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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2003-11-05, Page 3News SPS exchange teacher returns to Canada for second time By Sara Campbell Expositor Staff A teacher on exchange from England has returned to Canada for second time, to teach Seaforth Public School's Grade 5 class. Stephen Simper, of London, England, has switched schools with Mike Lobb, a Grade 3 teacher at SPS, as part of a year-long teacher exchange prem. "I really enjoyed my stay in Canada before and I enjoy the hospitality and company of Canadians," Simper said. "The staff, students and parents have been so welcoming and friendly in helping us get settled." Simper said he participated in the program 14 years when he went on exchange to Manitoba where he also met his wife, who was on exchange through the program in Winnipeg from London, England. "This is a wonderful and memorable experience for the both of us and sort of an anniversary of how we first met," he said. Simper arrived in Seaforth on Aug. 2 with his family. Before the start of school, he said the family has been exploring Ontario and visited the Maritimes. Not only do the teachers exchange positions but they also trades homes. "We have completely switched lives. I'm teaching at his school, living in his house and driving his car and Mike is doing the same in England," Simper said. Simper teaches Grade 4/5 in England and he is also the vice-principal at his school. Lobb will be teaching a Grade 2/3 class in England as he taught the Grade 3 class at Seaforth Public School. In comparing the different education systems, Simper said students start school one to two years earlier in England, entering school at age three. He said primary school is Stephen Simper for ages three to 11 and secondary school is ages 11 to 18. In England, Simper said students are required to wear uniforms from primary to secondary school. He said all subjects separated and not combined as they are here, with geography and history combined into social studies and music and drama are combined into arts. Simper said students in England have a longer school year with only three weeks off during the summer but a week off between each term, including a holiday this past week, a week for Easter and two weeks for Christmas. During the Christmas holiday, Simper said he will be visiting his sister in New York and will be taking part in many winter sports. "I love the Canadian winter and I'm looking forward to going skiing and sledding with the family," he said, adding that he has already been enjoying curling and his family has taken up bowling. Simper said Canadians celebrate Halloween much more than people in England where few houses decorate, or have parties and children only go out to trick -or -treat. He said although the family was planning to go on exchange to New Zealand, he is glad they decided to retum to Canada. "It's been every bit as good as the last time I visited and more, because this time I'm here with my family so there's more for us to do and see," he said. Simper said the program has a lot more countries around the world for teachers to visit, compared to the number of countries available to visit 14 years ago. "That gives teachers a greater opportunity to learn from other countries' education system," he said. "I hope to do it again sometime." No schools slated for review by AM public board in 2003 By Stew Slater Special to The Expositor School ' `communities across the Avon Maitland District School Board can breathe easily in 2003-04, after trustees passed through the first step of the board's annual Accommodation Review process without receiving any recommendations for closure or other major changes. In each of the last two years, recommendations have been made by board staff at this•first step of the process, both for school closure as well as major changes such as relocating Grades 7 and 8 students into secondary school settings. Approval of such recommendations in 2001 eventually led to the closure of Seaforth District High School (SDHS) and two elementary schools ' in Stratford. In 2002, trustees rejected some recommendations but voted to proceed towards the relocation of Seaforth Public School into the former SDHS building. This time, the only recommendation put before trustees at their regular meeting Tuesday, Oct. 28, was to review the policy regarding the annual review. This is in keeping with a request first tabled in early 2003 by since resigned education superintendent Bill Gerth. Business superintendent Janet Baird -Jackson delivered the Oct. 28 report to trustees, telling them that "based on the (provincial government's education) funding model ... and using our September. 2003 opening day enrolments .. . we require 191.000 square metres of school space but are operating 240,000 square metres." That translates into 2,944 empty pupil places at the elementary level and 1,225 in secondary, for a combined loading in the entire system of 81.6 per cent. Baird -Jackson's report highlights the same trends of declining enrolment and declining revenue which were, in part, used by the board to justify previous school closures. This time, however, Baird -Jackson also highlights some potentially positive developments. "The recently -elected Liberal government made an election promise to place a moratorium on the closing of rural schools for a 10 -month period," her report notes. She also explains that money from the recently - defeated Conservative government's Rural Education Strategy will still flow, stating that "although (the Avon Maitland board's share is) insufficient to address key infrasqucture concerns, it does enable us to support aspects of our rural and remote schools that we have so far been supporting from general revenues." But if the board's school communities are breathing easy about the possibility of school closures, Baird - Jackson's report tries to make sure they only breathe easy for the current year. After that, the risk will return. "Although recommending not any further analysis of student accommodation this school year, it should be anticipated that this issue will remain one of concern for this board," the business superintendent argues. At a previous meeting, Baird -Jackson criticized those administering the program, saying the criteria for allocating funds are too strongly geared towards one challenge faced by rural boards -- that their schools are often a considerable distance from one another -- and not enough towards another major challenge: that their schools are often small. "If some schools which are close in distance to others were closed, some of the remaining schools would capture funds under this new grant. The board could thus increase its revenue through grants by closing some schools," she said, offering another reason why the board may continue to feel pressure to close schools. PARKING NOTICE TO ALL RESIDENTS OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF HURON EAST The Council of the Municipality of Huron East requests the cooperation of the ratepayers regarding the parking of cars and other vehicles, and the depositing of'snow on municipal roads during the period in which snow clearing operatioris are necessary. It is an offence under the Highway Traffic Act, Section 170(12) to: `Park or stand a vehicle on a highway In such a manner es to interfere with the movement of traffic or the clearing of snow from the highway." Also, Section 181 states: "No person shall deposit snow or ice on a roadway without permission in writing to do so from the MiniStry or the road Authority responsible for the Maintenance of the Road." Parking is not permitted on any street within the built up urban areas of the Municipality of Huron East between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., from November 1 to April 15. Violators will be ticketed and may have their vehicles towed and impounded. Neither the Municipality of Huron East nor the "Snow Plow Operators" will be held responsible for damage done to vehicles or mailboxes on the Municipal Road Allowance. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated. 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