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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2002-02-13, Page 1 (3). t 6 February 13, 2002 $1 (includes GST) DAVE DEBGHTON Travei Planner ALL 1MCLUSRVt 7 days al Punta Goleta Beads Resat =1050 pp, dbl GREAT DATES AVAILABLE' r.ru tiacsvaws Muwwiw'527-2062 Email: tpl®tcc.on.ca In brief Report on e -coli discharges coming to Huron East council Huron East council is expecting a report from the municipality's new water and sewage department head Phil Turner, regarding any e -coli discharges made by the Seaforth sewage treatment plant during the year 2000. The report will respond to a recent statement by the Sierra Legal Defence Fund, naming Seaforth as one of several municipalities that, in their opinion, should have been charged by the provincial Ministry of the Environment for releasing e -coli into the environment. The Sierra group is a non-profit organization that offers free legal services to fight environmental causes and helps disseminate information to the public • about environmental issues. An article in The Globe and Mail brought the situation to Steffler's attention. "I don't like getting news like this about any area in our region. I prefer to make news for positive reasons. But, I asked Phil to report to council about any discharges and what we can do to ,rectify the problem," she told council during last Tueday's meeting. When Tuckersmith Coun. Larry McGrath pointed out that certain levels of effluent are acceptable to the province, Steffler agreed but added, "Just because we can, doesn't mean that we should." "We're trying to get everything under control here. It is being handled so if anyone approaches you on the street, you can tell them," said Steffler. By Susan Hundertmark Inside... SPS hos Its own Olympics... PIaOs 3 Canis drning for Fbrcits Porgy 12 Marecn s hoddosue... Pttlg. 9 Wait on closure decions, plead community members Public hopes board will wait on provincial election in hopes new government will change funding provincial premier; the move to a four-year high school curriculum, which should see secondary school enrolment significantly reduced by the end of 2003; and a legislation -mandated review of the provincial government's education funding formula, potentially also in 2003. "If need be, present a deficit budget and let the cards fall where they may," pleaded Susan Arts, representative for Seaforth's business association, after suggesting the closure of Seaforth District High School (SDHS) would adversely affect that community. Goderich mayor Deb Shewfelt registered his support, holding up a recent London Free Press newspaper article featuring a quotation that the current By Stew Slater Special to The Huron Expositor The number of requests continues to rise calling on the Avon Maitland District School Board to wait until the effects of three key factors are known before any decisions are made about school closure as time runs out before a Feb. 26 decision on whether or not to close Seaforth District High School and other Huron County schools. Monday, Feb. 11, at a special Avon Maitland meeting set aside in anticipation of a rush of public delegations leading up to a planned Feb. 26 closure vote, almost all presenters mentioned one, two or all three of the factors: the leadership race among Ontario Conservatives, which will produce a new Grade 3 student Brodie Cairns participates in the seal race, a part of the Inuit games portion of Seaforth Public School s Winter Carnival held last Friday. Susan Hundertmark photos Olympic -like games... While arm wrestling wasn t an official event at last Friday s Winter Carnival at Seaforth Public School, Tyler I-istman, Grade 5, at left, and Nick Halley, Grade 7 , enjoy an arm wrestiin g match in the snow while waiting to participate in the Olympic -like games. funding formula "isn't working," from leadership hopeful Ernie Eves. "I think (Eves) is sending a message and I would sincerely ask elected officials" to take this into account, Shewfelt said. "I would look at this as an opportunity ... I believe that you can take advantage of what's happening on the political scene now." The calls came not only from people hoping to save their own schools, but also from Sharon Wendler, who wondered if changes at her child's school, Goderich's Victoria Public School, would be adequate or even completed in time to accommodate students relocated from a potentially -closed Robertson Memorial Public School. She argued Robertson should not be closed if the quality of education for its students can't be maintained at the same level or higher than it is at See BOARD, Page 2 MPP Johns watches school closure issue from a distance By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Staff Huron -Bruce MPP Helen Johns said she can't get involved in the fight to save Seaforth District High School or any other of the schools in Huron fighting for their futures because a lack of provincial funding is not the cause of school closures in Huron County. "As people know, I was involved in the first year when the board suggested they weren't getting enough provincial funding. I brought in statements and showed there was more provincial funding coming into schools than ever before. But, this time around, it's a quality of education issue," she said in a recent phone interview. Johns was asked to get involved in the fight to save SDHS by Huron East Deputy Mayor Bernie MacLellan recently. But Johns said she won't get involved again until trustees suggest the Avon Maitland school board is getting less money than before. ✓ Johns said the people of Huron County asked for equity funding in education in 1995 and 1996 and "the government delivered." The Conservative government implemented a new funding formula that sees all schools treated equally with funding based on the number of students. Before the government changed the funding formula, Johns said Huron residents were upset that their property taxes were increasing "at an astronomical level in education." Johns pointed out that while school boards always want more money, the same amount per student is going into schools across the province. "Many boards have chosen not to close schools. They're changing borders or putting Grades 7 and 8 students into other schools. They're making other choices. But, this board chose another route," she said. But, she said she won't comment on whether or not school closures are necessary in Huron County. "It's the board's job to ensure that kids are getting a quality education that will allow them to compete in the future. And, 1 hope they are doing their job," she said. While Johns does not attend Avon Maitland board See JOHNS, Pogo 2 Girl, 16, arrested for bomb threat that closed St: Anne's By Clint Haggart Clinton News -Record staff A threatening phone call to police resulted in the closure of St. Anne's Catholic Secondary School last week The Ontario Provincial Police responded to a call threatening destruction to occur at three schools in Huron County, including St. Anne's Secondary School. Around midnight on Feb. 7, a 16 -year-old Goderich female phoned 911 concerning destruction that was to occur to the schools that later that morning. The call was placed from a Goderich pay -phone. According to Senior Constable Don Shropshall, community services officer, OPP officers and school custodial staff searched the schools during the night. An audiotape of the caller's voice was sent to a behavioural sciences centre and before 8 a.m. the tape was ruled a hoax so Goderich District Collegiate Institute and F.E. Madill High School, of Wingham, were able to open for the day. Because of hour-long bus trips for some students, St. Anne's Catholic Secondary School was closed for the day and students were notified shortly after 6 a.m., said principal Phillip McMillan. According to McMillan, St. Anne's remained closed and a press release from the OPP explained that information from the behavioural sciences centre was received too late to reopen the school on Feb. 7. McMillan said he was in touch with police throughout the morning as the incident unfolded. He added that he was really impressed with how supportive the police were. "The support that the police gave us was remarkable. They were very helpful," McMillan said. uot� The support that the police gave us was remarkable, -Ptindpd Philp McMinn - Staff was called back to the school around 11:15 a.m, said the principal, adding, by that time it was too late to have students bussed in to start school at noon. Shropshall said that canine units were used to search St. Anne's twice, once before 9 a.m. and once at 10 a.m. and that teachers were asked to search their rooms once more before students were allowed hack into classes. The canine units, he said, were called back from training exercises in Orillia. More than 20 officers and three canine units were involved in the investigation. Shropshall said it is estimated to cost the OPP $20,000 for the time and resources used in the investigation and school search. The 16 -year-old was arrested after a Crimestoppers tip was made on Feb. 8. According to Shropshall, the Goderich female is charged with conveying a false message. This particular offence could carry a maximum two-year jail term. She was released to attend court in Goderich on March 14, said Shropshall.