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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2000-06-21, Page 3News Dave Emslie photo Fatal accident OPP are yet to determine if charges against a Wyoming man will be upgraded to impaired driving causing death after a fatal accident June 18 in Stanley Township. Brett Stewardson, 19, of RR.2 Zurich died in a London hospital with critical head injuries after members of the Brucefield and Clinton Fire Departments had to extricate him from the vehicle in which he was a passenger. Samuel Mayer, 18, was driving on Airport Line near County Road 13 at 4:15 a.m. when he lost control on a curve. Mayer had been charged with impaired driving causing bodily harm and driving a vehicle with more than 80 mg of alcohol in his system. OPP are still investigating. Portable decision blamed for Arts' resignation By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Staff The Avon Maitland District School Board's decision to move portables to Seaforth Public School rather than move Grades 7 and 8 to Seaforth District High School caused Susan Arts to resign as Seaforth Public School council chair, she told the board at last week's meeting. "I feel that a personal vendetta against Seaforth is very real. The sad part of all this is how vindictive you are to anyone who is before you from Seaforth, even though I was a newcomer with open arms," she told trustees, as she wept. Arts said she thought moving the Grades 7 and 8 students from Seaforth Public School to the high school "was a pretty great start" to keeping the high school viable, adding that she had been looking forward to making SDHS the "model Grade 7 to OAC school." And, she asked why the board never told the Seaforth community that moving portables to the public school was an option that would be considered by the board. "Why did I never hear of option one? 1 would have liked to poll all our parents. Why was Walton told? Did you ever stop to ask if Seaforth parents wanted portables? Now you as trustees are throwing more money away," she said of the board's recent decision to spend $15,000 to move three portables to SPS. "These decisions are all financially -driven or have you forgotten so soon?" she added, pointing out that filling the two empty classrooms at the high school would have cost the board nothing. SDHS council chair Maureen Agar also' chided trustees for not letting the Seaforth community know of the portables option before the vote. "You listened to two people from Walton. How did they know there were three choices?" she asked. While both delegations were met with no response from the board, superintendent Geoff Williams agreed after the meeting that both Seaforth council chairs were not informed that the board would be considering the option of moving portables to the school. "Both were asked were thcy still in favour of their recommendation to move Grades 7 and 8 to the high school. They wouldn't have changed their minds if they'd known (about option one). Their argument was pretty clear," he said. Williams added that the Walton parents' position against moving Grades 7 and 8 into the high school also remained the same. Board chair Wendy Anderson also said the board received "a strong message" from thc people of Walton that they were against moving Grades 7 and 8 to the high school. She added that Walton parents had threatened to withdraw from the system or go north to schools in Brussels or Wingham if Grades 7 and 8 went into the high school. She said more than 10 students could have chosen other schools. "We would have lost a lot more money than $15,000 if that had happened. And, their border -crossing to another school wasn't going to help Seaforth either, she said. During 'her presentation to the board, Arts also took issue with a statement made two weeks ago by Walton parent Steve Bowers that he was not asked during the school closure process by the Seaforth community if he agreed with their recommendation to put Grades 7 and 8 in the high school. "Walton had all thc opportunity in the world to make their opinions known. We had two emergency meetings at the public school and notice was sent home with every child. Do you as trustees call every voter before making a decision? No. and neither can we." said Arts. Anderson responded after thc meeting and said nowhere in the Seaforth community's package to the board was there documentation of asking the Walton community the question of moving Grades 7 and 8 to the high school. "Some delegations haven't been very welcoming of the Walton community, in my opinion." said Anderson. Arts said, after the meeting that she's heard at least 10 parents who are critical of the board's decision to move portables to the public school. "I can see us being back in court again. They've (trustees have) been shown to be unfair again by not letting us know that portables were an option. They're not letting us have all the information," she said. Arts said a new chair for the SPS council will be chosen in September and added that it could be difficult to fill the position. "I'm worn out. I'm done. And, I don't think the chance of keeping the high school open is hopeless but I don't think it's great," she said. THE HURON EXPOSITOR. June 21, 2000-3 Notice is hereby given that the Public is invited to the ANNUAL MEETING of Seaforth Community Hospital to be held Monday, June 26, 2000 at 8:00 p.m. in Conference Room 2 of Seaforth Community Hospital for the purpose of receiving the Annual Reports of the Board of Directors and of the officials of the Hospital, for the election of Directors, for the appointment of Auditors, and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting. The By-laws of Seaforth Community Hospital provide that the Board of Directors shall include trustees to be elected by members of the Hospital Corporation. By resolution of the Board of Directors. Andrew Williams, Secretary This Wedel iaty/.7 From 5:5Litshto n. The Lou the sun Will rise at..,5401!' will be : open during prices on our i sfl us= EARLY BIR CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST 6-9. A.M. On Mill Street, Ontario's Furniture Village WWW. WYOUR ADDRESS The Huron Expositor and The Clinton News Record are introducing a addition to the PHONE BOOK 2000 WEBSITE & E-MAIL DIRECTORY st fill out the form below and drop off at one of our offices. r your e-mail address DI website address, 20.00 for both! r WEBSITE & E-MAIL DIRECTORY Name: E-mail: Website: Now Everyone can Find You! 100 Main St. Seaforth J 527-0240