HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-02-21, Page 7The Huron Expositor • February 21, 2007 Page 7
News
Noon bus runs cancelled for students
not taking Grade 10 literacy tests
Stew Slater
Noon -hour bus runs for non -participating students
have been cancelled for this year's Avon Maitland
District School Board version of the Ontario Secondary
School Literacy Test (OSSLT).
"The mid-day bus run was very, very poorly utilized,"
explained education superintendent Ted Doherty at a
regular meeting Tuesday, Jan. 30.
"Students just DIDN'T get on the bus at 12 o'clock."
The additional routes were added three years ago to
allow senior students to stay at home while Grade 10
students participated in what was then the two-day
provincially -mandated OSSLT.
At that time, the test was administered over two
mornings, while regular classes were held in the after-
noon.
Classes were cancelled for senior students during
those mornings to free up additional teaching resources
for administering the test.
Grade 9 students were required to attend regular
classes, with some high schools opting to run "mock"
tests to prepare the younger students for the test —
which is a requirement of high school graduation.
In 2006, the OSSLT was reduced to one morning. It's
held each year in March.
"The administration of the test has become more
challenging in each year as the test must be written by
not only Grade 10 students but also other students who
have previously failed to pass the test," explained
Doherty's report to trustees.
This year, no extra buses will run, but all students
will be expected at school throughout the day.
Although additional staff will still be necessary to
administer the test, "senior students will be able to
work independently in a variety of settings made avail-
able to them."
"With the cancellation of the second bus run, we just
didn't want to give the impression to the community
that we were canceling school for the day," Doherty
explained.
County creates committee
for forest conservation
Cheryl Heath
Huron County is creating a committee designed to take a look at forest
conservation.
Councillors Murray Scott (North Huron) and Ben Van Diepenbeek
(Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh) will sit on the committee, which will also
include representatives from various stakeholder groups, like the Ausable
Bayfield Conservation Authority (ARCA).
Council also learned Coun. Bert Dykstra (Central Huron) will once again
chair the water -protection steering committee.
The warden wished Dykstra well in his endeavour, noting there will be a
number of challenges ahead thanks to the province's recently passed Clean
Water Act.
"I'll do my best," vowed Dykstra.
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