Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2001-07-05, Page 22 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, July 4, 2001 NOTICE For the convenience of our clients SEAFORTH VETERINARY CLINIC will be open THURSDAY EVENINGS by appointment only . Please call for appointments 519-527-1760 FARM & MUNICIPAL DRAINAGE Specializing in: • Clay & Plastic Tile Installations • Backhoe & Dozer Service • Septic System Installations For Quality. Experience. & Service call: Wayne Cook (519) 236-7390 R.R. 2 Zurich, Ont. NOM 2TO www.haynet/-drainage. News Meetings are really about closing schools, school accommodation committee debates By Scott Hilgendorff Expositor Editor — Whether or not they are looking at school accommodation or beginning steps to close schools was briefly debated by the West Central school accommodation committee at its lune 23 meeting. "The fact is, we've got a report before the board and trustees which unequivocally says schools must close," said Fred Leitch, Huron East's representative on the committee. Leitch was the lawyer who helped represent the Seaforth community in a successful legal battle against the Avon Maitland District School Board which prevented the board from closing Seaforth District High School. Leitch told superintendent Geoff Williams, who is chairing For real peace of mind,, look for this symbol of protection. We provide insurance protection that lets you steep at night. That's because the collective strength of our 50 community based mutual insurers makes us among the most financially secure insurance networks in the world. For you, it means friendly knowledgeable service from people who understand your needs and provide the protection and service you want. Sebringville v��I`l«l-`�«ire ranyeawy 393-6402 4. 1-800-263-1961A Member or red Ontario Mutual Insurance Association Call LYNDA VINCENT at 527-2204 or toll free. dbanazi `elna,y 1-888-269-0377 Quoted 'The fact is, we've got a report before the board which unequivocally says schools must close,' -- Fred Witch, municipal representative. the committee meetings on behalf of the board, to be honest with everyone and admit they are dealing with school closures, not accommodation studies, the phrase the board is using throughout the current process. Williams asked Leitch to speak less like a lawyer and more in a fashion everyone could understand. "School closure could be the end result of this process. It doesn't have to be," said Williams. He said the board may choose not to accept the consultant's report that was recontly developed for the board and recommends closing several schools including Seaforth District High School in the community Leitch represents municipally on the committee. Accommodation committees across Huron and Perth County were established by the Avon Maitland District School Board to look at school accommodation issues such as the low enrollment in some schools which makes it difficult for the board to get full funding from the provincial government. The discussion on whether or not the process is working toward closing schools began after a presentation from Seaforth District High School representative Maureen Agar. Agar referred to a past five-year study the board had used which outlined plans to close several schools in Huron and Perth Counties, the majority in Huron. She said she used that one because there was no other study to which she could refer. Quoted 'School closure could be the end result of this process. It doesn't have to be'-- Gooff Williams, choir of cotmmtttee studying school accommodaHon in Seaforth moat. Trustee Charles Smith, another member of the committee, said the board was required by provincial law to have a five-year plan. Since there isn't a new five-year plan in place yet, Smith said the old plan remains in place, despite protests from Williams that the plan is no longer before trustees or administration for consideration on the issue. Earlier in the meeting, he had stressed the current accommodation study process is not about closing schools and that they are nowhere near an actual school closing process. Representatives were asked to come to the meeting with reports about what made their schools special. Some were careful not to suggest their schools were more important than others and acknowledged that all have their own strengths and unique qualities. Committee members were under the impression the information they were preparing was not to go toward decisions about what schools should stay open. But after Smith's remarks, Holmesville Public School representative, Shelley Kaastra, was concerned. By preparing the reports, she said, "So, in reality, we are defending our school." Smith maintained the current process is about closing schools and referred to a recent report signed by 'Director of Education Lorne Rachlis that uses the term "consolidation of schools." "That is a euphemism for closure," said Smith. Catholic high school remains threat to area public high schools as Seaforth works onplan to save two high schools From Pogo 1 two portable classrooms. "We think that was wrong," said Leitch. "That's why we say, 'Do the right thing now and put those children in the Seaforth District High School building." The board is faced with a funding dilemma that requires it to eliminate excess space in schools in order to get full funding from the provincial government. "Maybe we do have to close schools...but we say to our friends at Central Huron Secondary School, your solution is here in Clinton. Your solution is not in Huron East," said Leitch. School representatives on the committee were to prepare a list of reasons why their schools were special to be compiled in a report for the board, but Agar said they had already done this four years ago when the board began studying schools for closure the first time. Instead, she also directed her report to the Central Huron Secondary School IMPORTANT CHANGES TO THE EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM ernMentofCan :`'t changes to Employment Insurance (El) to support Canadian families and to ensure that Canadians who need El will have cess to an improved program. i= €X 13c• .i. • There 1s no more intensity rule.* Now alt El claimants will receive at least 55% of their maximum insurable earnings. Retroactive to October 1, 2000. • The benefit repayment (clawback) provision is no longer applicable for claimants who receive maternity, parental and sickness benefits, first-time claimants and claimants who make less than $48,75o net annual income. Retroactive to the 2000 taxation year. • Parents who took extended absences from the workforce to care for young children may now be able to qualify for El regular benefits like other workers. Retroactive to October 1, 2000. • Self-employed fishers can now benefit fully from the changes made to maternity, parental and sickness benefits. Retroactive to December 31, 2000. AUTOMATIC RETROACTIVE PAYMENTS Since mid -lune, Human Resources Development Canada has been automatically issuing retroactive payments for adjustments to El claims affected by the changes. The Canada Customs and Revenue Agency will forward.retroactive payments for clawback (2000 taxation year) automatically in about two months. • The intensity rule. whkh gradually reduces the bask benefit raft of; % to so% for frequent EI inert. proved to be bwff,ctive and was removed. For a brochure on El changes call totWme 1800 0 -Canada (1 Soo 622-6232) . or visit our Web she at: www.hrdc-dattirc.aa Users of TTY/TTD devices dial: s SooM 1* II Fkr H..o„b.. Developpernom dee Devellopmore Canada tosses oos M.w.4a. Cambs CanadV 4 issue. She warned that if Seaforth Di&trict High School is closed, Clinton's high school will not likely see the 258 students currently at the Seaforth high school. "It's ridiculously easy to open private schools," said Agar who proposed opening one last year when it looked like the high school could close. She had promised that, one way or another, Seaforth will continue to have a high school. The provincial government has just approved a tax break for parents whose children attend private schools and Agar said that will only make it even easier. "I do believe in public education but sometimes. when push comes to shove. you have to do what's right for you," she said on the idea of opening a private school. But regardless of a private school option. Agar also warned that St. Anne's. the Catholic high school in Clinton, will take the majority of Seaforth District High School students. The Catholic school, a new facility with many programs and a reputation for having younger, energetic teachers, is already being blamed for taking away many IOOs of, public high school students in the area. The Goderich representative said the high school there loses between 40 and 60 students a year to St. Anne's. Agar said if Seaforth's high school closes. most of the students have friends from town who attend Si. Anne's and that is the school they will go to. not Central Huron Secondary School. "Of the 258 students. how many will actually come to Central Huron'" she asked. She said the idea of closing Central Huron Secondary School as well as Seaforth's and bussing students to Goderich. Wingham and Exeter has been discussed in the past. at a principals' meeting. She also warned that. if Clinton's high school is spared this time. boundaries can he changed and programs can he cut by the board. the salve way It occurred. in the 1970s in Seaforth. eventually forcing the Clinton high school to close too. "We can suggest closing Central Huron Secondary School instead of Seaforth District High School but .Clinton deserves to have a public high school. We have to look at this together.- she said. But Leitch and Agar., presentations were met with negative comment amongst the handful of Clinton people in the audience who perceived their stand as an attack on the high school. Both Leitch and Agar said they still have the money saved that the\ didn't need to use by winning their court case last year that they are prepared to take the matter 10 court again if Seaforth District High School face. closure. Ministry has offered help filling part-time positions From Pogo 1 He said what matters is how well a person does a job, not how many hours he or she is available. Johns said there are actually only six health units that do not have full-time medical officers of health and that around 1998, letters were sent to all of them encouraging them to be sure they complied with Ministry of Health regulations. She said the ministry does not have a position on whether or not the health unit complies with provincial law but that, "We've asked them [all six) to move as quickly as possible from an acting to a full-time medical officer of health." She said the Ministry of Health has offered to help them all fill those positions. r