Shack:. told trustees that
Seaforth. will become a: ghost town if the
.high school closes.
"Are you going to pay my taxes and
rent when you dose Seaforth? Do you
want. this on your shoulders when_
Seafonh is all hoarded up''" he asked.
Luke Janmaat. owner of Progressive
Turf Equipment in Seaforth. said he is one
.of IS local manufacturers which export
around the world and asked trustees to
cooperate with the community by -helping
them to keep the high sellout open.
"Seaforth has pulled together time and
again and did what most towns -would
have said is impossible. This is another
challenge that can he overcome. ' he said.
Cameron Doig. of the Seaforth Golf and
Country Club. said -the hoard is forcing
people to leave the public school system-
by closing schools,
"Students aren't slipping through your
fingers. They're walking- out-. the door.
We've heard them tonight:. he said.
Walking for Alzheimer&
Pot Ryan of Seaforth Manor takes part in the Huron County
Alzheimer's Society's Walk For Memories at Seaforth District
High School -on Saturday. • .
Scott Hilgendorff photo
THE HURON -PERTH CATHOLIC
DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Junior and Senior
Kindergarten. Registration
JANUARY 31 FEBRUARY 4, 2000
In order to register for Kindergarten, children must be four
(4) years of age on or before December 31., 2000. Parents
are required to bring the Baptismal Certificate, Birth
Certificate and Immunization Record Card of the child you
intend to register. Parents should contact their local
school. The following schools offer Kindergarten classes:
St. Joseph's -School (Kingsbridge) 529.7646
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Mt. Carmel) 237-3337 •
St. Joseph's (Clinton) 482-7035
Precious Blood (Exeter) - 235 -1691-
St. Marys (Goderich) 524-9901
St. James (Seaforthy 527-0321
St. Boniface (Zurich) 236-4335
Sacred Heart (Wingham) 357-1090
St. Patrick's (Dublin) - 345-2033
St. Patrick's (Ktnkora) 3935580
Holy Name of Mary (St. Marys) 284-2170
St. Mary's (Hesson) 595-8929
St. Ambrose (Stratford) 271-7544
St. Joseph's (Stratford) 271.3574
St. Aloysius (Stratford) 271-3636
Jeanne Sauve Otratford) ' 2733396
Parents who expect that their child will enrol In the
optional French Immersion Program in Grade 1, in future
years, have the option of enrolment for Junior/Senior
Kindergarten at either their local Catholic School or the
French Immersion Centre (5t. Marys School, Goderich or
Jeanne Sau4e School, Stratford) at which they expect to
enrol their child for a French Immersion Program.
Bernard Murray, Gaetan L Blanchette.
Chairperson of the Board Director of Education
His sister Carolanne said 25 per cent of
the golf course's customer base will he
impacted by the closure of the high
school. cancelling sources of revenue such
as the high school's phys. ed.- golf
program. the opportunity to hent Humn=
Perth or WOSSA championships. "staff ,
parties or high school reunion .events. She-
added that students are essential as reliable
and affordable employees.
"There - will be. an. irreversible
downward spiral for our business -if the
high school closes." she said. .
Seafonh reeve Lin Sterner said the 15
per cent return of surveys on the-sotsI
and economic impact on Seatnnh in just a
weeks_ time is '"nothing short of
phenomenal," stressing that all hut a
handful said the effect of closing the high
school would he severe.
• "We're a no-nonsense hardworkine
community that will tight long,and hard
against injustice," she said to a standing
ovation.
Seaforth" PUC commissioner 10e
Stefller said the town's PUC places a high
value on the high school's co-op program
and fills most of its positions with SDHS
graduates. . -
"A final appeal -to the trustees - keep in
mind that you can completely destroy this .
community with a -:show of hand:." he
• said.. -
Several tearful students told trustees
they refuse to go to Mitchell or Clinton if
SDHS closes. •- •
-
"You haye not once gone home and
• cried yourself to sleep because you don't
know where you're going to be next year.
This is my home and you're going to take
• that away from mc," said Grade I !-
student Kelly McDonald. -
Student trustee Sarah Agar said students
from surrounding high schools are holding
votes about which students from SDHS
will be welcome at their schools. -
"What kind of welcome is that''" she
_asked.
• She -added: that the two-and-a-hatf.ycar
fight to keep SDHS open has been very
stressful: •
"You're ruining our education and kids'
lives." she told the board,
•
Officer rescues woman
found freezing in nightgown
OPP arc crediting an
officer with saving an 85 -
year -old woman's life after
she was found- in her
nightgown, disoriented in a
street in freezing
temperatures.
On Jan. 21. Constable Bill
Rossiter was patrolling at
5:30 a.m. when: he -.came
across footprints in the snow.
OPP report, the tracks led
oi.t of Maplewood Manor
onto Church street but
appeared : to he . from
someone aim.lcssly
wandering around.
The officer followed the
tracks into a subdivision
where he found Elizabeth
Charter standing in the road
confused and 'crying because
she was cold.
Rossitertook the woman
to .Seaforth .Community
Hospital where she was
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suffering from frostbite to
her feet.
• It. is believed she left the
facility around 5-a.ln. and
was outside for ahoot 30
minutes before she was
found by Rossiter. '
"The Huron -OPP are
proud of the fact PC Rossiter
took the time and effort. to
check the tracks and saved
the woman from potentially .
more permanent injury or
death. said Community
Services Officer Don
Shropshallin a press release:
THE HURON EXPOSITOR, January 26, 2000-3
You Take Your Investments Seriously
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That's Why We Now Offer Insurance
Coverage On Membership Deposits Up to
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CLINTON COMMUNITY
CREDIT UNION
...... t nuunru.un ci
48 Ontario Street Main Street
CLINTON DASHWOOD
482-3466 237-3777
118 Main Street North
EXETER
235-0640
i
•
)4s de
is pleased to announce the
•
of her new Studio.
You are invited to attend the
OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, Jan. 29 and Sunday, Jan. 30
10 am- to 4 pm - Both days!,
• 204 -Main St. N., Seaforth 527-0342.
Conte view. the great upcoming class projects,
Donna Dewberry's One Stroke Supplies,
- retail merchandise and more.
See what the art of decorative painting is all about.,
Classes are offered for both" children and adults at
convenient times and affordable prices.
Join in the celebration. -
Who is Closing Your School?
Mike Harris
and the Ontario Government!!
The Ontario Government is Forcing District School Boards
to Reduce School Space.
The Ontario Government's Funding Model
is Forcing School Closures.
The District School Board's Hands are Tied.
You Can Help.
Helen Johns 1-800-564.1010
Call your MPP!!!
Bert Johnson 1-519-272-0660
Remember Bill 160 and November 1997
41.19/1
Ontario Secondary Schools Teachers' Federation District 8 Avon Maitland
t