The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutHuron 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 hear & Oa&t Coeur Prodios &!cnirr PI Ma St ban iii Don't k.S allad ?11.1ill FAST Systems 450MHZ, 13 GIG Ultradma 7200RPM Starting as low .i, 51699 The AGFA !bolo TIN •:6 .1'( 5334 r reat For The Holida s. 110 COMPUTERS INCLUDE 2 Year PartalLabour warranty Modem: 56K PCI Host . I7", .26dp Monitor Windows '98, Norton Antivirus, Cord WortPerfe i 2000 Great Selection NO INTEREST NO PAYMENT for Six Months OAC. • n,.... ►,.. r. ra.,r. w , -....'. 1 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 So Do We! That's Why We Now Offer Insurance Coverage On Membership Deposits Up to $100,000.0° PLUS . Each Members Individual RRSP/RRIF Is Also Insured.Up To $100000 00 • 9 Pow/di/1,s; security for our members 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