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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2005-08-31, Page 3News St. James has new principal Mary Brown hoping to contribute to school's 'great reputation' By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor St. James School's new principal Mary Brown is hoping she can contribute to the Seaforth Catholic school's "great reputation and strong staff." Brown, who replaces Donna Gregus who after a year at St. James took a position with the Huron -Perth District Catholic School Board's administrative office, comes from Sacred Heart School in Wingham where she's been principal for'the past five years. An employee of the Huron -Perth board since 1984, Brown taught at various schools throughout the board until 2000. She lives in Kinkora with her husband and three teenaged children. "I'm really delighted to be in Seaforth," she says. While she says it's too soon to say what direction she'd like to steer the school, Brown says she's looking forward to continuing last year's efforts to combat bullying. "We hope to continue the focus on treating each other with respect. It's not to say that the kids here are bad but every child needs that kind of education. We're always fighting what kids see in the media," she says. Anti -bullying efforts in the coming year will include speakers and a trip to a play in Blyth that has an anti -bullying message. Another event to look forward to in September is a school - wide trip to the International Plowing Match in Listowel. "The entire school is going. It's close this year and a lot of our kids are rural and it's important to honour that," she says. St. James principal Mary Brown But, most of all, Brown says she'll be settling in and becoming part of the school community. "Getting to know the kids and their families will be my focus right off the bat," she says. Seaforth schools have new staff Students at both Seaforth schools will be meeting some news faces as staff changes occur this September. At Seaforth Public School, new teachers include Grade 5 teacher Robyn Carnochan, who replaces retiring teacher Bill Farnell, Grade 4 teacher Heidi Martin, who replaces retiring teacher Elaine Haney and Grade 2 teacher Jennifer Hewitt. who replaces transferring teacher Heather Decker. Grade 1-2 teacher Kim Landeshorough replaces Terri Evelyn Lai, who transferred from SPS while Kindergarten teacher Angela Badley returns from maternity leave. Kindergarten teacher Allison Plumsteel replaces Cheryl Wettlaufer who is on leave. Connie Devereaux replaces Kay Johns and Joanne Flanagan in the library resource centre. At St. James School, principal Mary Brown Teacher salary benchmark challenge Catholic board's ability to meet its budget By Stew Slater Special to the Expositor OYi •tlte night before a goVeri ment-imposed deadline of Aug. 30, members of the Huron -Perth Catholic District School Board approved a $44.7 million budget for 2005-06. On paper. it was presented with a balanced bottom line, but to make that happen, trustees had to accept cutting back on projected expenditures by about $325,000, and drawing down a working reserve fund to almost nothing. "We've come up with a balanced budget but we drew $548,000 to do that, out of our working fund reserves. And with that, those reserves are pretty much depleted." reported business superintendent Gerry Thuss on Monday, Aug. 29. "Next year will really be the tough year, as we work to move forward with some of the initiatives we want to move forward with." The overall expenditure increase over last year's Huron -Perth budget is just over $2.7 million. Enrolment is projected to decrease by about one per cent -- to 4,737 students. But increases in the cost for transportation, utilities, and especially salaries and benefits are expected to easily outstrip any decreased costs represented by declining enrolment. Changes in utilities costs are both inevitable and unpredictable over the medium term. Trustees were told the board's 2004-05 contracts for natural gas hovered around 15 cents per cubic metre, with recent developments creating the possibility for renewals as high as 34 cents per cubic Metre. "That's a pretty significant hit for the board," Thuss commented. The biggest "hit," however, came as a result of a so- called "framework" signed last June between Ontario's education ministry and the provincial negotiators representing public school teachers' unions. Elementary teachers in many public boards had been on work -to -rule for several weeks in lieu of contracts which had expired several month's earlier, and public secondary teachers had taken steps towards joining them. The Catholic boards -- which hadn't suffered labour action despite also facing the expiration of teacher contracts -- were eventually required to comply with the same frameworks. As hoards began to work through the effects of the framework, however, it became clear -- as expressed by board chair Bernard Murray following the meeting -- that "the (labour) peace and stability wasn't free." The Perth South trustee described the teacher salary benchmarks, used as a basis for the provincial framework, as "the biggest force that's holding us down." Of the increased expenditures faced by the Huron -Perth board in 2005- 06, just under $2.3 million is represented by salaries and benefits. Nearly $2 million will be covered by an increase in provincial government grants. But combined with the increases in transportation and utilitieyhudgets, that still leaves about 5700.000 to be covered by the reduction in expenditures from other areas. and the drawing down of the working fund reserve. Areas where the board will continue to spend more money than is in the specific envelopes provided by the province include transportation. special education. and the provision of a full slate of courses in their two secondary schools. He suggested the board was lucky in some cases. Examples include a computerized human resources • management system for assigning supply teachers. and the board -wide upgrades in library facilities and textbooks. "We've made some) big strides and now we can be in a kind of holding pattern," he explained to. the media following the meeting. But Thuss admitted there are "some program areas that have seen a significant impact. This is not something that, in the long term, we can maintain." "There may be things like School repairs that are just going to have to wait," Murray explained after the meeting. "Is the board all that comfortable to dip into those reserves?" Thuss asked reporters. "Probably not." Stratford trustee Ron Marcy put forward the figure of $7,100 per teacher for which the board is being forced to cover a shortfall in provincial funding. During Thuss's presentation, he provided a somewhat lesser estimate -- saying the average would be "somewhere between $6- 7,000 per teacher that we don't receive a grant for." Thuss noted the past two years have been marked by a great number of unbudgeted government funding initiatives. A recent example is the money provided to phase in the limit of a 20 -to -1 student/teacher ratio in primary grades. 114 Clip & Save School Holidays Thanksgiving - October 10, 2005 Christmas Break December 26, 2005 - January 6, 2006 March Break - March 10 - 17, 2006 Good Friday - April 14, 2006 Easter Monday - April 17, 2006 Victoria Day - May 22, 2006 Elementary & Secondary Professional Activity Days September 30, 2005 December 9, 2005 February 2, 2006 June 30, 2006 Early Dismissal Days Monday, October 24, 2005 Monday, November 21, 2005 Monday, February 20, 2006 Monday, May 5, 2006 Students are d.dwad owe now easy ac e..�en parucy.M r. t rrk,J.aa h*dn¢. L. replaces Donna Gregus. Kindergarten teacher Joanne Smith replaces Cynthia Nowak and French teacher Heidi Genee-Brown replaces Loretta Ayotte and Francoise Wienecke. Educational assistant Rosalie DeJong returns from maternity leave, replacing Waneeta McGrath. Custodian Susan Nigh replaces John Devereaux and is joined by John Wilson. Pastor Rev. Chris Gillespie replaces Rev. Lance Magdziak. THE HURON EXPOSITOR, August 31, 2005-3 II(*)«ili1 \ 1(►OI ( Pa rttic 1-1titit cS. Pal)cl' Decorating or Renovating? We provide in-home consultation by a certified professional at No Cost or Obligation!* Call today to set up your appointment. 19 Main Street, Seaforth (519)527-1880 or 1.866.707-7670 `Addresses within 1/2 hour of our store! I 0111M TRAINING HURON PERTH COUNTY DRIVING SCHOOL is offering Ministry Approved Driver Education Courses Individual In -Car Lessons • Seniors Included Private Lessons • Refreshers before Road Test UPCOMING COURSES: Monday, September 12 at COG 7ttesday, September 13 at CHSS Wednesday, September 14 at St. Anne's $520.00 includes taxes - CaII Blaine at 524-1479 or 1-888-529-8188 When Acddents Happen... Call Mark at COLLISION REPAIR • GLASS INSTALLATION INSURANCE CLAIMS WELCOME • RENTAL CARS AVAILABLE We use quality aUPONT performance coatings 120 Harpurhey Rd., Seaforth 522-2222 GET RID OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE CORROSIVE Battery acids Drain cleaners Oven cleaners TOXIC Pesticides Rat poison Cleaning Fluids FLAMMABLE Gasoline BBQ starter Solvents REASTIVE Pool chemicals Ammonia Bleach IN EVERY HOME THERE ARE PRODUCTS THAT NEED SPECIAL CARE. YOU'LL RECOGNIZE THEM BY THESE WARNING SIGNS. The County of Huron Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Program is an opportunity for you to clear potentially dangerous wastes out of your home and dispose of them in an environmentally safe manner, at no cost to you. r 1 September 10 September 24 THE COUNTY OF HURON 2005 HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE PROGRAM 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Worts Yard, 82 Nilson Street, Exeter (South Huron) Works Yard, 445 Josephine Street, Wingham (North Huron) 1 No PCB's, commercial, infectious or radioactive wastes will be accepted. For more information contact the County at 519-524-2188. SERVICES PROVIDED BY HOTZ ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INC. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 School Year qfar Elementary Rept)! Term 1 - Monday, Term 11 - Tuesday, March 21 Term Ili - Monday, June 2 Meg Yy cr,r. ass! rds 2005 What You Should Know! Sups vi*lon of children all elementary schools Is provIdd 15 minutes prior to the begfA9 of ciltysll. and '1b minutes at tho end of each school day. Parent&or students. require information on admissions criteria or schools to attend, can ca) our Enrolment/Planning Department at 1-800- - 5437 ext 112. If you have questions regarding school bus transportation, please call our Transportation Depertment at 1-800-592- 6497 ext er-244. [111 von DISTRICT SCH•01 R0 orisra_ slw ts,.ilif tt3twi.lr.lo=, d 5-2006 i Secondary Report Cards & Semesters Semester 1 Sep 6, 2005 - Feb 2, 2006"`; Sertgolto 2 Feb 3, 2005 - June 3 2006 Fir lrnt Interim Report - October 11 - 14, 2005 Semester 1 Fits( Iepqr,Card - Nov 7 - 11, 2605 First Report for YY Ikbt&Courses - Dec 5 - 8, 2005 Sentlgter 1 Final R pp0rt rd - Feb 13 -17, 2006' Report for Yearlong Courses • Mar 6 .,9, 2006 Semester tete& Report Mar 20.2*)2006 2 Flist Report Card - April 18 - 21, 2 '► Ca^ Semester 2 and Y- rlong Colossi - lune 30, 2006 Secondary Exams SeQtleat r 1 • January 27 - February 1, 2006 SetoMer 2 . lune 22 - 29, 2006 Last oaji tfi Classes lune 19;2006 Elementary Schools $ane 21, 2006 Secondary Schools i Kindergarten Children must he at least 4 years of age by December 31. To register please contact your tout public school or call the number below. Registration for the 2006 - 2007 school year will be held I November 1 - 18, 20(15. For more Information please contact us at: Tel: 1-800-592-6437 dsb.ca • .yours is.ca I ��;1